Welcome to Litsy!

Fascinating and mind-expanding evaluation of Buddhism from a scientific standpoint. Highly recommended.

Image: Lenni decides the muffins aren‘t for kitties.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, listening to Robert Wright‘s journey to uncover more about Buddhism and share his wisdom after years of meditation practice and retreats.

This book allows readers to not only hear his personal story, but also more on the philosophy of Buddhism and really the idea of letting go. I particularly liked learning more about Nirvana.

Definitely recommend!

I thought this one was good! It wasn't my favourite book about Buddhism but I thought it achieved what it intended to very well & I found many parts interesting and helpful

#wondrouswednesday

1. Keep, give, or trade/sell. I never lend anymore. If I give away a book, I assume I‘ll never see it again.

2. Depends on the book and what‘s going on in my life. Right now I‘m averaging 5.5 books/week. It‘s been an excellent winter.

3. Tagged—bailed at ch. 5. It wasn‘t what I was expecting. A better title would be Why Mindfulness Meditation is Important. It was mostly about his experience at a mindfulness retreat.

DNF‘d. Made it through ch. 5 of 16.

He spends a lot of time discussing his a silent meditation retreat & attempts to explain his premise by using what he learned at said retreat. Maybe it‘s the narrator, but the material is not just dry, it‘s arid. Plus, this really wasn‘t what I was expecting based on the title. This is all about mindfulness meditation & less about Buddhism except as to the meditation. Either way, I just couldn‘t get into it.

#thoughtfulthursday
1. When I‘m sick, hot tea & soup, zicam, fleece blanket, and books. When I‘m sad, I have certain movies I watch while I eat comfort food.
2. I live by the Puget Sound, so every day! 😂
3. I don‘t do monthly goals. And yep! I‘m planning to spend most of the weekend reading #24B4Monday

*****

Lovin‘ it so far!

Book#105 of 400. This book just jumped within my top 5 books of all time. Maybe number 1 I‘m not too sure yet. If the description at all interests you then I‘d get this book. Very thought provoking and really made me rethink what I know and think about myself. I‘ll be listening to this again soon. I hope I am not overhyping this book but for me it was very eye opening.

I liked it. More focus on meditation than expected, but it‘s given me a lot to think about. Gonna take some time to process everything.

Wanting to learn a little about Buddhism and meditation, I decided to start with this book because it was described as a scientific approach to the religion. It was a good choice for me. I highlighted a lot of passages! It also made me laugh aloud😹

Prettiest airport bathroom ever? I didn't read on the Boston to Minneapolis leg, but I should be awake enough on my connection to Fargo.

This book is making me want to get my behind back on my pillow. And I think I may.

I recently visited this Japanese Buddhist Temple room at the MFA in Boston. I was surprised to feel a sense of calm and peace as I sat in the room. I am not a religious person, but the experience (as well as other recent personal events) compelled me to pick up this book.

Current audiobook.

I‘ve been grumpy today. This is helping.

#buddhism #attachment

I enjoyed the psychology aspects of the book.

Great insights about human psychology and the nature of reality. I like that in the last chapter he connects his new found enthusiasm for Buddhism with his background as an observant Christian as a kid with affection and respect for both traditions.

Happy New Year!!!!

Spent mine at a temple. 🙏🏼

#buddhist #happynewyear #temple #chiangmai #thailand

Buddhism on the beach!

Lots to ponder. Wright relates Evolutionary Psychology to the mindfulness theories of Buddhism. LOTS to ponder, but also very dry in places. Also, a bit like reading Plato, works as you follow the arguments being made, but I sometimes had questions about the assumptions but of course they cannot be questioned in this format. The narrator was only ok. Some funny parts, but his delivery is so placid, I almost missed them.

There were parts of the book that spoke to everyone at book club, but no one loved it. We split between pick & so-so. Knowing a bit about Buddhism and neuroscience, I was hoping for stronger ties between the two. I had the same questions after reading this as I did before reading it. If you lack an understanding of either topic, you may be a better audience for Wright‘s book. .

Heading to book club. Wright mentions powdered sugar donuts soooo many times that it seemed like the only appropriate snack to share tonight.

Listening to the audiobook with my neighbor‘s cat. She is less than impressed. #catsoflitsy

One more #TBRtemptation for today.

#TBRtemptation post 2! Just released. The author of "The Moral Animal"--which attempted to explain how evolution shaped our brains--now looks to Buddhism as having the solution for those brains being rigged to anxiety, anger, greed, and fleeting happiness. Buddhism says it's all because we don't see the world clearly, and meditation and reflection will help bring that clarity. How does science back all of this up? #blameLitsy #blameMrBook ?

I not only wanted these books, but the covers helped a bunch. The funny part was I was in clerics when I purchased the top 2. The cashier paused, looked at the title and then back at me with a confused look. I said, I have an open mind.