Meditation Without the BS
An Honest Guide for People Who’ve Tried and Quit Three Times AlreadyBy Vincent OkOnjO
Length9h 53m
About this audiobook
Many people begin meditation with good intentions only to abandon the practice weeks later. They download an app, follow a popular course, or try a highly recommended technique, yet somehow it never becomes a lasting habit. In *Honest Meditation Guide for Beginners Who Tried and Quit*, contemplative scholar Vincent Okonjo challenges the idea that some people simply are not suited for meditation. Instead, he argues that most failures result from poor fit, unrealistic expectations, inadequate guidance, or choosing the wrong practice for a particular stage of life.
Drawing on more than twenty years of teaching contemplative traditions, Okonjo offers a clear and accessible exploration of the major meditation approaches practiced around the world. Rather than promoting a single method, he introduces readers to focused attention, open awareness, analytical meditation, devotional practices, loving-kindness meditation, and several traditions drawn from Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Sufi teachings.
The book helps readers identify which approaches may align best with their personalities, goals, and life circumstances. It also addresses common reasons people abandon meditation, including boredom, frustration, unrealistic expectations, poor instruction, and uncomfortable emotional experiences that arise during practice.
Unlike many popular meditation books, Okonjo provides a balanced discussion of scientific research, acknowledging both the benefits and limitations of current evidence. He avoids exaggerated claims and instead presents meditation as a long-term practice that develops gradually over months and years.
Readers will also learn how to evaluate teachers, avoid unhealthy communities, recognize situations where meditation may not be appropriate, and build a sustainable daily practice without becoming dependent on apps, streaks, or rigid routines.
This book is designed for people who have already tried meditation and felt disappointed by the results. By offering a broader understanding of contemplative traditions and a more realistic approach to practice, it provides a thoughtful and encouraging path toward developing a meditation habit that is both meaningful and sustainable.
Audiobook details
GenreSpirituality and Religion, Self-Help
Length9 hrs 53 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
22Chapter 20: When Not to Meditate
2Introduction: Why You’re Reading This Book Again
23Chapter 21: The First Year
3Chapter 1: Why You Quit the Last Three Times
24Chapter 22: The Tenth Year and the Long Practice
4Chapter 2: The Bad Teachers and Bad Books That Wasted Your Time
25Chapter 23: Meditating Through Grief, Illness, and Dying
5Chapter 3: The Meditation Styles and Which Fits Which Person
26Chapter 24: Practice and the Rest of Your Life
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6Chapter 4: Buddhist-Derived Mindfulness — Vipassana and Theravada
27Chapter 25: A Realistic Picture of What This Can and Cannot Do
7Chapter 5: Zen and the Koan Tradition
28Appendix A: A Reading List for the Contemplative Life
8Chapter 6: Tibetan Analytical Meditation
29Appendix B: A Glossary of Terms
9Chapter 7: Secular Meditation — Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
30Appendix C: Sample Weekly Schedules
10Chapter 8: Transcendental Meditation — The Honest Take
31Appendix D: Troubleshooting Common Difficulties
11Chapter 9: Christian Contemplative Prayer
32Appendix E: A Final Note from the Author
12Chapter 10: Sufi Practices
33Appendix F: A Skeptic’s Guide to the Science
13Chapter 11: Hindu Mantras and the Popular Adaptations
34Appendix G: For Those Who Have Been Hurt
14Chapter 12: Metta — LovingKindness Practice
35Appendix H: Closing Thoughts on the Field
15Chapter 13: Open Awareness
36Appendix I: Specific Practice Instructions
16Chapter 14: Focused Attention — The Foundational Skill
37Appendix J: Frequently Asked Questions
17Chapter 15: Body Practices — Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Walking
38Appendix K: Meditation for Specific Life Situations
18Chapter 16: Building a Daily Practice
39Appendix L: A Letter to the Reader Who Has Finished
19Chapter 17: Building a Weekly and Monthly Practice
40Appendix M: A Year of Daily Prompts
20Chapter 18: Retreats — When, Where, How, and How to Survive Them
41Appendix N: Notes on the Major Teachers Worth Knowing
21Chapter 19: How to Find a Teacher Without Getting Culted
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