Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
How do you reduce the influence of the outside world
karasti
BreathingMinnesota Moderator
I read a line, many months ago, in the intro to the Way of the Bodhisattva, that says "The point is driven home that, whether one enters a monastery or prefers to remain in the lay condition, there can be no progress in concentration without a severe reduction in one's involvement in worldly affairs."
I don't agree that there can be "no" progress. But I thought then, and still think now that the more we can reduce the influence of the "outside" world, the better our practice can be. Obviously, life is great practice. I don't mean to be a hermit and live in a cave and you'll be a better Buddhist. I'm a fan of the middle way.
I definitely find that certain things push my buttons. I've made some progress in reducing and avoiding those things to keep my internal peace more stable, but sometimes it's really hard to avoid and still keep contact with friends and family. Sometimes I wish I could just remove myself from all of it, but for some reason I don't feel "free" to do so.
For example, I've been highly irritated with various discussions on Facebook this morning. Now, I used to read media articles and the comments that accompany them and drive myself mad over them. I don't do that now. I got rid of pretty much all the media from my FB feed, I rarely watch national news or pay much attention to online news sites. I streamlined my Facebook to be about the people I care for and want to connect with, including friends and family I don't see often because they live long distances away. But along with that comes their posts and their anger and feelings on things they see in their world. I have a hard time stepping away from that and it impacts how I feel and my inner peace goes in the toilet.
How do you manage these things? How do you prevent the outside chaos from destroying your inner peace? I frequently will take a day, or a few days and just don't use the internet at all. In one sense it's a very free feeling to not be tied to the world via computer and tv, but I do miss my friends and family. I'm just feeling irritated with it and I'm not sure what to do about it. So I'm curious what others do.
I don't agree that there can be "no" progress. But I thought then, and still think now that the more we can reduce the influence of the "outside" world, the better our practice can be. Obviously, life is great practice. I don't mean to be a hermit and live in a cave and you'll be a better Buddhist. I'm a fan of the middle way.
I definitely find that certain things push my buttons. I've made some progress in reducing and avoiding those things to keep my internal peace more stable, but sometimes it's really hard to avoid and still keep contact with friends and family. Sometimes I wish I could just remove myself from all of it, but for some reason I don't feel "free" to do so.
For example, I've been highly irritated with various discussions on Facebook this morning. Now, I used to read media articles and the comments that accompany them and drive myself mad over them. I don't do that now. I got rid of pretty much all the media from my FB feed, I rarely watch national news or pay much attention to online news sites. I streamlined my Facebook to be about the people I care for and want to connect with, including friends and family I don't see often because they live long distances away. But along with that comes their posts and their anger and feelings on things they see in their world. I have a hard time stepping away from that and it impacts how I feel and my inner peace goes in the toilet.
How do you manage these things? How do you prevent the outside chaos from destroying your inner peace? I frequently will take a day, or a few days and just don't use the internet at all. In one sense it's a very free feeling to not be tied to the world via computer and tv, but I do miss my friends and family. I'm just feeling irritated with it and I'm not sure what to do about it. So I'm curious what others do.
2
Comments
I'm not sure I'd agree that anger is more of a delusion than love. Both are real emotions, just one is more desirable than another. Just because one is "good" and one is "bad" doesn't necessarily make one a delusion and one not.
Naturally we might all wish to be more loving, more broad-minded, less critical, less angry, less greedy .. you know, all the good stuff. But worldly concerns are endless and the only way I know to deal with them (from a Buddhist point of view) is practice.
A very well-defined, sit-down-and-shut-up practice nourishes a perspective that has nothing to do with beating things over the head or arm-wrestling ourselves into some plaster-saint format. Bit by bit -- not overnight -- the need to exercise the 'bad' stuff just diminishes all by itself. No improvements necessary ... things improve all by themselves...
With practice.
FWIW.
Maybe try a musical instrument! Flutes are quick to learn. Start a garden! Plant vegetation that brings positive animals around such as hummingbirds bees squirrels deer. To attract hummingbirds try water honey and a tab of sugar my dad does that and it brings em back every year! Obviously if u live in a city these things may not be possible in that case move to da boonies! Lol
I do have Facebook (which I've only recently re-opened my account but have about a dozen friends). I still frequent a few political blogs, but pay less attention to them now, which helps my sanity (I used to get sooooo angry and it really did me no good). I speak with my parents two or three times a month online and with girlfriend online a few times a week (she lives overseas). Most of my free time is spent reading.
I find writing haiku is a good additional meditative practice to slow down and notice my surrounding. Even though I live in an apartment complex, it is a small one and I have a little bit of greenery to gaze at and it is usually quiet here. Give me tea and a book and that is as much excitement as I can stand!
I've never forced myself to live this way. I live in a good deal of comfort, but some people would say my way of life is spartan (I have a mattress, a desk, a bookshelf, a nightstand, and a laptop). I have some nice things, but a burglar would be disappointed with my place, except maybe the laptop. For the most part, I see very little reason to ;get out' or socialise or engage in too much activities (as you can imagine, I am never the life of the party!!).
Most of these changes have come about gradually, releasing things one by one, year by year. Every year I get rid of more stuff because I don't really need it. I also know it is easier for someone who is single and has no children and minimal responsibilities. I think it is something one slowly grows into.
Spring can't come faster!?!
I also walk to work, so I have no need of driving much. I live close to everything, so when I choose to go for a drive in the country, it's a treat rather than a chore.
Those are ways I reduce the Noisy Influences of the outside world. But I must also say that I am pretty much infatuated with its more colorful and varied sides at the same time. I'm just too interested in way too many things, so I'm basically a failure at being a monad.
I would love to be able to walk or talk public transit everywhere! I agree about "toxic" neighbors and others you see and spend time with every day. Our neighborhood seems to wallow in toxicity so I'm trying to think of ways to improve that.
'be in the world, but not of it'
easier said then done . . .
and 'whatever enters a salt-mine tends to become salt'
which in part explains how the mundane assaults (so to speak) our sense and senses.
Even the Budda, bless his empty cotton socks, lived in the salt mine, not on rainbow planet gaga.
Part of our refuge from the world is formal practice, which helps us deal with the arisings of being a minor or beginner. We are always just beginning.
Begin to chant internally more. Breath before speaking. Burn incense when you practice so that you can associate a smell with calm. Sip green tea or other drink, so your mind associates a drink with equanimity. Turn your fridge into a shrine (OK have not done that - yet). Doing tasks a bit slower and mindfully is always open to us.
Above all be kind, however you understand and can best implement this.
:wave:
This at the moment is what is. This is how it is. One of the definitions of dukkha is wanting things to be other than they are.
That doesn't mean we become passive. If we are too near the radiator and getting hot, move the chair.
But actually the outside world and us are not two. the TV and us are not two. The neighbours dog and us are not two. All sights are mandalas. All sounds without exception are mantra. Start there.
I think you can be in the world without losing yourself in the constant busy-ness. Moment to moment, I try to turn inward. Then anything can become a meditation.
Take everything as it is.
Let irritation go... the situation is still there.
Hold on to irritation... the situation is still there.
Ambient music is relaxing.
How about a Buddha box - too kitsch? There may be something available for your smartphone or tablet.
Gardening, even a window box, that is unwinding . . .
I like to cook or empty the dishwasher or clean . . .
I am sure I posted here on my bubble bath meditation . . .
I used to burn a lot of incense and just sniff essential oils to trigger mood changes.
Prostrations are good. Walking, exercise is good.
We have one of those vibro things for chairs. I may give that a go . . .
What you need is a range of activities, even some that seem a little 'new agey' . . .
Hope some of those ideas are helpful
:wave:
#1 Edible food
#2 Sense impressions (what comes in contact with our sense organs; ei: t.v., advertising, entertainment, art, books, music, etc.)
#3 Volition, will, intention (the desire to obtain what we want)
#4 Consciousness (This is "store consciousness," which is the lower realm where the karmic seeds are stored. You have positive and negative seeds which will grow into "mind consciousness" when nurtured, depending on which ones you are nurturing.)
The one I found easiest to control at first is Sense Impressions. With meditation, Volition is becoming easier to filter (I want "good" things). I think once you get a handle on those two, it's easier to work with Consciousness. And food is what I'm working on now (one I've struggled with for years). Food could mean going vegan for some, or maybe it just means reducing processed foods. It's all about what is "right" for you.
As always, mindfulness is key. If you practice mindfulness in all of your life, these Nutriments will be easier to manage.
Edited to add: What I've discovered in this process of mindfully watching my Nutriments is that I have a LOT of habit energy involved in all of them. I put a note on my computer that says "Hello, Habit Energy" (Thich Nhat Hanh's idea). This hasn't been successful in getting me off my computer completely, but I am more mindful about the time I'm on and what I'm doing when on. It has made me think more about whether or not I should get on the computer (and sometimes I'm able to refocus on some other task), as well as helping me to get off the computer at some point- LOL. I would say it's been successful as it has at least helped some. I also have a note in my kitchen that says, "What are you Doing?" This helps me be mindful when I'm doing chores (cleaning up) and when I'm going to go get a snack (or habitual snacking), or make a meal.
On another occasion I saw Ajahn Chah eat two Big Mac Cheeseburgers.
And the desire to get what we want even when appears to be " higher" or " purer" will invariably lead to dukkha.
What leads away from dukkha is openess to what is. Now.
The idea of wholesome nutriments is so that one can feel healthy and focused on being compassionate to themselves and to others. It doesn't mean that you have to be completely "pure" ("perfect"). It is just a tool to help people feel balanced and healthy, no more, no less.
The Nutriment of Volition does not mean that we should focus on getting what we want. What is means that if we have a focused intent, we will inevitably focus our life's actions to attain it. So, if you want a high paying job, that is where you will focus most of your actions in life. If you want retribution because you feel that someone wronged you, you will focus all of your energy on that. If you want to be kind to people, you will focus your actions on that. So the Nutriment of Volition is guiding us to be mindful of our intentions, because our intentions will affect our entire life-- the way we relate to ourselves and to others-- in more profound ways that it would first appear.
You seem to say that we should just accept / be open anything and everything that we see/hear, etc. But you also say that we should not be passive. The Nutriments actually give us a way to interact with the things in our life that have potential to harm or heal us and other beings. To simply accept is not enough, as you have clearly stated. In fact, you just gave an example of the Nutriment of Sense Impressions. Apply that idea to the other items on the list, and you will be a fairly content human.
Open your heart and free your mind and the truth will be presented to you.
If it works for you fine. But it seems to differ considerablyat various points from Buddha Dharma.
Which does not have as its goal being contented human beings merely, but points to the ending of dukkha.
If the concept of the "nutrition of volition" occurs anywhere in either the Sutta or Sutras I would be grateful to you if you could point me to the canonical source.
Acceptance is not " just"anything.
Its hard work being open to the present moment without choosing an outcome or manipulating the world..
Cut this root and there is nothing that can offend, be offended nor take offense. At that point all there is, is love.
So if you want to go big, isolate inherent existence and meditate/investigate if it holds up to scrutiny.
Which is not a " wrong " approach to Dharma, but is an approach to Dharma which differs fundamentally from a non duality approach like Dzogchen.
So I will wish you well and bow out.
The alternative is to talk past each other as there is no commonality of means.
Namaste.
@ Citta the nutriments are discussed in the Samyutta Nikaya II (Discourse on Right View). I have learned about this through The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings. Thich Nhat Hanh writes on page 31:
...The Buddha said, "When something has come to be, we have to acknowledge its presence and look deeply into its nature. When we look deeply, we will discover the kinds of nutriments that have helped it come to be and that continue to feed it." He then elaborated four kinds of nutriments that can lead to our happiness or our suffering-- edible food, sense impressions, intention, and consciousness.
The Dharma is a broad church.
You have your way and I have mine.
with metta.
Ambient music is relaxing.
How about a Buddha box - too kitsch? There may be something available for your smartphone or tablet.
Gardening, even a window box, that is unwinding . . .
I like to cook or empty the dishwasher or clean . . .
I am sure I posted here on my bubble bath meditation . . .
I used to burn a lot of incense and just sniff essential oils to trigger mood changes.
Prostrations are good. Walking, exercise is good.
We have one of those vibro things for chairs. I may give that a go . . .
What you need is a range of activities, even some that seem a little 'new agey' . . .
Hope some of those ideas are helpful
:wave:
On pandora dot com they have a yoga radio it has alot of Buddha chillout lounge music.
I feel like it's walking a line sometimes -- I don't want to cut out people and information to the point that I feel like I'm living in a bubble, but too much of certain kinds of things does me harm when it comes to letting go of anger and developing compassion. I go through periods where I struggle very badly with those two things, anyway. I have felt at times that this tactic was merely avoidance and wondered was it really going to change anything or were my buttons just not being pushed as often. On the other hand perhaps it's giving me enough space to develop a more charitable attitude towards others so I won't be as bothered when stuff does come up. I don't really have an answer for that and it doesn't take much for me to slip back into old patterns, but I get tired of being angry so I avoid anyway.
In daily living we may come across the crazy, parents, children, fastbuck or twatter etc.
Children being given up for adoption is probably not possible
You do not have to live in a Diogenes barrel to adopt a simpler lifestyle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living
Just remember some people are convinced meditation is sitting in the corner with horse blinders on, hands over the ears going "la la la la" . . .
I also struggle dealing with the media. I used to ignore the news entirely because it depressed me. The problem is, I often didn't exercise my right to vote because I felt too ignorant of the issues. Now I want to be able to vote and do what I can about issues I care about. It's a tricky balance, knowing enough to do that without getting overwhelmed.
One rule I have for myself is that I can read articles, but I no longer read comments, because trolls disturb me. But sometimes just the content of the article disturbs me so much it can become difficult to do other things I need to do. So I'm still playing with that balance, trying to figure out when to read, when to act, when I need to step back, meditate or do something healing like play the piano.
http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/pema/tonglen1.php
I sometimes use a mirror visualisation all around me.
Basically all the positive energy, if any, from a person or situation is allowed in.
The mirror then transforms their negative emanation and reflects it back as metta . . .
Very helpful. :wave:
I try to do that as often as I can