Like the real parasite, they live on others to whatever extent they can, becoming gruff and ill-tempered when one tries to rouse them from their inaction. The slothful person wants to escape all exertion, whatever might interfere with their comfort or involve fatigue. More frequently it is a disease of the will, which fears effort and recoils from it. At times this is a morbid disposition due to poor condition of health. Sloth is an inclination to idleness or at least to aimlessness, to apathy in action. There is in all of us a tendency to follow the line of least resistance, which paralyses or lessens our activity. It proceeds from a love of pleasure, inasmuch as it inclines us to avoid effort and hardship. However, while this is part of the manifestation of sloth, the central problem with sloth as a capital sin is spiritual laziness – which leads to lukewarmness.
Sloth, often called acedia, is often described simply as the sin of laziness. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth”(Revelation 3:15-16). Photo courtesy of A Sloth’s Guide to Mindfulness by Ton Mak (Chronicle Books, 2018).“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. It’s a one-of-a-kind edition that everyone interested in mindfulness or meditation should have on his or her bookshelf. And its off-the-charts cute factor makes it nearly impossible to come away from this read without a smile. And doing so inherently takes the self-criticism and self-judgment out of the mindfulness practice, which so often is the biggest challenge for anyone to face while engaging in this type of practice.įor a beginning meditator just learning about mindfulness, or for a seasoned practitioner or teacher, this volume has something for everyone. It’s easy to pick this book up, open to any page, and instantly receive a poignant lesson.īut, most importantly, the brilliance of this little gem is that it provides readers the ability to focus not on the self and how the mindfulness practice is being executed, which is so incredibly easy to do, but rather to focus on Sloth and the instructions. Its simplicity lends to its usefulness, and to the ways in which the basic principles of mindfulness are distilled in such an easy to digest manner.
Sloth makes a mindfulness practice easier, allowing readers to zip through the cute illustrations and use them as reminders that can help focus this ongoing practice. Sloth reminds readers that awareness of breath is important, that a person need not have all the answers to life’s burning eternal questions or temporary pains. It also reminds us that the present moment is, in fact, the perfect moment just the way it is. If we focus too hard on results, if becomes harder to stay present.” And, perhaps my personal favorite, a directive that when life or mindfulness practice becomes very challenging, just “Hang in there.” Sloth provides simple but profound instructions such as: “Befriend your emotions - the good ones and the bad ones.” And, “The search for mindfulness is not marked by success.
It provides a gentle way to engage in a practice that can be full of ups and downs, depending on what’s unfolding in life’s present moment. So, wouldn’t it be more fun with an illustrated guide chock full of gentle reminders on just how the mindfulness practice can be done? And - even better - if that illustrated guide was presented by an adorable, rotund little Sloth?Ī Sloth’s Guide to Mindfulnessis a succinct, illustrated volume that makes mindfulness a little bit less daunting - and a lot more fun! The beauty of this easy-to-read volume is its irony and humor, and its ability to quickly make mindfulness second nature. This can be difficult for many - and especially difficult for those who may have experienced difficult life events or circumstances, or even trauma. It also requires an honest look at the self and the willingness to be fully present no matter what sensations arise in the body, what emotional responses to life occur, and the courage to accept these things at face value. It’s a daily practice that unfolds moment by moment - and staying aware in each moment requires attentiveness.