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That Misery Called Meditation

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Re: That Misery Called Meditation

#41

Post by Goladus »

Groxx wrote: post #38
samatman wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think of meditation as a pot of water you're trying to boil away. A retreat is a chance to get that pot of water to a boil. Once there, a little meditation each day will continue to boil the pot. Without the focused immersion, a little heat each day might never boil the pot. Note that this works for languages, physical skills (aikido) and many other complex tasks.

And going back into the world analogous to having a cold shower. How much is undone?

I'd say it depends on many factors. If you immediately go out and get hammered and get very little sleep for a few days in a row, the changes will probably vanish much more quickly than if you being regularly applying some of the discipline you learned.

Re: That Misery Called Meditation

#43

Post by jw84 »

mcantor wrote: post #24
pavel_lishin wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, especially after reading Anathem. Then I realize that my refrigerator is full of delicious things, and that my friends mostly live in Western society.

Desire is the cause of all suffering, but there's also bacon.

Attachment is the root of all suffering. The subtlety is that one may want but clinging onto that desire and not letting go creates pain.

Re: That Misery Called Meditation

#44

Post by adammichaelc »

jw84 wrote: post #43
mcantor wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Desire is the cause of all suffering, but there's also bacon.

Attachment is the root of all suffering. The subtlety is that one may want but clinging onto that desire and not letting go creates pain.

Joy can't exist without suffering.

Re: That Misery Called Meditation

#45

Post by timwiseman »

Estragon wrote: post #36
philk wrote: post #14

I'm not really sure of the benefits of these big one off things; after seven days meditating you come back into your regular life, surrounded by your old environment and soon end up reverting to your previous mental patterns. It seems analogous to going on a running retreat, spending seven days running all day and then coming home and not running again. It strikes me that it would be more worthwhile to cultivate the…

You need both.

Precisely. Retreats (or equivalent period of intense focus) can help you get started or help you break through a plateau, but they mean little without sustained practice.

Of course, if you hit a plateau in that sustained practice or have a hard time getting started, a dedicated retreat may be just what you need.

Re: That Misery Called Meditation

#47

Post by r0s »

Can anyone with experience recommend this kind of meditation to build discipline?

Stress relief and mindfulness are great but not really my goal. I want more focus and energy.

Re: That Misery Called Meditation

#48

Post by Natsu »

r0s wrote: post #47

Can anyone with experience recommend this kind of meditation to build discipline? Stress relief and mindfulness are great but not really my goal. I want more focus and energy.

> I want more focus and energy.

In that case, I suggest a nap instead.

Re: That Misery Called Meditation

#49

Post by rokhayakebe »

adammichaelc wrote: post #44
jw84 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Attachment is the root of all suffering. The subtlety is that one may want but clinging onto that desire and not letting go creates pain.

Joy can't exist without suffering.

But you do not have to experience a feeling to fully enjoy its opposite.

Re: That Misery Called Meditation

#50

Post by rokhayakebe »

rikthevik wrote: post #19

Does anyone else ever get the desire to throw off the shackles of this Western society, renounce their possessions and go live in a monastery somewhere?

I say drive for an hour or two, find some place with streaming water and some trees or just a huge green field, and take a day there.
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