Dear Friends,
As we continue exploring the practice of abandoning unwholesome states, I would like to offer a recording of a meditation, talk, and Q&R with Shaila Catherine, titled Beyond Distraction: Five Practical Ways to Focus the Mind.
https://sangha.live/dharma-library/beyond-distraction-five-practical-ways-to-focus-the-mind/
The first 30-ish minutes is a guided meditation that focuses on cultivating mindfulness and meeting thinking with interest, for the purposes of discerning what is helpful and what is harmful, or useful or not useful.
If you’re so inclined, continue with to listen to the subsequent talk. Shaila walks through practical approaches that align with the teachings in Two Kinds of Thought (MN19) and The Removal of Distracting Thoughts (MN20). Shaila’s guidance is both gentle and precise, making these methods accessible and effective for daily meditation practice and life.
In your practice, I invite you to notice which methods resonate most with you. After practicing, I do appreciate reading your reflections, on topics such as:
- Which of the five methods feel most natural or effective for you?
- Have you encountered any challenges in applying these strategies?
- How does practicing these approaches influence your state of mind?
May this practice support us in cultivating greater clarity, balance, and ease.
With good wishes,
Andrea