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South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

reuters.com

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Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#61

Post by kijin »

Mikeb85 wrote: post #55
kijin wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obviously, not all South Koreans are locking themselves up. This is just an unusual hotel that helps people get away from everyday life and stop being tied to their smartphones for a while. You could remove all references to South Korea, and the business model still looks interesting. I suspect it could work just as well in Japan, or even in the West as a modern alternative to a monastery.

Why not just go to a monastery? It's just as structured, but with better food, scenery and the meditation/prayer/spirituality element helps when you return to civilisation.

Monasteries are a Western tradition. Some Buddhist temples and Christian organizations offer a similar program in South Korea, but most people who aren't religious don't feel comfortable attending an overtly religious program.

Edit: Most Koreans would think of monasteries as a Western/Christian thing. Culturally, modern South Korea is much closer to the West than to India or even China.

Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#63

Post by pandapower2 »

narrator wrote: post #48
klodolph wrote: post #38

Those of you considering the appeal, consider that there are retreats you can go on which structure your time and give you rules to follow. You don't have to make it look like prison.

I looked into signing up for a silent retreat, but they are expensive and sold out months in advance.

If you can get yourself to Thailand and dont have an aversion to Buddhism there are Buddhist temples where you can go stay. Frequently you make a donation at the end of your stay with the amount being at your discretion.

An example near Chiang Mai in north west Thailand https://www.fivethousandyears.org/

Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#64

Post by kijin »

pmiller2 wrote: post #53

I'm not sure why I'd want to pay someone else for this when I can do the same thing at home by unplugging my internet for a day.

If you are paying, you are more likely to successfully resist the urge to plug your internet back in, check your phone, or leave the "prison".

Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#65

Post by refurb »

Waterluvian wrote: post #24
ams6110 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You won't get good medical treatment in prison.

Define where? I would wager that in a lot of the modern world, you'd probably get adequate care.

You’d definitely get better care in the US by going on Medicaid. If you’ve worked enough to qualify for SSI (10 years), you’d be covered by Medicare!

Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#66

Post by bonestamp2 »

pmiller2 wrote: post #53

I'm not sure why I'd want to pay someone else for this when I can do the same thing at home by unplugging my internet for a day.

I'm not sure it would have the same effect. My parents have a vacation home near where I live. Sometimes I go there for the weekend and I still use the internet, but it's so much more relaxing because I'm physically separated from my home and normal life where I have a lot of responsibilities. To declutter your mind you have to remove yourself from all of your physical clutter, and I don't think you can do that at home. But, getting a room at a local motel would probably work. Maybe even leave your phone at home.

Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#67

Post by new_guy »

I think society (in general, not just Korean) is fundamentally broken when people are actually considering something like this.

The Korean Government reduced working hours from 68 to 52, it's still 48 too many (see the four hour working week)

Life is for LIVING. Too many people forget that.

Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#68

Post by miles »

narrator wrote: post #48
klodolph wrote: post #38

Those of you considering the appeal, consider that there are retreats you can go on which structure your time and give you rules to follow. You don't have to make it look like prison.

I looked into signing up for a silent retreat, but they are expensive and sold out months in advance.

Goenka’s 10-day vipassana retreats are not only free, but (at least when I took it) they would not even accept donations from those who hadn’t yet experienced the course: https://www.dhamma.org/

Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#69

Post by quickthrower2 »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #43
rb808 wrote: post #7

Actually sometimes I really fantasize about a 3-6 month stint in prison - am I the only one. Surely it can't be that bad If Martha Stewart can do it. Imagine no commuting or on call support or social engagements or children's homework or chores. bliss.

> Surely it can't be that bad Sure. If you don't mind very bad food. If you don't mind always being a little too cold. If you don't mind never having a moment to yourself. If you don't mind not being able to use the bathroom in private. If you don't mind never showering alone. If you don't never being alone. If you don't mind not seeing much sun.

And getting into fights? Constantly sussing out everyone else's intentions? Not being able to trust anyone?

Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life

#70

Post by driverdan »

rb808 wrote: post #7

Actually sometimes I really fantasize about a 3-6 month stint in prison - am I the only one. Surely it can't be that bad If Martha Stewart can do it. Imagine no commuting or on call support or social engagements or children's homework or chores. bliss.

You're romanticizing it. Even if you get great cellmates and the guards don't hate you there's intense boredom. You're much better off going on a camping trip or retreat to southeast Asia.
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