Into the Silent Land Audiobook By Martin Laird cover art

Into the Silent Land

A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation

Preview
Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Into the Silent Land

By: Martin Laird
Narrated by: Erin Bennett
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.95

Buy for $17.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Sitting in stillness, the practice of meditation, and the cultivation of awareness are commonly thought to be the preserves of Hindus and Buddhists. Martin Laird shows that the Christian tradition of contemplation has its own refined teachings on using a prayer word to focus the mind, working with the breath to cultivate stillness, and the practice of inner vigilance or awareness.

But this book is not a mere historical survey of these teachings. In Into the Silent Land, we see the ancient wisdom of both the Christian East and West brought sharply to bear on the modern-day longing for radical openness to God in the depths of the heart. Laird's book is not like the many presentations for beginners. While useful for those just starting out, this book serves especially as a guide for those who desire to journey yet deeper into the silence of God.

The heart of the book focuses on negotiating key moments of struggle on the contemplative path, when the whirlwind of distractions or the brick wall of boredom makes it difficult to continue. Laird shows that these inner struggles, even wounds, that any person of prayer must face, are like riddles, trying to draw out of us our own inner silence.

Ultimately Laird shows how the wounds we loathe become vehicles of the healing silence we seek, beyond technique and achievement. Throughout, the language is fresh, direct, and focused on real-life examples of people whose lives are incomparably enriched by the practice of contemplation.

©2006 Martin Laird, O.S.A (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
Christianity History Meditation Spirituality
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_T1_webcro805_stickypopup
Comprehensive Guide • Practical Guidance • Insightful Explanations • Accessible Content • Spiritual Wisdom
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
This book is a must read for those seeking to know God in the deepest way possible.

Great primer on Contemplation

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book, the first of a trilogy, is an excellent introduction to contemplation. Audible publish the other two! It would be a service to those who are searching a deeper connection with the Divine Mystery by whatever name or no name you invoke it.

Martin Laird is a Master of Contemplation

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Deep & simple. Best savored in small bites. A Christian intro to meditation as prayer.

Difficult to absorb

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A good book on contemplative prayer. A compliment to Open Mind, Open Heart by Keating. Highly recommend

Easy listening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is incredibly accessible, full of helpful images and practical guidance. A must read for any Christian wanting to explore contemplative practice.

Extraordinary wisdom, beautifully read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very well done. A little too slow for me so I bumped it up 20%. I'm sure I will be listening to this one many more times.

The Silent Land

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What I dislike, there was a lot of cutting out in the audio. The message was what I needed.

The message of stillness, meditative prayer, seeing my faults and sins as having no substance that after I confess.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I am not familiar with Contemplative practice. This book has stretched me. I certainly plan to listen/read again and gain more insight into silence and contemplative prayer.

Deep thoughts

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is simply the best modern exposition of contemplative prayer!!! It is my favorite book of 2020. It is at once a very practical how-to and a clear description of what to expect along the mystical path. Thank you to Brother Martin for writing it and to Audible for making the audiobook available. I would hope to see his other books in the trilogy on audio.

Simply the Best!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is a very helpful book that I listened to several times. I seems to me that this book really explains Contemplative prayer. I enjoy listening to Merton and Keating. This book however, draws a map that makes everything clearer. This was not my last listen. Thank you.

Great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews