Men who stare at walls • Hacker News Board

Re: Men who stare at walls

#11

Post by saimiam » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:15 PM UTC

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #10

Is this not a form of meditation? I've never been able to keep a meditation habit, but my understanding is that meditation techniques often feature closing your eyes and focusing on breathing, body parts or some other irrelevant thing, it sounds like staring at a wall would serve the same purpose.

After reading your comment, I was reminded of my first and last visit to a zen meditation center where we had to meditate by staring at a wall sitting on some sort special cushion designed for this sort of meditation.

I think your parallel is spot on!

Re: Men who stare at walls

#12

Post by robertclaus » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:16 PM UTC

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #10

Is this not a form of meditation? I've never been able to keep a meditation habit, but my understanding is that meditation techniques often feature closing your eyes and focusing on breathing, body parts or some other irrelevant thing, it sounds like staring at a wall would serve the same purpose.

I was taught to aim for "mind blanking" when meditating, so does seem like it!

Re: Men who stare at walls

#13

Post by NDizzle » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:20 PM UTC

The same video showed up on my feed last week. I didn't try wall staring, but I did try a day (last Tuesday) with only a single screen active for the entire work day. I was extremely productive that day... but, and I know this is bad, I don't want set expectations too high. So here I type to you on a screen / device that should be turned off.

Re: Men who stare at walls

#14

Post by thrownthatway » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:20 PM UTC

predkambrij wrote: post #4

d--b wrote: post #2

Sounds like someone reinvented mindfulness

They made instructions for mindfulness direct and unambiguous which is great.

I’d subtract a wall and substitute the breathe.

But a wall would probably do just fine as well.

Re: Men who stare at walls

#15

Post by dktp » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:20 PM UTC

Loosely related, though I don't think Benjamin Bennett's intention was ever to improve focus/productivity

But it never ceases to amaze me the consistency and time spent sitting and smiling and other similar endeavors by Benjamin - https://www.youtube.com/@BenjaminBennetttt/streams

Re: Men who stare at walls

#16

Post by amelius » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:21 PM UTC

In case someone wants to look at a wall:

https://unsplash.com/photos/red-bricks-wall-XEsx2NVpqWY

Re: Men who stare at walls

#17

Post by MarkusQ » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:25 PM UTC

InMice wrote: post #5

No thank you, my time on Earth is limited.

Yeah, you're only here for a short while, so why not make the worst of it?

Re: Men who stare at walls

#18

Post by keyle » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:25 PM UTC

Instead of a wall may I recommend trees, fresh air, and just enjoying it away from anything electrical.

I had a same issue and I found it helped to just step away and blank out in nature.

Also try delaying your first coffee to after the first hour of being awake.

Re: Men who stare at walls

#19

Post by Insanity » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:27 PM UTC

NDizzle wrote: post #13

The same video showed up on my feed last week. I didn't try wall staring, but I did try a day (last Tuesday) with only a single screen active for the entire work day. I was extremely productive that day... but, and I know this is bad, I don't want set expectations too high. So here I type to you on a screen / device that should be turned off.

I went from a single monitor setup to triple monitor a decade ago, and then back down to single monitor.

It helps me focus to have just one active “feed”. And I put my phone away when I work to eliminate that screen as potential distraction.

Where I still kinda “fail” is during natural downtime. Like if I’m waiting somewhere, e.g the Dr office, I’ll pull out my phone and browse mindlessly.

Re: Men who stare at walls

#20

Post by ammmir » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 1:27 PM UTC

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #10

Is this not a form of meditation? I've never been able to keep a meditation habit, but my understanding is that meditation techniques often feature closing your eyes and focusing on breathing, body parts or some other irrelevant thing, it sounds like staring at a wall would serve the same purpose.

staring at a wall is basically the zen practice of shikantaza [1], except you’re not staring, it’s more of an eyes half closed yet alert gaze. you don’t do anything, not even counting the breath. you just sit, that’s the entire practice. in my experience, the more you intellectualize it, the more difficult it becomes!

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikantaza