01:23

No Distractions

Rated

4.6

Type

Activity

Meditation

Suitable for

Everyone

Plays

1.4k

In this short meditation, John takes us through a philosophical thought to ponder. Here, the listener is invited to consider that there are no meditative distractions but only experiences. Enjoy this profoundly insightful take on the nature of existence and reality.

Meditation Philosophy Awareness Acceptance Mindfulness Existence Reality Non Judgmental Awareness Acceptance Of Emotions Mindful Observation

Transcript

For these next few moments,

Consider that there are no distractions.

The things we typically conceive of as meditative distractions,

Like thinking or daydreaming,

Just consider that these are nothing more than another momentary event,

Another phenomena arising in the field of experience.

After all,

To say that some experiences are distractions while others are not is really to privilege certain experiences over others.

So instead of viewing certain experiences as distractions we must keep ourselves from being distracted by,

Simply see that wherever attention may happen to wander off to is just another miraculous arising of experience,

Another astounding occurrence of reality.

Let there be no distractions,

But only different experiences.

Meet your Teacher

John Astin Santa Cruz, CA, USA

4.6 (151)

Recent Reviews

J

Jean

December 3, 2025

Thank you!

K

Kim

September 15, 2025

I appreciate this perspective. May help me not to feel so guilty. To me, also aligns with my thoughts that the ego is not the enemy.

s

stefy

July 19, 2020

Thank you John in a short time it helps to stop judging the depth of our practice by how distracted we can get

C

Cathy

December 1, 2018

Thank you for this reminder

C

Catherine

November 20, 2018

Thank you🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻It's all about letting go of judgement to whatever I am experiencing, is it not?!...

Y

Ya'akov

November 20, 2018

Love it! Finished your book. Awesome and thank you! Every moment of my day is miraculous now that I know to look! 😀

C

Chris

November 20, 2018

Great thought. Thank you

P

Patricia

November 20, 2018

Excellent 1 minute ponder and shift in the perception of distractions. Thank you.

T

Tony

November 20, 2018

A very useful way to look at our thoughts. Be present to them.

A

Anne

November 20, 2018

I love this wee take on things. Yet another new experience on this great journey of life! It’s a tough bit I’m on at the moment but we live and we learn. 🙏 x

�

💞🐾🦮Jana

November 20, 2018

Perfect perspective. Perfectly pleasing John! 🙏🏼🌷🙏🏽🐾💐🙏🏽

A

Amanda

November 20, 2018

YASSSS!!! Side note: I was born in Santa Cruz :)

M

Mary

November 20, 2018

Great way to view distractions. Thank you!

L

Lisa

November 20, 2018

Thank you. I liked this very much. A perspective shift that allows us to be kinder to ourselves when meditating.

S

Salimah

November 20, 2018

As always well said. Thank you.

K

Kimberly

November 20, 2018

I hadn't heard this point of view before; it's intriguing! I will return from time to time to remind my self of it.

M

Margie

November 19, 2018

Love this positive take! There are no distractions!

K

Kathy

November 19, 2018

Interesting idea to ponder. I will try this. I already feel it will help me to judge less. Adventures not distractions. Thank you.😊

K

Katherine

November 19, 2018

I liked not attaching any particular meaning to a veer in nonfocused attention. 🙃 Thank you again.

More from John Astin

Loading...

Related Meditations

Loading...

Related Teachers

Loading...

© 2026 John Astin. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

How can we help?

Sleep better

Reduce stress or anxiety

Meditation

Spirituality

Something else