This is a short tutorial that will explain the benefits of turning environments that do not look like positive meditation spaces into great meditation opportunities. Neighbours making noise, someone banging in the garage, or the cat seeking attention, can all make a person get up and decide that meditation is just not going to happen in this hectic world.

Most people who are new to meditation believe a space of perfect quite and calm is required to succeed or to even be able to meditate at all - but the real challenge is in being able to meditate no matter how challenging the external environment is. It might seem logical to block out the noise and to just get on with the practice, however this seldom works, if at all. The mind gets distracted and will continue coming back to the source of distraction and it becomes an endless circle.

Instead of attempting to block out the distraction use it to push through into a deeper trance. Let the noises that seem so riotous pass through without attaching to them. Let them just be. If at first this process does not work do not give up, give it a few attempts as it will be a worthwhile effort once some results come from it. Keep in mind that from a half-dreaming state this is quite simple to accomplish - a lot easier than from full wakeful consciousness.

Focusing on the vibrations of the sounds even in their most non-harmonic and chaotic nature can bring about a shift in consciousness to a deeper state. If there are sounds of birds chirping near the window sometimes this will push a projection or dream-state of a peaceful and relaxing garden. This shift of consciousness occurs when we engage on a deeper level with the input outside us rather than just judging it for being productive or unproductive for meditation.

In this proccess we can often find more about how the mind interprets input from the outside world - rather than just rejecting it. Do not hold off on this technique. Give it a go - attempt listening to the vibrations behind noise and sound rather than focusing on the noise itself and add a comment to let me know how it felt.