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All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

theguardian.com

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Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#171

Post by tonyedgecombe »

thinkling wrote: post #16

It's a funny thing. Most of us have no trouble driving a car for an hour without any further entertainment, and letting our brains wander freely in the meantime. Most of the driving we do on auto-pilot. (Spoiler: Much of the thinking, too, actually, it turns out when you look closer during meditation). But put the same person in an empty room and the same task of letting your mind wander becomes odious. Odd, no?

I remember seeing an experiement where people out for a walk were asked to solve a maths puzzle. The first thing they did was stop walking while they considered it.

Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#172

Post by prox »

claudiawerner wrote: post #87
codechicago277 wrote: post #50

This quote comes from Blaise Pascal's Pensées, accessible here. "That is why we like noise and activity so much. That is why imprisonment is such a horrific punishment. That is why the pleasure of being alone is incomprehensible. That is, in fact, the main joy of the condition of kingship, because people are constantly trying to amuse kings and provide them with all sorts of distraction.—The king is surrounded by peo…

>The king is surrounded by people whose only thought is to entertain him and prevent him from thinking about himself. This is really interesting from a modern perspective. I'm an audiophile - I've spent countless hours just sitting in a chair in front of a stereo system I've spent a couple thousand on. If I ever lapse into non-attention to the music, I try and get back to the music. It's like mindfulness meditation,…

I recommend the book “the wisdom of insecurity” by Alan Watts.

Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#173

Post by TriNetra »

pmoriarty wrote: post #54
codechicago277 wrote: post #50

This quote comes from Blaise Pascal's Pensées, accessible here. "That is why we like noise and activity so much. That is why imprisonment is such a horrific punishment. That is why the pleasure of being alone is incomprehensible. That is, in fact, the main joy of the condition of kingship, because people are constantly trying to amuse kings and provide them with all sorts of distraction.—The king is surrounded by peo…

Just a bit more on why Pascal thought even a king is unhappy when he thinks about himself: Whatever condition we picture to ourselves, if we muster all the good things which it is possible to possess, royalty is the finest position in the world. Yet, when we imagine a king attended with every pleasure he can feel, if he be without diversion, and be left to consider and reflect on what he is, this feeble happiness wil…

the day you can sit for hours without doing anything, you've attained the state of self-realization – self-love free from all conditions. The conditioned mind is no longer there, the thoughts no longer bombard you, the emotions no longer disturb you. You enjoy the deep peace, contentment and bliss of your infinite self. Then you can truly contemplate deeply on anything you feel important, then the deep mysteries of existence shall open up to you. Then, you see the truth, of life, existence and the universe.

Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#174

Post by nprateem »

onecommentman wrote: post #65

“You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.” - Franz Kafka

Ecstasy. This dude knew how to meditate. A lot of people think meditation is just an exercise in patience and self discipline to stop the chatter of the mind, and that that is the end in itself. They are unaware of where meditation can lead.

When the central channel (referred to as sushumna in yoga) is open and energy flows freely, you can feel ecstatic sensations in the centre of the brain as the upper centres become energised. It's important to relax the body, including the eyes, head and brain itself.

I feel it like a sort of exhilaration, like the first time I went on a rollercoaster or cycled my bike fast down a hill etc. It's an electrically alive feeling.

I hear this is just the start: what starts as a trickle becomes a torrent, apparently.

Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#175

Post by hbarka »

chordalkeyboard wrote: post #167
3D4y0 wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps thats is because ants and amoebas have to find food in a bid to continue thier existence. Its safe to asume that for them to be satiated (not just resting) is to die.

Yes! So one wonders if aboriginal foraging humans have a concept of enlightenment.

Nevermind humans working for a paycheck.

Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#177

Post by nprateem »

joe_the_user wrote: post #96
occamschainsaw wrote: post #85

This quote has fascinated me for a long time. It seems that this is a skill that can be sharpened with deliberate practice. I went to a 10 day silent meditation retreat (Vipasana) abs felt I got much more comfortable sitting by myself just observing my thoughts. The practice part was difficult, probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. 10 days of no talking/reading/writing, sitting in a room, observing you…

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…

I read that the 'middle way' was as opposed to practices mortifying the body, eg starvation, self flagellation etc, which were popular at the time the Buddha was around.

Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#178

Post by chordalkeyboard »

hbarka wrote: post #175
chordalkeyboard wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes! So one wonders if aboriginal foraging humans have a concept of enlightenment.

Nevermind humans working for a paycheck.

"before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water. after enlightenment: chop wood, carry water"

Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#179

Post by somedude895 »

pantelisk wrote: post #127
onecommentman wrote: post #65

“You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.” - Franz Kafka

I was looking at this quote for a long time. I forgot who it was from, and only remembered it paraphrased. Thank you. To also contribute to the discussion. I often joke that it takes effort to mess things up. You could instead lay on the beach enjoy the evening breeze than putting in that effort. So before you delve into that process, take a step back and think carefully what you want out of it. I like long walks acc…

Why is it, that sitting alone will have me ruminating, thinking negative thoughts whereas when I'm moving my legs thoughts seem to be more positive or productive?

Re: All problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone (2014)

#180

Post by nprateem »

IgorPartola wrote: post #106
occamschainsaw wrote: post #85

This quote has fascinated me for a long time. It seems that this is a skill that can be sharpened with deliberate practice. I went to a 10 day silent meditation retreat (Vipasana) abs felt I got much more comfortable sitting by myself just observing my thoughts. The practice part was difficult, probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. 10 days of no talking/reading/writing, sitting in a room, observing you…

The thing that’s been on my mind lately is that the definition of our human sentience is that a thought about a thought is itself a thought. We to some extent have solved the halting problem. Or rather it doesn’t apply to the way our programming works, if you will.

Don't think about the thoughts, just feel them. If you burn your hand, what comes first, the sensation of pain or thinking about it? Just be with the sensation, and don't drop into more thoughts about thoughts.
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