How to Find a Meditation Teacher

If you are new to meditation or have been practicing meditation by yourself at home, you may want to find a meditation teacher. Some teachers have spent several months in a silent, intensive period of meditation. As such, they are very knowledgeable and experienced. They can provide instructions and answer your questions.

Things You'll Need

• A journal or notepad
• Access to transportation
• Intuition

Instructions

The Initial Search

1. Create a list of meditation centers and/or organizations in your area that you would like to visit. Remember that not all meditation organizations are Buddhist. At this stage, just use your intuition. The sky (and your gas budget) is the limit. Don't list any meditation centers or organizations that you don't ever plan on visiting.

2. Call the meditation center/organization or go to its website to find out when meditation classes (with a teacher) are held there. Some organizations only offer meditation sittings in the evenings. Other centers only offer meditation on the weekends. These factors will vary.

3. Attend an upcoming meditation sitting or class. You may or may not have already learned some information about the teacher ahead of time. Go to the class or sitting and participate according to your comfort level.

4. Pay attention to how the teacher's energy and style does or does not resonate with you. How does the teacher communicate with the students? Is the teacher's style clear or enigmatic? Will his or her style work for you? Does the teacher seem reserved and humble, or does he or she come across as brash? Just notice how this feels.

5. Introduce yourself to the teacher after the meditation class is over. You don't have to engage in a lengthy conversation. Just meet the teacher, shake hands and see how his or her energy feels.

Continuing the Search

1. Attend a meditation sitting or class at another meditation organization or center, even if you really liked the teacher you just met.

2. Notice how the teacher's energy and style does or does not resonate with you. How does it feel to be in the room with this teacher? How does he or she communicate with other students? Does this feel right?

3. Introduce yourself to the teacher after the meditation class is over. Again, you don't need to engage in a lengthy conversation. Just meet the teacher and engage in as much dialogue as is comfortable for you (and that the teacher has time for).

What to do Next

1. Compare your experiences from the two meditation centers you have visited. Would you like to continue taking classes with one of the teachers you met? Did either teacher intuitively resonate with you?

2. Decide if you would like to attend more classes with one of the teachers you already met or if you would like to meet more teachers. If you choose the former option, go to step number three. If you decide that you would like to meet more teachers, proceed to step four.

3. Attend more classes with the meditation teacher you liked. Make a commitment to attend classes regularly.

4. Go back to "The Initial Search" section and repeat these steps until you find a meditation teacher that you like.

Tips & Warnings

• Following these instructions will only lead you to the feet of someone who teaches meditation. Nature will then take its course. Some meditators will attend classes for a few weeks and never go back. Others will attend for long periods of time. Some people end up developing deeper relationships with meditation teachers.