The Attention Revolution Summary
Before I discussed the Book “THE ATTENTION REVOLUTION.” Let’s First Discuss the Book’s author B.Alan Wallace, he is an American author and expert on Tibetan Buddhism, His books discuss eastern and western scientific, philosophical and contemplative modes of inquiry, often focusing on the relationships he sees between science and Buddhism.
Download this Free Audiobook from Audible
Brief Summary Of The Book THE ATTENTION REVOLUTION.
There are numerous benefits of meditation, one of its benefits is a method for achieving previously inconceivable levels of concentration, Author Alan has nearly 30 years of practice and experience in attention-enhancing meditation, including a retreat which he performed under the guidance of the Dalai Lama, This book The Attention Revolution is a definite presentation of his knowledge.
In this Book Author begins with the ill effects that follow from our inability to focus, later Alan moves on to the system of meditation that deepens our capacity of concentration, Alans Systematic process will give an exciting and rewarding result, it will clear your confusion, it will give extraordinary clarity and power which will take you at the top of the concentration level, along with such results, Alan provides you complimentary practices to perform in intervals in order to cultivate love, compassion, and clarity in order to work and fulfill our dreams.
Why Read?
We live in a world which is highly dominated by technologies, and these technologies are designed to grab our attention, The Attention Revolution book empowers you to grab that attention back and put it in the work in which we want to shine and work which needs our attention, In this book author discuss the path to attain Shamatha, it is a Buddhist meditation state of mind that is free from any shot of distractions, This path is really very difficult, not easy to achieve it, but even if we reach second or third part, even that is enough to make our lives easier.
This Wonderful Book inspires to take challenges and helps you to see “what training your mind can actually achieve.”
Let’s understand the book in more detail
Part one: THE BEGINNING STAGES-MINDING THE BREATHE
Stage1: Directed Attention
The first of the Nine stages in order to achieve Shamatha is Directed Attention, the sign of having reached this level is simply being able to place your mind on your chosen object of meditation for even a second or two, if you try to direct your attention on the difficult object, such as complex visualization, then it may take day or two to achieve that or to face the accomplishment, but if the object which you have chosen is Breathing, then you may achieve this stage on your first attempt.
The author further says that The Faculty of mindfulness is crucial is shamata practices, Mindfulness in this Context differs from the context and the way some contemporary teachers present it, For instance, Vipassana Teachers explain Mindfulness in by being in the Present moment, as moment-to-moment, However In the context of Shamatha, mindfulness refers to attending continuously to a familiar object, without forgetfulness or distraction.
The First Stage of Achieving Direction Attention is by the Power of Hearing. According to the Buddhist Tradition, The most effective way to acquire fresh learning is directly from the experienced and knowledgeable teacher (mentor), At First you have to hear that teaching, then has to follow it by reading, study and practice, The very important thing about the power of hearing is both listening to the instructions and also to read about them, especially when no qualified teacher is available.
One of the signs of progress in Shamatha Practice is simply noticing how confused, disorder(chaotic) our minds are, we will try to keep our mind calm, but swiftly we lose our minds, and slip into absentmindedness, people who never sit quietly and try to focus their mind will live in the illusion that their minds are calmed and collected, only when we keep our mind focused on one thing only then we will realize and know how confused and fragmented our attention is, “From a Buddhist perspective, the untrained mind is afflicted with attention deficits and hyperactivity; it is dysfunctional.” The author says, like the wild elephant, the untamed, uncontrolled mind can create enormous damage on ourselves and those who are around us, hence it is must improve our attention.
Also shared The Practice: Mindfulness of Breathing with Relaxation Alan Says “Our minds are bound up with our bodies, so we need to incorporate our bodies into a meditative practice. In each session, we will do this by first settling the body in its natural state, while imbued with three qualities: relaxation, stillness, and vigilance.
Read More: The Last Lecture Summary
a) The Posture:
It is generally preferable to practice meditation by sitting on a cushion with your legs crossed, but if it is uncomfortable, then you can sit on the chair or can lie down on the supine position(on your back)
, your head resting on a pillow, Whatever position you assume, let your back be straight, and settle your body with a sense of relaxation and ease. Your eyes may be closed, hooded (partially closed), or open, as you wish.
Alan says “If you are sitting, you may rest your hands on your knees or in your lap. Your head may be slightly inclined or directed straight ahead, and your tongue may lightly touch your palate. Now bring your awareness to the tactile sensations throughout your body, from the soles of your feet up to the crown of your head. Note the sensations in your shoulders and neck, and if you detect any tightness there, release it. Likewise, be aware of the muscles of your face—your jaws, temples, and forehead, as well as your eyes— and soften any area that feels constricted. Let your face relax like that of a sleeping baby, and set your entire body at ease. Throughout this session try to physically as still as you can.
b) Practice:
Alan says Be at ease. Be still. Be vigilant. These three qualities of the body are to be maintained throughout all meditation sessions. Once you have settled your body with these three qualities, take three slow, gentle, deep breaths, breathing in and out through the nostrils.
To have a Detailed understanding of each chapter of this book “THE ATTENTION REVOLUTION.” Do buy this book from the given link, it’s a great book to improve your attention and keep you more focused, can also get its audiobook from the given links:
Download Free Audiobook from Audible
Thank you.
Thanks