About Meditation

Mandala
A visual aid used in meditation.
Learn how to use
a Mandala

Meditation is a practice that benefits mind, body and spirit. Through inner exploration, meditation awakens creativity, healing, and transformation. We spend most of our lives looking outward to the world of form and phenomena, believing that the source of happiness, peace, and fulfillment lies external to ourselves. During meditation, we expand our internal reference point from local to non-local, from constricted to expanded awareness, from a skin-encapsulated ego to a field of ever-present witnessing awareness. Meditation allows us to explore our essential nature, restoring the memory of wholeness in our lives.

Meditation is not about forcing our mind to be quiet; rather it's a process to rediscover the quietness that is ever present. Behind the screen of our internal dialogue is the silence of pure awareness - a silence that is not disturbed by thoughts of the past or concerns of the future.

Primordial Sound Meditation is a meditation technique derived from the yoga tradition of India. Yoga means union-the union of environment, senses, body, mind, and soul. This union is described in an ancient text known as the Yoga Sutras written by the sage Patanjali, in which he explains that yoga is the progressive settling down of the mind into the field of pure silence, which is usually overshadowed by the activity of the mind. When through meditation we are able to access the silent spaces between thoughts, we enter into the field of unbounded awareness.

The silence we experience in meditation is in the "gap" between thoughts. Glimpsing this field of quiet, expanded awareness allows us to recognize that our essential self is not the perpetual traffic of thoughts that fill our minds, but the silent witness to our thoughts, words, and actions.

Regular practice of the meditation technique known as Primordial Sound Meditation helps establish inner quietness in life, providing access to creativity and enabling us to make life-affirming choices.

Past actions (karmas) create memories, which generate desires (sanskaras), which in turn lead to new actions (vasanas). The seeds of these memories and desires are present at the level of our soul. It is this "software of the soul" that propels each of us to make choices that define our lives. Meditation helps us recognize that we are capable of making conscious choices that enable us to experience greater peace, love, and success.

By reducing stress and fatigue, meditation enables us to connect with our higher self-where energy, creativity and inner awareness are our natural state of being. The purpose of meditation is to enrich all aspects of life-body, mind, and spirit.

A Technique for "Going Beyond"

Physical impurities in cells have their equivalents in the mind: fear, anger, greed, compulsivity, doubt, and other negative emotions. Operating at the quantum level, they can be as damaging to us as any chemical toxin. The mind body connection turns negative attitudes into chemical toxins, the so-called "stress hormones" that have been linked to many different diseases. Ayurveda lumps all negative tendencies together as "mental ama," which needs to be cleaned from the mind. But how?

It is not possible to purify the mind by thinking about it. An angry mind cannot conquer its own anger; fear cannot quench fear. Instead, a technique is required that goes beyond the domain where fear, anger, and all other forms of mental ama hold sway. This technique is meditation. If properly taught and used, meditation allows a person to become unstuck from the ama in his thoughts and emotions. The Chopra Center prescribes the meditation technique known as Primordial Sound Meditation, or PSM, as a simple, natural way of accomplishing this goal.

About Primordial Sound Meditation

Primordial Sound Meditation, as introduced by Drs. Deepak Chopra and David Simon is a mantra-based practice that systematically allows the experience of quieter, more peaceful levels of the mind. A mantra is a specific sound, which when used silently, serves as a vehicle to connect with deeper aspects of consciousness. With its origins in the ancient Vedic tradition of India, Primordial Sound Meditation is the perfect antidote to modern stress.

Primordial Sound Meditation FAQs

What are the benefits of meditation?

Practicing Primordial Sound Meditation on a daily basis can help you to:

Manage stress
Reduce anxiety
Improve your relationships
Create inner peace
Awaken your intuition
Lower your blood pressure
Become less judgmental
Connect to spirit
Enhance your sleep patterns

What is meditation?

Meditation is a tool for the re-discovery of body’s own inner intelligence. Practiced for thousands of years, it’s not about forcing the mind to be quiet, it’s finding the silence that’s already there and making it a part of your life. Silence is the birthplace of happiness, creativity and infinite possibilities. From this field of pure potentiality we get our bursts of inspiration, our most intuitive thoughts, and our deepest sense of connection to the Universe. Practicing meditation on a daily basis allows you to weave silence and stillness into your mind and body to create a life of greater compassion and fulfillment. Meditation is a journey to the center of our very being; a journey to emotional freedom; and a journey to the reawakening of our unconditioned self.

How will Primordial Sound Meditation affect my health?

Today doctors are increasingly citing stress as a major contributing factor to most illnesses. Even though meditation should not be considered a cure by itself, research has shown it to be beneficial for
a wide range of health problems. As stress is greatly eliminated through Primordial Sound Meditation, our minds and bodies begin to function with maximum effectiveness, creating health, vitality and happiness.

What People Are Saying

I have meditated for 20+ years over an hour daily - I wasn't sure about this - turns out, I love my mantra and already it fits beautifully into my ritual.
—Mary Linda, 63, Columbus, OH

"Thank you for teaching me how to meditate. I have made it every day a part of my being. I thought 30 minutes was going to be impossible with a 3 and 6 yr. old but it's no problem at all. I have set my biological alarm clock in my head to getup at 5:45 each morning. I rise, pee, splash water on my face, blow my nose, light Sattwa incense and dive in. Surprisingly, I meditate for an average of 40 - 50 minutes. I love it! The evening sessions are done
with the whole family. All four of us sit together on the couch and I lead the meditation for anywhere from 3-5 minutes. It's so great my kids are asking to do it every night before we put them to bed! Thank you, thank you...I hope you are well and I look forward to seeing you again."
—Dave, Coral Gables, FL

Learn to Meditate

Primordial Sound Meditation instruction is included as an integral part of every one of our Chopra Center programs. We also offer several other options to learn about meditation.

Seduction of Spirit

Meditate for six days with Deepak. Listen to your inner voice. Unfold the layers and rediscover peace, harmony, laughter, and love. Seduction of Spirit is offered a few times a year at various locations throughout North America.

Three Day Primordial Sound Meditation Course: $375

Every Monday thru Wednesday

Classes take place at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, La Costa Resort & Spa, Carlsbad, CA. The Chopra Center Primordial Sound Meditation Program Includes:

Your personal mantra
Personal Instruction
Practice sessions
Course materials
In-depth education: how it works, benefits, history & selection process
Understanding of the practical aspects: how to sit, where & when to meditate
Integration of meditation into your daily routine
Exploration of higher states of consciousness

To enroll, please call 888.736.6895

Certified Instructors

You can also learn Primordial Sound Meditation from one of our certified instructors at locations throughout the world. Find an Instructor in your area.

Introduction to Meditation: Free

On Friday's at The Chopra Center, we offer a one hour Introduction to Meditation class from 3:00-4:00 pm which includes a guided, basic instruction and is taught by one of our meditation teachers. For more information, call 888.424.6772 x1604.

Books and Meditation CD's


Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga A Practical Guide to Yoga and Meditation	Soul of Healing Guided Meditation and Music

Community Meditation

At The Chopra Center at La Costa Resort and Spa, it is our sincerest desire to reach out to our community and provide programs and services that anyone can access. It is with this intention that we have created these programs, offered at no charge to the community. Click here for directions to the Chopra Center.

Daily Group Meditation

We offer 30-minute group meditation sessions Monday through Friday at 8:30 am and 6 pm. Meditation is a great way to begin and end a busy day.

Introduction to Meditation: Free

Call 888.736.6895