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Boredom

ClayTheScribeClayTheScribe Veteran
edited October 2011 in Buddhism Basics
It seems to me in this day and age that with all of things "to do," when people don't have things to do they feel either impatient or bored. I understand impatience as a subtle form of anger, which is really a manifestation of fear. What is boredom really? Is it the fear of not having anything to do/not being fulfilled? How does one overcome it in his/her practice?

Comments

  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    Boredom is simply not having anything to do. For example, I am constantly bored. I rarely have anything to do. So, for the most part, I just sit around and get on the computer.
  • HanzzeHanzze Veteran
    Boredom means to have no significant object of self-identification *smile*

    Watching you mind is a good alternative attentive to usually seeking for "i" or "not I". You would get rid of "I" and you never could be bored. Busy all the time and even a lot of joy.

    So when ever bored, try to be mindful and watch your mind.
  • shays860shays860
    "A genius is never bored." Albert Einstein

    Read. Meditate. Be mindful. Investigate the root and nature of your boredom and transcend it..... or just play a video game.
  • shays860shays860
    just don't opt for the shallow entertainment every time.
  • HanzzeHanzze Veteran
    Or you can post in a forum :wave:
  • shays860shays860
    lol yeah... I find myself wanting to post on here constantly but I don't want to irritate the mods as most of it would probably wind up being irrelevant crap just posted to pass the time. A part of me feels like it should constitute practice...
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    IMO boredom is a type of attachment to stimulating/pleasurable experiences. As you say in todays day and age its really easy to scratch that itch so most of us don't have much impetus to overcome the attachment.
  • taiyakitaiyaki Veteran
    waiting for something to arrive, yet never seeing what's in front of them.
  • driedleafdriedleaf Veteran
    Realizing the benefits of meditation has dwindled my feelings of boredom. When you are bored, just watch the mind and experience. It is a gift of nature. :)
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    Boredom is PRESSURE to make something happen, rather than opening outwards into 'no mans land' of being 'between'. It is also a lack of confidence that we can trust our experience to 'work'.
  • zenffzenff Veteran
    edited November 2011
    Here’s another shot at it:

    Our brain is addicted to impulses; to stimulation.
    Feeling bored is going through the pain of withdrawal.

    When the intake of the addictive drug is constantly high we get less sensitive to it.
    But when we periodically limit the use of the drug our sensitivity grows again.

    Our mind responds to impressions like the pupil in our eye - or like the lens of a camera with automatic diaphragm - responds to light.

    Feeling bored is like a “cold turkey”.


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