How long should I meditate every day?

10–20 minutes daily is a good, sustainable start; consistency matters far more than duration.

There is no single prescribed duration for householders. Many teachers suggest beginning with 10 minutes, then moving to 20 or 30 as the body and mind settle. Traditional japa is often counted in mālās of 108; one to three mālās take roughly 10–25 minutes depending on the mantra.

Ten focused minutes every day will change you more than one long session a week. If you sit twice a day, morning and evening, even shorter sittings work well. Those who want to go deeper usually do so under a teacher’s guidance.

Use a gentle timer so you are not checking the clock. If you finish early on a hard day, that is fine — come back tomorrow. The aim is a calmer, kinder, more aware person, not a number of minutes.

A japa mālā has 108 beads · Source: common teaching across traditions

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