Focused and Fearless: A Meditator's Guide to States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity

Focused and Fearless had been extremely helpful to me long before I was introduced to Jhana practice. I must confess that I never read it methodically, cover to cover, stage by stage. The first thing I did when I got the book was to eagerly jump to the section that speaks about the four formless realms, thinking it would be fascinating and inspiring. Indeed it was! But later I realized that it was more beneficial for me to read the sections on developing mindfulness, deepening my meditation practice, and understanding of the workings of the mind. I found that it is not "just" a Jhana book, but is tremendously beneficial to all meditation practitioners. It is an excellent and necessary book for anyone who wants to transform the mind, deepen their understanding of concentration practices, and realize the Buddha's path to liberation.Both beginners and seasoned practitioners will enjoy the comprehensive "how to" guidance that author and Dharma teacher Shaila Catherine provides. She gives methodical and thorough step-by-step instructions into the realm of deep concentration. In addition, the book is interspersed with many helpful suggestions, tools, and tips that enhance concentration and mindfulness through daily-life awareness. She offers practical instructions for working with difficult thoughts, noticing the space between things, mindful eating, wakeful walking, and much more. Reflections on the quality of our daily lives, the conditions for happiness, our relationship to pleasure, and the nature of mind broaden the scope of Focused and Fearless to encompass essential transformative insights.Watching and learning about the mind is not an easy task. It takes courage, consistency, determination, patience and dedication to apply skillful effort, direct the power of intention and mindfulness, work with emotions that arise in meditation, and practice letting go. With the support of Shaila's very clear, gentle and precise instructions in Focused and Fearless, it becomes easier to overcome the obstacles and apply the principles of the Buddha's teachings on liberation through non-clinging.The many years that Shaila has dedicated to the development of her own practice and mastery of concentration and insight are evident in this book. To me, this is what makes this book so illuminating and powerful. It keeps its promise: not only does it decipher the enigmatic Jhana practices, but also portray the way to live an awake and happy life.I hope and wish Focused and Fearless will be translated into many more languages, as many meditators around the world could and will benefit tremendously from this important and rare book.Sandya Rakefet Bar-Kama, Pardes Hanna, Israel

Shaila Catherine's "Focused and Fearless" was a centrally important book in the development of my understanding and practice of meditation starting back in 2010 when I first read it. It was the first time I had read candid and detailed personal descriptions of deep meditative states similar to what I (like many of my friends) had serendipitously stumbled upon when I first began practicing meditation (some 40 years earlier in my case).When I would get up the nerve to mention these states of sometimes overwhelming delight, deep happiness, and abiding peace, meditation teachers would consistently caution me not to get attached to these experiences, as if there was something bad or maybe dangerous about having them. But I didn't know any teachers who seemed to really understand and be comfortable with these states. Similarly, when I talked about this with fellow meditators, many seemed to have had similar experiences, but still no one really seemed to know what they meant or how to work with them.I now liken those early explorations in meditation to strolling around on a beautiful mountainside with interesting and charming springs, flora, and fauna, but without having a map or knowing anything about the natural history of the area. Metaphorically, the discovery of "Focused and Fearless" was for me, after 40 years of searching, a map and a natural history, giving me a vocabulary and descriptions of territory I had already come to love and appreciate in my own feeble way. Shaila Catherine's book taught me to understand the ecosystem, and showed ways I could protect, support, and nurture this inner world. I also learned how these states could be useful in helping me to (at least temporarily) loosen the grip of greed, hatred, and delusion in my life, and to recognize the transient nature of all things, including who I am.I whole-heartedly recommend "Focused and Fearless" to anyone who is drawn to deepening their meditation practice. This book, coupled with Richard Shankman's "The Experience of Samadhi" (and especially the interview with Jack Kornfield), was thoroughly transformative for me.

After encountering Buddhism tangentially in the 1960s, I have now been a practicing Buddhist for the last eight or so years, focusing on the Theravada tradition and on Ānāpānasati practice.I am also studying Wisdom Publication’s now excellent translations of the Pali Canon where the Jhānas are mentioned if not in every Sutta, then in every other one. They are, to put it mildly, firmly part of the Theravada Path.That said, I have read just about everything I can lay my hands on concerning the Jhānas and right concentration. At this juncture, I am re-reading these many books, and I just completed a very thorough second pass of Catherine’s “Focused and Fearless.”I put this book down with the half-serious question: Does it really take the tender sensibilities of a woman to accurately and clearly approach and expound upon the niceties of deep-concentration meditation? I know this not to be the case, but I do forgive myself for asking.As Catherine states clearly in the front matter of the book, it is born out of personal experience; and this, to me, is crucial. I have read far too much of what strikes me as second-hand pedagogy, based not on personal experience but on other books, which may or may not have been based on personal experience.As a result, Catherine speaks to you confidently and wisely about the journey you are undertaking, about the pitfalls and signposts, about the false and true—she is brimmingly authentic; she’s certainly been there and done that.While it does guide you through the steps of practice, I find “Focused and Fearless” not so much an how-to book as a genuine spiritual map of the territory; and as such, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I have read quite a few books on meditation over the years and this is the best detailed one i have come across for ages. On the techniques of developing concentration/jhana and using jhana for insight. It is more than just instructions as it also has stories and accounts of personal experiences both in practice and teaching. It does waht it says it does.

Shaila Catherine has produced an excellent instructional guide to the practice of breath-based, visuddhimagga-styled jhanas. The book goes straight to the subject matter and is presented with many helpful charts and tables to make everything clear and practical. She also writes in an unassuming and often humorous tone which help make this book very enjoyable. She is not interested in making a case for or against the necessity or unnecessity of intensive jhana practice, all she cares for is presenting all the relevent information and tips that will help the meditator in a clear way. Despite the fact that I personally prefer the gentler sutta-styled jhana approach of teachers like Ayya Khema, there is no doubting the quality of information, practical advice and enjoyment factor of Ms. Catherine's work.

I am rereading parts of this book before moving on to Wisdom Wide and Deep (which I bought first). If you are interested in deepening your concentration practice I think you may find this book invaluable.

Sheila Catherine should write more or do more podcasts. She's an excellent thoughtful precise teacher.

Sheila Catherine is a great author, and this book is exceptional. Wisdom Wide and Deep is more recent.