Book description
Learn how to overcome distraction in meditation practice and develop clarity in your relationships, work, and activities with this new guide from a beloved meditation teacher. The mind can be a potent tool, used to guide extraordinary achievements, inspire good works, and incline your spiritual path toward peace and awakening. But the mind can also produce thoughts that lead to suffering. For many people, thoughts run rampant and seem to oppress or control their lives. Even the Buddha tells us that before his enlightenment, he sometimes found his mind preoccupied by thoughts connected with sensual desire, ill will, and harm. But he figured out how to respond to thoughts skillfully and developed a step-by-step approach to calm the restless mind. Now, Insight Meditation teacher Shaila Catherine offers an accessible approach to training the mind that is guided by the Buddha's pragmatic instructions on removing distracting thoughts. Drawing on two scriptures in the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, Shaila shows you how to overcome habitual modes of thinking, develop deeper concentration, and discover the insights into emptiness that are vital for a liberating spiritual path. Following the Buddha's pragmatic approach, Shaila guides you through five steps for overcoming distraction and focusing the mind: 1. Replace unwholesome thoughts with wholesome thoughts. For example, if you find yourself thinking thoughts of ill will toward a person, try thinking instead of their good qualities as an antidote. 2. Examine the dangers of distracting thoughts. Weigh the costs of allowing thoughts of ill will, lust, greed, and so forth to obsess your mind. The costs of dwelling on distracting thoughts nearly always outweigh any supposed benefits. 3. Avoid it, ignore it, forget it. Develop the skill to turn your attention away from habitual distractions. Remove the fuel and let the fires of distraction die out. 4. Investigate the causes of distraction. By understanding the conditions that perpetuate habitual thoughts, you can learn to free yourself from those patterns. 5. Apply determination and resolve. Supported by wisdom, you can make a firm decision to stop dwelling on patterns of thought that are not supporting your deepest values and goals in life. Each chapter includes exercises and reflections to help you cultivate the five steps to deeper concentration. You'll learn about your mind and develop your ability to direct your attention more skillfully in meditation and daily activities. And ultimately, you'll discover for yourself how these five steps boil down to one key realization: In the moment you recognize that a thought is just a thought, you will find yourself on the path to a life of remarkable freedom.
Dr. Jam Man
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Queen Ginger
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BlacKitten
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Texas Butterfly
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Con Mammoth
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BuzzBait
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Stickers
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for personal growth. ListenBook has taken my audio content to new heights, making every moment more meaningful. This app has made my downtime so much more productive and enjoyable.
Seattle Jay
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Venious
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Snowflake Pixie
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Mustard Centaur
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Ba1t
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Scare Stone
I'm constantly amazed by the variety of genres β there's something for everyone. The drag-and-drop download feature on ListenBook is incredibly convenient β no more complicated processes. Audiobooks on this app have made studying and learning a more enjoyable process. ListenBook has turned my downtime into an opportunity for exploration and growth. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow.
Wooden Man
I've become a more empathetic listener and reader, thanks to the power of audiobooks. ListenBook's intuitive controls and beautiful layout make my audiobook experience a delightful one.
Z-Boy
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Chlorine
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Marshmallow
Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. Audiobooks have become my escape from reality β a journey into captivating worlds. π‘ Cleaning the house with an audiobook in the background β talk about productivity! π§Όπ
Gas Man
ListenBook is the perfect blend of technology and art, turning audio into an unforgettable experience. My productivity has soared since I started using ListenBook for my study materials. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a great way to connect over stories. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my library look organized and professional.
Psycho Thinker
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MysticMingle
ListenBook's versatility and user-friendly interface make it a must-have for audiobook lovers. Say goodbye to monotony β this app's diverse format support and intuitive controls have turned my daily activities into thrilling audiobook adventures. π±π I'm blown away by the app's performance. It's fast, reliable, and tailored for audiobook lovers.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience