An Argument for Meditating in Loud Places

Meditation is no longer the sole province of new-age hippies, aesthetic monks, or even casual religious practitioners. Nowadays, mediation is one of the most popular relaxation techniques around and you can find members of all faiths and the secular community practicing meditation and mindfulness techniques. Indeed, there is quite a cottage industry of meditation apps, accessories, and recommendations.

This is all great news! I'm glad people are finding an outlet that helps them cope with life. However, there seems to be an unfortunate rigidity in how people meditate and how many conceptualize their meditation practice.

Take a moment and picture what someone meditating looks like. Perhaps it's early in the morning after a nice cup of coffee or tea, or just before they fall asleep for the evening. They may have a nice, clean, room to sit down in, or even just a quiet spot. They've turned off all the noise they can in the household and perhaps even have headphones to cancel out other noises or to listen exclusively to a meditation guidance app. They then proceed to close their eyes and calmly swim down for 15 minutes of mindfulness, just to get a moment away from the world.

Sounds cozy, doesn't it? Heck, this may even be exactly how you meditate!

There's nothing inherently wrong with this approach to meditation, however, when we see this as the only way to meditate or lock ourselves in to only seeing meditation as a relaxation tool, we needlessly limit ourselves and our practice.

To be clear, I'm no refined authority on the subject, just an absurdly anxious Floridian who started meditating and practicing Buddhism about three years ago and has been fortunate enough to learn from some much more knowledgable, practiced, and frankly funnier people. So take all of my advice with a grain of salt, perhaps even two for that matter but I hope you will at least appreciate this different perspective.

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First I want to address this notion of 'getting away from it all.' This is how I hear many individuals describe their practice, that it affords them time away from the world and to focus on themselves and wellness. Putting aside how nebulous the concept of 'self' is, (boy, howdy that's a whole philosophy semester that you and I do not have any time for) escaping the world may actually be counterintuitive to the 'wellness' part of the journey. For one, meditating is not about changing what is, it is about fully appreciating what is. It's about being completely in the moment. Allowing thoughts and sensations to pass by and not amplifying the suffering and anxiety we experience when we start to overanalyze them. When we stop overanalyzing we can achieve clarity and be more present in the world around us. For many this acceptance is why they meditate, it helps them relax and accept this crazy game of a world for what it is.

In this way, meditating in such a highly controlled environment can be counterintuitive. As you are training yourself to only practice this mindset under a very particular set of circumstances that you dictate rather than radically accepting the world around you.

This isn't to say that you should never seek a calmer environment or mentally prepare yourself for your practice. After all, meditation retreats often place you in a completely new and secluded environment that often makes it easier for you to focus. Before covid shut down the zen center I went to, we didn't speak, had no noise playing, and simply sat in a circle with our eyes open. There was still noise from the street outside, from the natural sounds of Florida, and of course the visual stimulus, but it was overall a much more peaceful environment. However, we didn't really take deliberate actions to minimize the sounds of the environment, we simply reduced our input into it, thus allowing us to just experience what is and not retreat into ourselves.

Now for the more controversial part, I propose that you introduce the occasional practice in a very noisy environment to your meditation routine. This isn't something I see recommended frequently. More often you see general mindfulness recommendations such as being more aware as you go about daily tasks or incorporating a walking meditation alongside traditional sitting. But rarely do you see someone recommend taking 15 minutes on a crowded subway bench to meditate. However, I find there is a particular logic to it.

For instance, I find it is a lot harder to go into a headspace where you think about thinking and then find it harder to extract yourself and refocus on the breath, a mantra, or other technique. Additionally, the noisy, the uncomfortable, and the quite frankly annoying are just as much a part of this world as the quiet, the comfortable, and peaceful and we would do well to practice in all of these environments. Finally, if you use sensations such as sound to focus on, the bustling noise of people is certainly a hard one to miss or lose track of.

For myself, the primary benefit I receive from meditating in loud places is a sense of connection. I've often struggled with feelings of alienation from society, the world, and even at times myself. By practicing in environments that are so full of life, that are impossible to avoid, and specific sounds are hard to place, I feel I am almost forced to be connected.

This can also allow you flexibility with your meditation so you do not feel you are fighting the world to find time for a practice you want to participate in and find valuable. Plus, you may end up practicing near a taco shop, and who doesn't love tacos?!?

Perhaps if you take the time one day to stop on your commute and simply meditate standing on the sidewalk, count mala beads while riding on the subway, or however else you choose to practice, you may be able to unlock new understandings, experiences, and acceptance when you do.

Take care, and if you appreciated these tips maybe we can go get tacos after meditation practice sometimes!