Shaila Catherine will be teaching Distraction: Strategies for Overcoming Distracting Thoughts at BCBS March 9-14th, 2018. Insight Journal: How did you decide to teach a course at BCBS about overcoming distracting thoughts? Shaila Catherine: What meditator doesn’t want to overcome distracting thoughts? We all struggle to work skillfully with our own minds and learn to face the patterns that disturb our peace. The Discourses of the Buddha give us a wealth of resources--not just one … [Read more...]
Shaila Catherine
Mettā: What It Is, What It Isn’t
Insight Journal: How has your relationship to mettā changed over the years? Shaila Catherine: When I was first introduced to meditation in the 1980s, the classic model was a 10-day meditation retreat emphasizing mindfulness. At some point during each retreat there would be a guided mettā meditation. And I have to admit that at first I hated it. IJ: Why did you hate it? SC: I really liked the silence of mindfulness practice, and all the phrases felt disruptive. It was hard enough for me … [Read more...]
Jhāna Practice and True Happiness
Shaila Catherine has been practicing since 1980 and teaching since 1996. After studying and practicing extensively with Pa Auk Sayadaw at the Forest Refuge, she wrote a book at his suggestion on jhāna practice and its relationship to vipassanā. In August of this year, she will bring jhāna teachings and her enthusiasm for the suttas to bear on the subject of happiness, in a course at BCBS. Insight Journal asked her to talk about how she arrived at this point, and her plans for the course. … [Read more...]
