This is something I have had no problem with the past 5 years. With permanent tinnitus come October, this is terrifying and difficult.
All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
111–120 of 468 posts
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#112Why would you sit quietly alone in a room when you could be enjoying a sauna, soaking up the sun at the beach, or picnicking in a park? I don’t think the problem is sitting alone with one’s thoughts - but rather that an indoor room isn’t a particularly desirable environment. At least it isn’t as undesirable as an airplane seat though.
Before small screens and walkmans, millions of people flew every day in an airplane seat trapped with their own thoughts. For many, it was probably the only time they experienced this.
I actually get comments from other passengers now how I can sit and look out the window for hours without music, movie or book.
In their rooms, they have other venues and probably less fear of negative self-conscious thoughts (too fat, ugly, whatever for the beach).
I wonder how many Hikikomori are in their own thoughts vs escaping into online venues.
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#113As someone who loves sitting quietly and thinking to the point where when I get too busy, lack of it is what first starts to impact me negative emotion wise, I have to question what can be taken away from that study.
I can safely and easily sit quietly at home. I can't safely and easily electro shock myself at home. It's something I'm curious about and would try. You'd need to have me come back a few times and see what I pick when the electroshock option is no longer a novelty. Even then, you're going to have to be careful that there's no way this could turn in to a competition of sorts where I get the idea to try to outlast the other participants or even just myself seeing how much I can take.
This would be like determining that I prefer my burgers to have weird chutneys and exotic ingredients on them because that's what I order at restaurants given the option. No, plain cheeseburger with maybe some tomato or pickles is way better. But I can and do make that myself, often, and imo better than must restaurants do. I'm ordering something different that I don't do at home, not picking my favourite choice.
Or "here's your favourite movie you've seen a ton of times and have on your hard drive. Here's another one you've thought about watching, haven't bothered to, but if you don't watch it now you'll probably never have another chance; which one do you want to watch?" Pick the latter and they clap themselves on the back for their miraculous favourite movie changing ability.
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've done a variety of meditation techniques and certainly appreciate the benefits they may offer. One thing I'd say is that it's not always the techniques that feel the hardest that actually offer the most benefits. I believe Buddha's term "middle way" referred to a way that was in the middle between extreme privation/altered consciousness and the ordinary world. I think those interested in meditation techniques sho…
This is the opinion of an amateur, but I think this is where "skillful effort" comes into play. A retreat like that will be less strenuous if you already have a daily meditation practice. I wouldn't describe a weeklong meditation retreat as the "extreme" side of the Buddha's middle way. That would be more like starving yourself in asceticism. With the right practice/preparation (IE a few months of daily hour-long sit…
Yeah, the point isn't that any given thing is hard but that throwing yourself into the practice that's really extreme for you might not be the best to start mindfulness.
In Qi Dao, our approach is based not on going beyond a person's comfort zone but extending their comfort zone.
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#115Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've done a variety of meditation techniques and certainly appreciate the benefits they may offer. One thing I'd say is that it's not always the techniques that feel the hardest that actually offer the most benefits. I believe Buddha's term "middle way" referred to a way that was in the middle between extreme privation/altered consciousness and the ordinary world. I think those interested in meditation techniques sho…
This is the opinion of an amateur, but I think this is where "skillful effort" comes into play. A retreat like that will be less strenuous if you already have a daily meditation practice. I wouldn't describe a weeklong meditation retreat as the "extreme" side of the Buddha's middle way. That would be more like starving yourself in asceticism. With the right practice/preparation (IE a few months of daily hour-long sit…
> IE a few months of daily hour-long sits
Maybe it’s a difference of perspective, but what you describe as practice already sounds pretty extreme to me.
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#116> "Still, I'd wager even Pascal would have been disturbed"
Enjoyed this.
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#117Earlier quoted context omitted.
The person's point is likely that you spent a lot of energy on something that probably doesn't matter. This might be subjective, of course, but it is possible to think about something for longer than you should. Navel-gazing isn't a virtue. Though ideally you probably want to be with people who think that the same stuff is important.
Longer than you should? There is no such thing. Of course it's possible to spend thought without resulting in any new discoveries but that's not really a problem because thoughts are interconnected and build upon each other to create better mental models for other situations. It doesn't matter how petty or insignificant the topic is, it's the act of thinking deeply about something that's important. Anyway, I understa…
Overthinking and dwelling on things is a real problem, particularly for people with anxiety disorders. And the suggestion that you can’t think about something for too long is ridiculous.
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#118Earlier quoted context omitted.
Longer than you should? There is no such thing. Of course it's possible to spend thought without resulting in any new discoveries but that's not really a problem because thoughts are interconnected and build upon each other to create better mental models for other situations. It doesn't matter how petty or insignificant the topic is, it's the act of thinking deeply about something that's important. Anyway, I understa…
Overthinking and dwelling on things is a real problem, particularly for people with anxiety disorders. And the suggestion that you can’t think about something for too long is ridiculous.
What's too long? Explain that reasoning.
Clearly a disorder is something else other than healthy deep thought. Overthinking, dwelling (and brooding as the other commenter said) isn't the same as contemplative or investigative thought about a topic. Rather, it's the opposite and isn't very thoughtful at all.
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#119Where do I sign up for this? It sounds really nice
Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)
#120Preface: I am not nor have I ever been diagnosed with any personality disorders or mental illnesses.
When I was a catholic, I prayed and read scripture daily, about 45mins to an hour, for ~10 years straight. Another 10 minutes for nightly prayers as well. Unfortunately all I can say is it honestly has transformed me into a schizoid. It has developed myself into being far more comfortable alone than with others. I've gone weeks without talking to people. I've learned solitary coping mechanisms. I've basically been able to perform therapy on myself and manipulate me individually in a way so that I can achieve desired results. I often feel like it's other people who bring about negative results in my life more than the other way around.
I also recognize I'm "wrong" socially in a way that's completely abnormal. But, having tried numerous times to be social, I always end up in the same scenario going back to what I know is tried and true. I'd be curious to know if anyone else has lived a similar way.