Meditation and guided relaxation audio recordings can help you stay focused. Some tapes bring your awareness to the present moment, while others help you construct an imaginary peaceful place. A mantra or positive affirmation script can use a repeated phrase or sound to move energies within your body and occupy your conscious mind, allowing your subconscious to relax. A recording of natural sounds may help you remember the outdoors. Many organizations make meditation instruction available for free online, although it can be difficult to find the right style of meditation for you. A knowledgable and well-executed recording will improve your relaxation technique.
Insight Meditation: An In-Depth Correspondence Course
Traditionally, meditation instructors have used the lecture format because tone of voice and demeanor give information that is hard to communicate in a book. The Insight Meditation Correspondence Course includes 17 hours of guided meditations plus seven hours of instruction. This CD-set uses the Theravadan school of Buddhism that tends to avoid ritual and focuses instead on experiential learning through meditation. Instructors Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein are both American-born Buddhists who studied in India and Burma. They make a point to frame their meditation instruction for Western listeners. This kit also includes 12 months of individual correspondence instruction with a Buddhist meditation teacher to guide your personal practice.
Pema Chodron Audio Collection
Pema Chodron, and American-born Tibetan nun, is the resident teacher at Gampo Alley. A graduate of University of California Berkeley, she taught elementary school, married, raised two children and divorced before receiving ordination. She calls on her experience in her teachings. The Pema Chodron Audio Collection includes four lectures and guided meditation, including instruction in tonglen, the Buddhist practice of building compassion for yourself and for others. The lecture From Fear to Fearlessness addresses how misfortune can be a natural and even useful part of life. Pema Chodron's humorous and warm tone make this collection a comfort.
Nature Sounds
A recording of the ocean or the sounds of the forest may help to calm you. A reminder of the scale of the natural world can give you a sense of equanimity. Many nature recordings omit music or words, allowing you the space for your own thoughts. The ambient rhythm of a rain storm or rustling trees can ease your nervous system. Natural soundscapes can provide a soothing background without conscious distraction, making these recording useful for work or falling asleep.
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