The Quiet Mind audiobook cover - The firsthand account of a CIA agent who traveled the Eastern world in search of mindfulness

The Quiet Mind

The firsthand account of a CIA agent who traveled the Eastern world in search of mindfulness

John E. Coleman

3.9 / 5(205 ratings)

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

Listen to The Quiet Mind — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from The Quiet Mind

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from The Quiet Mind

Mind Map

The Quiet Mind
The Catalyst
Modern Stress
Early Phenomena
Philosophical Encounters
Krishnamurti
Buddhadasa Bikku
Dr. D. T. Suzuki
Rejected Methods
Tibetan Buddhism
Tantrism
Japanese Zen Temples
Western Traditions
The Path of Vipassana
Initial Mistakes
The Breakthrough
Ultimate Realization
The ego is the fundamental source of all suffering
Inner peace doesn't require travel; it already lies within you

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9
What initial experience in Thailand sparked Coleman’s belief that there was a link between hypnotism and meditation?

The Quiet Mind — Full Chapter Overview

The Quiet Mind Summary & Overview

The Quiet Mind (1971) is the firsthand account of an American intelligence agent who traveled the Eastern world in search of inner peace. Throughout his remarkable life, author John. E. Coleman explored a wide breadth of spiritual paths, from Thai Buddhism to Zen to Quakerism. Ultimately, he found the greatest success with vipassana, a type of meditation he later imparted to his own students.

Who Should Listen to The Quiet Mind?

  • The spiritually open-minded
  • Those looking to understand the differences among several Eastern philosophies
  • Admirers of D. T. Suzuki, Jiddu Krishnamurti, and U Ba Khin

About the Author: John E. Coleman

John E. Coleman was an officer with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), stationed in Thailand throughout the 1950s and ’60s. During a trip to nearby Burma (now Myanmar), he studied the vipassana meditation method of renowned Buddhist leader U Ba Khin, under whose tutelage he finally reached enlightenment. Eventually, Coleman began to conduct his own ten-day meditation courses all over the world. He died in 2012.

🎧
Listen in the AppOffline playback & background play
Get App