The Free Mind: Finding Clarity in a Digitally Distracted World

by Dza Kilung Rinpoche

Reduce the distractions, clutter, and anxiety of your digital lifestyle and achieve inner and outer harmony with mind training practices, meditations, and advice from a Tibetan Buddhist master.

This book offers a refreshing approach to understanding the role of digital technology in our world and how we can better manage our relationship to it. Our engagement with digital devices connects us to people and ideas, but it also causes anxiety, distraction, imbalance, and suffering. Rather than a digital detox, we can train our minds to leverage our negative habits and digital temptations to deal with life more effectively, improve our attention span, reduce mental fatigue, and deepen our happiness.

Dza Kilung Rinpoche, a respected contemporary Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author of The Relaxed Mind, skillfully addresses these widespread issues in modern life geared toward a wide audience. In twelve short chapters, he offers straightforward strategies and tools to clear away the distractive clutter that prevents us from living fully and with clarity. The book also explores deeper issues like the nature of wisdom, question of karma, and importance of lovingkindness and compassion.

The practices and meditations in this book will appeal to anyone who suffers from a distracted “monkey mind.” By calming our minds, we can clearly see the sources of our inner and outer problems and begin to work on them for the benefit of ourselves, others, and the earth.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Buddhism, Spirituality

208 pages, Paperback

Published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Jeff Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short read applying the fundamental concepts of Tibetan Buddhism to our face-paced digital lives.

[Gabrielle Jarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it quite interesting that as I began reading The Free Mind, I had to keep stopping to check something online! The very thing Kilung is discussing. The addiction to distraction. Our conscious and unconscious saturation into the digital world. He makes an acute comparison between current "panic attacks" being similar to "nervous breakdowns" of the past. Our only strength is our mind which makes the choices of what comes into our minds, and how we use our biggest commodity - time.
Kilung shares several modalities of meditating to help get re-acquainted with our minds and their power. Also, how susceptible our minds are to the dopamine supply from our screens. Moderation - always the key. Compassion for our selves and others - another key for a free mind.

[Luíza Braga · Rating 2 out of 5]

É um livro sobre o budismo e práticas budistas. Ele começa com uma narrativa sobre as distrações do mundo digital, mas rapidamente deixa o tema de lado e foca apenas em princípios e práticas budistas. As vezes o autor se lembra que o tema era outro e volta no assunto, mas fica bem jogado e sem sentido no contexto.

[Smitha Murthy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well-meaning book that falls short. The actual book sets out to tell us how to overcome our digital addictions but meanders a bit. I am not sure if I should offer loving-kindness to my phone. The Rinpoche means well but it didn't quite come off.

[Joe Larabell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good general introduction to Buddhist essentials and meditation techniques. Kinda sparse on how to manage digital distractions.