How long should a beginner meditate?

Start with 5 to 10 minutes a day: consistency matters more than length. Once sitting feels comfortable, add a few minutes each week up to 20 or 30 minutes. The practice calendar helps you keep the rhythm without comparing yourself to anyone.

How do you practice Buddho meditation (พุทโธ)?

Sit with your back upright, close your eyes and think "Bud" as you breathe in and "dho" as you breathe out, without forcing the breath. When the mind wanders, simply come back to the word. Little by little the word softens; if it fades into a calm mind, rest in that calm. Choose the Buddho method in the tool to get these cues on screen.

What is anapanasati (อานาปานสติ)?

It is mindfulness of breathing, one of the oldest meditation methods in Buddhism. You watch the air coming in and going out, often at the tip of the nose, counting breaths from one to ten at first, then simply following the sensation. The tool guides you through these steps during the session.

What time of day is best for meditation?

Early morning and the evening before bed are the easiest times to keep up, but the best time is the one you can stick to every day. Avoid sitting right after a heavy meal, when drowsiness comes easily.

Does the timer work with the screen off or in another app?

The tool asks your phone to keep the screen on during the session, which is the safest option. If the screen does turn off, the time stays exact thanks to timestamps, and bells are scheduled in advance, so they usually still ring in Android browsers, depending on the phone and its battery saver. On iPhone, Safari may stop audio when the screen locks, so keep the screen on and check that silent mode is off.

My legs hurt or I fall asleep while meditating. What can I do?

This is very common. Sit on a higher cushion or on a chair with your feet flat, and change position calmly at an interval bell. For drowsiness, open your eyes slightly, straighten your back or meditate at another time of day. Pain that keeps coming back is worth checking with a professional.

How do you practice loving-kindness meditation (แผ่เมตตา)?

You wish happiness first to yourself, then to a loved one, a neutral person, someone you find difficult and finally all beings, with simple phrases such as "May I be happy, free from suffering." The tool's Metta method shows each step at the right moment.

Free

Meditation Timer with Bells

Pick a length, a bell sound and, if you like, a guided method: the timer rings at the start, at the intervals you choose and at the end, while a lotus slowly opens as the session goes on. The screen stays on, the time never drifts, and your practice is logged in a calendar that stays on your phone. Everything is free, with no sign-up.

Free, no sign-up, nothing stored

How it works

The timer does not count seconds one by one: it records the exact start time and works out the time left on every refresh, minus any pauses. Even if your phone slows the tab down or the screen turns off, the session ends on the second, with no drift over an hour.
The sounds are not recordings: your browser synthesizes them live by adding up the vibrations typical of each instrument. The singing bowl has offset overtones that create its slow, wavering beat; the bronze temple bell (ระฆัง) is brighter, with a light knock of the striker; the gong is deeper and its high tones swell just after the strike. Every strike of the session is scheduled in advance on the audio clock, so bells ring on time even when the page goes to the background, as long as the browser keeps audio running.
The preparation time (10 seconds to 1 minute) lets you settle before the first bell. Interval bells, every 1 to 15 minutes, help you come back to your meditation object or shift posture during a long sit. The closing bell can ring once or three times; many meditation centers strike three times, and here each strike is a little softer than the one before.
Guided methods show a short cue at key moments of the session, timed in proportion to the length you chose. Anapanasati, mindfulness of breathing, follows the spirit of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 118) and the breath counting from one to ten described in the Visuddhimagga. Buddho, silently repeating "Bud" on the in-breath and "dho" on the out-breath, is the method taught by the Thai Forest Tradition of the Northeast, around Luang Pu Mun Bhuridatto. The body scan moves through the body from head to feet, as in the Burmese tradition of U Ba Khin and Jon Kabat-Zinn's MBSR program. Metta follows the classic order of the Visuddhimagga: yourself, a loved one, a neutral person, a difficult person, then all beings (สัพเพ สัตตา).
Your stats (current streak, total minutes, a calendar of the last twelve weeks) are saved only in your browser's local storage: nothing goes to a server, and one button erases it all. A session counts from one minute; if you stop early, only the minutes you actually sat are added. Your streak stays alive as long as you meditate today or did so yesterday.
Sources: the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118) and the Karaṇīya Metta Sutta (Sutta Nipāta 1.8) of the Pali Canon, Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga (chapters VIII and IX), and published teachings of the Thai Forest Tradition for Buddho. The cues are summarized in our own words and do not replace a teacher. Meditation is a wellbeing practice, not a treatment: if you live with strong anxiety, depression or trauma, talk to a health professional.

These tools give general information. They do not replace the advice of a doctor or a qualified professional.

Go furtherMeditation

Frequently asked questions

How long should a beginner meditate?: Start with 5 to 10 minutes a day: consistency matters more than length. Once sitting feels comfortable, add a few minutes each week up to 20 or 30 minutes. The practice calendar helps you keep the rhythm without comparing yourself to anyone.
How do you practice Buddho meditation (พุทโธ)?: Sit with your back upright, close your eyes and think "Bud" as you breathe in and "dho" as you breathe out, without forcing the breath. When the mind wanders, simply come back to the word. Little by little the word softens; if it fades into a calm mind, rest in that calm. Choose the Buddho method in the tool to get these cues on screen.
What is anapanasati (อานาปานสติ)?: It is mindfulness of breathing, one of the oldest meditation methods in Buddhism. You watch the air coming in and going out, often at the tip of the nose, counting breaths from one to ten at first, then simply following the sensation. The tool guides you through these steps during the session.
What time of day is best for meditation?: Early morning and the evening before bed are the easiest times to keep up, but the best time is the one you can stick to every day. Avoid sitting right after a heavy meal, when drowsiness comes easily.
Does the timer work with the screen off or in another app?: The tool asks your phone to keep the screen on during the session, which is the safest option. If the screen does turn off, the time stays exact thanks to timestamps, and bells are scheduled in advance, so they usually still ring in Android browsers, depending on the phone and its battery saver. On iPhone, Safari may stop audio when the screen locks, so keep the screen on and check that silent mode is off.
My legs hurt or I fall asleep while meditating. What can I do?: This is very common. Sit on a higher cushion or on a chair with your feet flat, and change position calmly at an interval bell. For drowsiness, open your eyes slightly, straighten your back or meditate at another time of day. Pain that keeps coming back is worth checking with a professional.
How do you practice loving-kindness meditation (แผ่เมตตา)?: You wish happiness first to yourself, then to a loved one, a neutral person, someone you find difficult and finally all beings, with simple phrases such as "May I be happy, free from suffering." The tool's Metta method shows each step at the right moment.

Meditation Timer with Bells

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