Almost satirical sounding.
South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
71–80 of 190 posts
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#72I'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 ho…
> To declutter your mind you have to remove yourself from all of your physical clutter
Maybe you should try getting rid of your physical clutter first. It might improve your overall happiness instead of a day without it.
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#73Those 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.
The Vipassana silent courses put on by dhamma.org are entirely free, run by volunteers. The popular locations are fully booked months in advance, but if you have a very flexible schedule you can get on the waitlist and be accepted right before the course, that is how I did my first one.
I've done two 10-day courses from them. After my first one I described it to people as like being in prison, never having gone to prison, but with less freedom than prison. But I still went back for a second time :)
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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?
I don't have a lot of first hand experience, but fights don't happen as much as TV would have you believe.
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
> Monasteries are a Western tradition
Where on Earth are you getting that idea? Are you forgetting about India?
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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?
Playing dungeons and dragons all day to pass the time?
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#77Those 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.
Also look into Christian monasteries near you. I'm not Christian but spent a silent weekend at a Cistercian monastery and it was amazing. They suggest a donation but there's no charge. Only have to schedule a month or two in advance.
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#78Actually 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 If Martha Stewart can do it
Just because she did it doesn't mean it was pleasant.
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
And getting into fights? Constantly sussing out everyone else's intentions? Not being able to trust anyone?
I don't have a lot of first hand experience, but fights don't happen as much as TV would have you believe.
I don't have much either, but basing it on behind the scenes TV shows based on jails. (I guess different to prisons - more comings and goings). Obviously TV will show you every fight, and maybe they don't happen often, but I bet there is a lot of posturing leading up to those fights. I remember what high school was like, probably not much different.
Re: South Koreans lock themselves up to escape prison of daily life
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
> Monasteries are a Western tradition Where on Earth are you getting that idea? Are you forgetting about India?
If you're Korean, India is Western. They share "Buddhism", though generally not the same sect of Buddhism. They don't share a cultural tradition.