Meditation timer
Choose a length, sit silently or with guided cues, and let a bell mark the end. The same timer as the iPhone app.
Using a timer for meditation
A timer takes one job off the mind. Without one, part of your attention keeps checking how long it has been; with one, you can let the length be decided before you begin and return, again and again, to the breath or to whatever the session asks.
If you are starting out, a few minutes is plenty. The early discourses describe mindfulness of breathing beginning simply: sitting down, setting the body straight, and knowing each breath as it comes and goes (MN 118). The two guided sessions here follow that shape; the other ten sessions are described on the guided meditations page.
For the end bell, the soft chime is short and gentle, the bowl is low and slow to fade, and the bright chime is clear and quick. Turn your volume up before you begin: browsers will not play sound in a background tab on some phones, so keep this page open on screen for the bell.
Questions
Is this meditation timer free?
Yes. There is no account, no sign-up and no advertising. It runs in your browser and nothing about your sit is sent anywhere.
Will the bell ring if my phone screen locks?
Not reliably. Phones pause web pages when the screen locks, so the timer asks the browser to keep the screen awake while you sit. The iPhone app can also send a notification when a sit finishes.
Is it the same timer as the app?
Yes. The website runs the app’s own timer code: it measures elapsed time from timestamps, so dropped ticks or a switched tab do not change the length of your sit. The guided cues are the same text at the same moments.
How long should I meditate?
Long enough to return to the breath a few times without strain. Many people start with three to ten minutes a day; regular short sits are easier to keep than occasional long ones.
Coming soon to the App StoreBuddhism: Daily Dharma for iPhone