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Need advice regarding how to live my life.
Hello friends,
I am humbly asking for your help in a matter I haven’t been able to figure out for years. I will try to keep my post as short as possible.
How and where should I live and practice Buddhism? I can’t seem to find a way...
I am highly introverted. I am not sure how introversion fits into Anatta, but in my stage of spiritual journey I am still very much introverted. Being around other people is extremely exhausting. For the past 3 years I have lived completely alone. I don’t leave my home for work – I stay indoors pretty much the entire time. During the colder part of the year I sometimes leave the apartment only once – to get food. During the warmer part I take occasional walks early in the morning. On an average day I don’t talk to anybody over the phone. I may change some e-mails or other forms of written messages, but that’s all the interaction I have with people. I just meditate and try to keep quiet. I try to be mindful – even while I’m exercising or cooking. I do read, watch some inspirational movies and listen to (mostly spiritual) music (usually in the evening for a few hours).
The problem is that I am rapidly running out of money. I don’t live in America or any other wealthy country. Salaries in my country are very low, yet the cost of living (mainly food, clothes, etc) is much greater than in the States or western Europe. For the past 3 years I have lived from the money I inherited. I always thought about using it for entrepreneurship, but never really made it anywhere (mostly because I thought it would interfere with my spiritual journey). And now I have maybe 3-4 months worth of it left.
Get a job? First of all, not only am I highly introverted, but I am also very shy. Whenever I am in the center of attention, I am close to turning red. And there are very few jobs in my country where somebody with these characteristics could work. For some reason, my blushing seems to nearly disappear in the countries that have warmer climates. And secondly, whenever I have been close to getting a job, I have had this extremely powerful inner gut feeling screaming against it. It’s as of somebody inside of me is yelling NO!! I had this feeling all throughout my school years – they were the most difficult years of my life. I disliked them so very much. Many years ago there were occasions I got drunk because of how bad this feeling was. Now I just try to listen to it and do what it says. Should I?
What am I to do? I am not dumb or uneducated. Quite the contrary, but that’s besides the point. My entrepreneurship years failed because I concentrated on my practice. I felt that starting my own companies would cut into that. I would be getting tons of phone calls and I’d always have to plan something. A busy mind is not what I would have wished for my meditations. I still feel the same way, but should I just be involved in the business world and accept that my spiritual path is slowed down because of that?
A monastery? I went to Thailand this summer to stay in an highly respected forest monastery. I stayed there for a few weeks. I didn’t like it for one reason. There was way too much communication and interaction between the monks and monastery workers. We spent many hours per day doing chores – most of them meant communicating with others (dividing up activities, organizing things, etc). And whenever we weren’t working, we were meditating or chanting together. That happened 3 times per day for approximately 1.5 - 2 hours per session. I am not that good of an meditator yet to be able to meditate with 70 monks in the room (literally side-by-side). Somebody is always moving, coughing or making sound. I though monasteries were all about silence, emptiness and solitude. Kind of like the life I have had for the past 3 years. But it was the exact opposite. During the weekends hundreds and hundreds of people came to make offers. It was like a festival, and I had to participate by doing chores, helping in the kitchen, etc. From an introvert's point of view, it was hell!
I know sangha should be the way, but what should I do if my inner voice is yelling against it? And all that interaction is just killing my energy (that’s what it does for introverts)? When I left the monastery, I stayed inside my hotel room alone for days. Maybe if I’m more advanced in meditation and my spiritual journey, I may be able to take it. But for now, I feel that I am doing more progress in my apartment than I did at the monastery. Perhaps there are better monasteries, but where? It’s difficult to find them via the Internet.
What am I to do? In most days, I don’t think about this. I’ve done it a lot in the past and nothing had changed. I spend most of my days living in the present. Here and now. I don’t pay attention to this Fear – I live in faith that things will work out. But then there are moments I realize that years have gone by and nothing has changed. Should I really just keep going until I’ve paid the last money I have for rent? And just hope that something comes up once I go to buy some food or my next rent is due? If nothing works out, then even flying to Thailand would not be option, as I would not have any money for it. A plane ticket to Thailand costs nearly 2 month salary for an average person in my country.
I feel bad for asking, but perhaps some of you have been in this situation and tell me which way is the door. I feel so stuck that I’ve even (unwillingly) had thoughts about suicide. I won’t do it of course, but if I do end up in the streets 3-4 months from now, I may as well freeze to death, as I live in the very-very up north.
Thank you, and with metta!
Lahke
I am humbly asking for your help in a matter I haven’t been able to figure out for years. I will try to keep my post as short as possible.
How and where should I live and practice Buddhism? I can’t seem to find a way...
I am highly introverted. I am not sure how introversion fits into Anatta, but in my stage of spiritual journey I am still very much introverted. Being around other people is extremely exhausting. For the past 3 years I have lived completely alone. I don’t leave my home for work – I stay indoors pretty much the entire time. During the colder part of the year I sometimes leave the apartment only once – to get food. During the warmer part I take occasional walks early in the morning. On an average day I don’t talk to anybody over the phone. I may change some e-mails or other forms of written messages, but that’s all the interaction I have with people. I just meditate and try to keep quiet. I try to be mindful – even while I’m exercising or cooking. I do read, watch some inspirational movies and listen to (mostly spiritual) music (usually in the evening for a few hours).
The problem is that I am rapidly running out of money. I don’t live in America or any other wealthy country. Salaries in my country are very low, yet the cost of living (mainly food, clothes, etc) is much greater than in the States or western Europe. For the past 3 years I have lived from the money I inherited. I always thought about using it for entrepreneurship, but never really made it anywhere (mostly because I thought it would interfere with my spiritual journey). And now I have maybe 3-4 months worth of it left.
Get a job? First of all, not only am I highly introverted, but I am also very shy. Whenever I am in the center of attention, I am close to turning red. And there are very few jobs in my country where somebody with these characteristics could work. For some reason, my blushing seems to nearly disappear in the countries that have warmer climates. And secondly, whenever I have been close to getting a job, I have had this extremely powerful inner gut feeling screaming against it. It’s as of somebody inside of me is yelling NO!! I had this feeling all throughout my school years – they were the most difficult years of my life. I disliked them so very much. Many years ago there were occasions I got drunk because of how bad this feeling was. Now I just try to listen to it and do what it says. Should I?
What am I to do? I am not dumb or uneducated. Quite the contrary, but that’s besides the point. My entrepreneurship years failed because I concentrated on my practice. I felt that starting my own companies would cut into that. I would be getting tons of phone calls and I’d always have to plan something. A busy mind is not what I would have wished for my meditations. I still feel the same way, but should I just be involved in the business world and accept that my spiritual path is slowed down because of that?
A monastery? I went to Thailand this summer to stay in an highly respected forest monastery. I stayed there for a few weeks. I didn’t like it for one reason. There was way too much communication and interaction between the monks and monastery workers. We spent many hours per day doing chores – most of them meant communicating with others (dividing up activities, organizing things, etc). And whenever we weren’t working, we were meditating or chanting together. That happened 3 times per day for approximately 1.5 - 2 hours per session. I am not that good of an meditator yet to be able to meditate with 70 monks in the room (literally side-by-side). Somebody is always moving, coughing or making sound. I though monasteries were all about silence, emptiness and solitude. Kind of like the life I have had for the past 3 years. But it was the exact opposite. During the weekends hundreds and hundreds of people came to make offers. It was like a festival, and I had to participate by doing chores, helping in the kitchen, etc. From an introvert's point of view, it was hell!
I know sangha should be the way, but what should I do if my inner voice is yelling against it? And all that interaction is just killing my energy (that’s what it does for introverts)? When I left the monastery, I stayed inside my hotel room alone for days. Maybe if I’m more advanced in meditation and my spiritual journey, I may be able to take it. But for now, I feel that I am doing more progress in my apartment than I did at the monastery. Perhaps there are better monasteries, but where? It’s difficult to find them via the Internet.
What am I to do? In most days, I don’t think about this. I’ve done it a lot in the past and nothing had changed. I spend most of my days living in the present. Here and now. I don’t pay attention to this Fear – I live in faith that things will work out. But then there are moments I realize that years have gone by and nothing has changed. Should I really just keep going until I’ve paid the last money I have for rent? And just hope that something comes up once I go to buy some food or my next rent is due? If nothing works out, then even flying to Thailand would not be option, as I would not have any money for it. A plane ticket to Thailand costs nearly 2 month salary for an average person in my country.
I feel bad for asking, but perhaps some of you have been in this situation and tell me which way is the door. I feel so stuck that I’ve even (unwillingly) had thoughts about suicide. I won’t do it of course, but if I do end up in the streets 3-4 months from now, I may as well freeze to death, as I live in the very-very up north.
Thank you, and with metta!
Lahke
0
Comments
Best wishes.
You will not find a monastic life that sends you off by yourself.
You can only face yourself, your problems, and all the nasty stuff when you force yourself into a situation that you are not comfortable with. When you sat down in a monastery and did chores, sat in a restless silence, and dealt with all the other monks/nuns, you were forced to confront all of your bad parts. The conditioned mind started kicking and screaming. That is what meditation does, it makes you confront yourself. Meditation is not about silence, solitude, and soul searching. When you go to the cushion, you are going to deal with all your fears, anxieties, and issues.
You can already see that your hand is going to be forced to do something. If you truly live in the present moment, you address the problems as they arise, and you do not put it off.
Find some help for your anxiety. That would be a wise use of money.
I hope my words get you closer to an answer.
This sort of debilitating 'shyness' and introvert behavior really does need to be dealt with on a professional level with a trained counselor of some sort. I'm sure none of us here can simply tell you in a post how to turn things around for yourself- I'm sure you've probably said and tried anything we could come up with here anyway...
But with that all said;
Prioritize and then take things one step at a time. First things first-- shelter and food; Do you have any family or close friends you can turn to - for a time? Maybe with the little bit of inheritance you have left you can secure a place to stay with family for a while, and then see about getting counseling at that point. Maybe with the immediate pressure of shelter and food off your mind you can venture out to finding a job. If you cannot get counseling until you have a job, then I'm afraid you will have to force yourself to do just that.... take a job, any job, no matter what it pays, and ease yourself back into the social fabric of your surroundings. It's very very hard to survive anywhere, in any country, if you can't connect with at least the people immediately around you. Like I said, you seem to be in a very difficult situation, and there are no easy answers or advice that is going to fling open the door to THE solution.
Think of some of the great spiritual leaders in history. If they had remained alone, they wouldn't have been leaders.
It's very hard to give practical advice since you don't say what country you are living in and how available professional help is.
I know that one of my teachers at some point yelled at a fellow student: “Get a life!”
Try to make a living; there’s nothing wrong with that. Redefine your spiritual path in such a way that it includes your life and what living your life requires here and now.
But like others have said; we don’t really know you, or the exact situation that you are in. So this is just my hunch; not the final truth.
http://wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/the-way-of-the-white-clouds/d/doc51713.html
Maybe you could write to some monasteries that have some bricks lying around and someone could sponsor your food.
However . . .
. . . you know what . . . I think you know what.
What would you advise yourself to do?
If you do, I can help you. You dont have to be a monk
but you have to keep 8 precepts.
If you wish to get a job, you have 2 options.
1. you can work from home.
2. you have to deal your extreme shyness.
There is no right or wrong options.
but being a serious buddhist, I will encourage you
to live in a monastery.
Saying he should go live in a monastery is escapism... won't do a darn thing to acknowledge and address his (seemingly extreme and/or worsening) social anxieties.
for some, it is working 9 to 5, getting married
and having kids.
if staying at a monastery is escapism, then Buddha
was the biggest escapist of all. so am I.
since you are a buddhist, i believe you know that
Like many young people, including myself, being shy and introverted has a natural social arising. Life experience allows for mechanisms to overcome, avoid or cope. We are social or solitary to varying degrees or at different times.
Coming to a Buddhist forum or 'spiritual' group to deal with issues of shyness and social anxiety is one part of a solution. Life path and spiritual path are entwined . . .
The courage to move from confession to assessment and realisation of what is required belongs to the capacity of the OP.
Someone once said as a Noble Truth: Life is hard . . . face hardship, ease the experience . . .
I dedicate my morning practice to the efforts of the OP and those overcoming extremes.
:wave:
I guess we should replace the word shy with a social anxiety (although I am shy too). I am from an eastern European country, and people here don’t have social anxieties. I mean they do, but these things are not talked about publicly. I’ve tried seeking help in the past, but never found a therapist who seemed to be able to help me (so I gave up).
I have literally spent hours and hours trying to understand it, but I still don’t get it. Maybe it’s because people here are not really friendly with 'strangers'. There's a lot of anger, jealousy, etc in my country. We have a lot of Russian influence, and I think some of you may have seen the Russian traffic videos on YouTube. Maybe I am subconsciously afraid of being judged or mentally attacked by others. I don’t know. As I told in my original post, my anxiety diminishes significantly once I visit other countries (America, Thailand, Spain, etc). People are friendlier there and the weather is warmer (the colder the weather, the more likely I am to suffer from it). I had nearly no issues with it at the Buddhist monastery in Thailand.
Speaking of introversion, it’s not that I don’t make friends easily. I get along with everybody. I am relatively good at socializing with people. Not that much in a group, but on one-to-one basis. But the thing is that it is very exhausting for me. According to Dr. Laurie Helgoe (author of Introvert Power), introverts need to be alone to recharge their batteries and ''get their affairs straight''. Socializing and talking with people discharges them and eventually they just freeze (after 2 weeks at the monastery, I could not think straight - I was literally shutting down). It’s not that I couldn’t work with a group – it’s that every fiber inside of me is opposing this. I just don’t want to. This is my gut feeling or inner voice is also telling me. I feel the best when I am alone and don’t have any plans for the day. I know this sounds very rude (although I assure you that I don’t mean to be), but I just don’t care to know about other people’s lives that much. I find most of the talk irrelevant and not useful. So your cat was sick last night, you got a new smartphone, or you’re going to see that movie tonight. I participate in these talks with my close friends only because they wish to talk about these things. I don’t – I dream about being alone in my home. This is introversion for me.
The average net salary in my country is about 600 Euros per month. Many people in smaller cities only earn a net salary of 300-400 per month. The temperature gets as low as minus 20-30 during the coldest month of the winter. Heating bills alone are 200 Euros per month for my small apartment. Average people are working really hard here and still find it difficult to survive. Even if I could find a job where I don’t have to talk to people for living, I may have to work 11-12 hour days to make the ends meet. Most of my friends do it. Most of them are overweight because they have no time nor energy to exercise. I don’t think they could find a few hours per day to meditate. This has been my dilemma too. This is why I began looking for monasteries too. I could stay with my parents temporarily, but it's a small place and I would have more chances being alone at the monastery. They have many pets and my dad snores a lot. I have taken the precepts and still keep some of them (one being that I do not lie), so I assure you that this is no joke. I have a Misophonia too. It's a real thing (google it). It means I cannot stand repetitive noises (eating, sniffing, chewing gum, typing on a keyboard, etc) done by others. It just upsets me beyond belief. I feel quite embarrassed to even admit to this. I may seem like a complete wreck to you guys. I apologize!
I always loved the movies that took place in some old Chinese or Japanese temple high up in the mountains. Or in a valley away from it all. The Last Samurai is one of the examples – I just loved the small Japanese village where Tom Cruise stayed at. I’ve dreamed about living in such a place for years. I could just meditate alone and be silent. I may be wrong, but I don’t think I began seeking monasteries because I wanted to escape. I just felt that being actively involved in entrepreneurship was something I didn’t want to do. It would have kept my mind busy and racing. A lot of friends turn to me for help, as they seem to value my opinions, ideas and thoughts. So I’ve had these nights every now and then where I find it difficult to go to sleep, as my mind is still thinking thoughts. Staying at a monastery; however, would likely mean that my mind is constantly quiet and empty. Since I now know silence and emptiness, I really wouldn't like to go back to my old life of thoughts and mental noise.
Why do many Tibetan monks meditate alone in caves? If being active in a real world is a must to be enlightened? Was Ram Dass wrong when he said ‘’the quieter you become, the more you can hear’’? What about sensory deprivation? For some reason, many books talk about being quite and not being involved in un-necessary things/discussions. Isn't it socially acceptable to be polite and participate the office parties, coffee talks, etc? As far as I know, those who don't talk to anybody, they don't make it very long. Jobs seem to be like games, and if you don't play them, you'll lose.
I say this all with love, but the thing that I found the most difficult at the Thai monastery was the fact that there were very few experienced monks. A large majority (I’d say at least 90%) were temporary monks. Some ordained for a month, others for 3 months. Simply because this was the tradition in Thailand. So I heard many monks discussing politics (there were many foreigners there too), movies or just chatting about nothing important. It happened while doing chores and although I tried to not participate, I could still hear it all. My mind registered it all. If I were more advanced, it wouldn’t probably do anything for me. I could just notice it and fall back into rising-falling or some mantra. But something inside of me said that I’d have better chances of getting there in my apartment than inside the monastery. There were no monks over 55 at the monastery. There must be a reason for it – did they all went back to their old lives?!
And another think that I found myself questioning was the fact that they seemed to be more worried about how they looked like, rather than what they did. If Buddhism is the tea and being a monk is a cup, then most of them seemed to be busy being cups. So much time was spent on ceremonies and looking authentic. But maybe it was just me and I couldn't see the value in them.
I know there are probably many questions I didn’t answer, but.. I guess it doesn’t really matter. I humbly apologize if some of it seems like an excuse. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. I just try to listen the inner voice (the gut feeling). Shouldn’t I?!
Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. All your answer have made me realize that there isn’t actually anything anybody else can do. I guess I must carry on and see what happens. This is by no means depression or anything similar speaking, but I don’t care much for the life. It’s not that I wish to die, but I am not thrilled about living either. I wouldn’t honestly mind freezing to death, but I just wouldn’t want to do this for my family. I could even cry by thinking about my dog, who would be waiting to see me, but disappointing because I never showed up again. She really loves it when I play with her.
Thank you all. I love you!
and the way to spiritual enlightenment are 2 separate paths.
We live in a world where most people are more interested
worldy success than spiritual development.
Solitude and silence is not appreciated.
yet it is the very conditions necessary for spiritual growth.
IMO, you are quite lucky bcos you are more comfortable
being alone than many other people.
Again, if you need some advice on where to find
a monastery or meditation centre, I can help you.
Money is not an issue, although you will have to
find the means to travel there. cheers.
really appreciate your honesty, all the best.
Oh, I meant to address your kind question separately, but I guess I got carried away and forgot all about it.
Yes, I would very thankful if you could suggests monasteries. I am confident that there are monasteries I would feel at peace, but they are difficult to find via the Internet. I did a test run on this Thai monastery, and the entire trip took 1500 euros from my pocket. Unfortunately, I don't have the means to make many of these. While in Thailand, I got a feeling that I should/could go to Japan. I've tried finding places in Japan, but it has turned out to be quite difficult. All the temples in Kyoto charge a lot of money (for me), and the ones in smaller towns or forests were all in Japanese (or they didn't have websites at all).
You are more than welcome to send me a private message (if you don't feel like making suggestions here). Thank you kind person!
If someone joins a monastery because they owe $10,000 in gambling debts and need to 'disappear' for a while....
if someone joins a monastery because they hate working regular jobs, and would rather sit around meditating or walking about all day with no real responsibilities, (doesn't matter if that is the reality of monastery life or not, jll)...
if someone joins a monastery to get away from a bad marriage, controlling family, or any other societal pressures or dilemmas ...
Do you really think it's all just the same as someone joining a monastery for the reasons of spiritual enhancement, spiritual healing and study? No difference?
As a Buddhist I think you should have known there's a difference.
By the way, I am in no way a Buddhist scholar, but I don't believe Siddhartha /Buddha ever joined monastery... and if he did, I'm sure it was because he was searching to find something, not looking to escape something.
I did look up " Misophonia". I had an idea what it was before, but now I know a little bit more about it. I don't know if you would find much relief from this condition in a monastery, at all.
Think about it.... it's about repetition of sounds; especially from people and in surroundings you are familiar with.
In a monastery, you will see the same faces, at the same time, in the same surroundings day after day after day. You will eat at the same time, at the same table, probably sitting across from the same few monks each time. You will hear them eat, swallow, cough, scratch, sneeze, etc, time and time again. (BTW, some monks snore too, I'm afraid!)
Every morning a monk may sweep the floors; same sound over and over again as he does his chores. They wash bowls and pots. They sweep leaves and outdoor areas... there is more [sound] repetition in a monastery than in any other 'regular' environment, I would think, only because everything else is quiet, and without distractions of random noise, those repetitious noises are more distinct. Then there's the chanting and or meditating. Sometimes they use bells or gongs... sometimes they hum.
Now perhaps a monastery might let you join and then allow you complete solitude, long term, without any interaction at all? I don't know.... maybe one will. But I find that highly unlikely. And you want to know why? Because I think they may realize that would be the motivation of 'escaping' - and as far as I've been told, or read, that's not a reason to join a monastery.
YMMV
was not suppose tobe there. I deleted it but it was saved as draft. when i reposted i didnt notice it was still there. never mind.
the point I am trying to make is staying at a monastery as a form
of escape is much better than other forms of escape eg
sex, gambling, porn, computer games, TV, drugs etc.
also, I dont think escapism is a bad thing. I quit my university course
after 1 year, my friends thought I should finish it.
I have stopped working bcos I got tired of dealing with my boss and colleagues.
I also moved from a big city touted as an excellent place to work and live
to stay in a polluted small city with poor infrastructure.
I believe in escapism and I am quite happy with my life.
btw, I am planning my biggest escape ie to live in a monastery.
If you read my initial post, I wrote: ''A busy mind is not what I would have wished for my meditations. I still feel the same way, but should I just be involved in the business world and accept that my spiritual path is slowed down because of that?'' I meant that I should be working really hard to make ends meet in my country, so it would most likely take me back in my meditation and practice. At this point, I have an empty mind for the better part of the day. Because of this I can see more and more how my awareness and thoughts/feelings are separating. If I look at my hands or the mirror reflection, whatever I see feels foreign to me. Just as I would be looking at your hands. But that's besides the point.
Since I'm running low on money, I thought I had two options - be an entrepreneur again (which means a very busy mind - busier than a 9-to-5 job would give me) or go to the monastery to do what I'm doing now (meditating and cultivating kindness, awareness, etc). That's it. Not escaping.
Btw, my Misophonia is not that bad. I can tolerate it if things happen in a large room. If many people are eating, it's fine. But when things happen inside a small room with just 1-2 people, that gets me. Especially when I have no place to escape (as it would be with my parents). Monks sleep in kutis alone, which are small wooden buildings.
Thanks guys!
I am sure with monks all over the world that there are many motivations for living in a monastery. But personally, I don't have much respect for monks who do it as a better escape than "sex, gambling, porn, computer games, TV, drugs etc." Those who live in monasteries for reasons like that ought to learn how to deal with everyday life...not run away from it.
If, on my opinion, a Buddhist temple was simply a place where people could simply escape from life -- which, BTW, is the opposite of what Siddhartha was doing -- I'd probably never walk into a Buddhist temple again.
I have spent the better part of my years having some sort of dissociation from myself where my hands look like weird shapes that were not mine. I also did a lot of self-silencing when living by myself. My place was always dark, quiet, and undecorated. I would say I was very content. I thoroughly enjoy my own company, dislike large gatherings, and in general do not divulge my thoughts to others. Throughout my younger years I was a confidant for many of my friends, but I never confided or spoke of my own problems. I felt that they were best dealt with in my own way without burdening others. Now... the one thing that was wrong with all of this is that it did not fulfill me. It did not make me feel alive. I was just cruising along, smooth sailing on glass water.
So... I like to consider myself to be altruistic. There are many times where I wish nothing but to help others, alleviate their burden, and give them the love and compassion they need. But I really did nothing to help others. It was all me me me me me. Making myself comfortable, making myself happy, and avoiding anything discomforting.
I would typically cry and feel a deep sorrow for all the people who suffered. That gives me motivation now. And I do not live alone any longer. I have someone that I love, care for, and devote my positive action toward. I help relieve their pain, stress, anger, and suffering.
I am in a successful profession though, and I would admit that meditation does not get much priority. I spend a lot of time distracted or busy, but at the same time I feel I never stop developing spiritually.
I sometimes think of a life in a monastery... how I might like to commit myself fully to it. But it may not be meant to be.
Who knows... maybe my life will go that direction at some point. I am not set in either way and will find the happiness within as always. I am sure you will be able to do the same no matter what you choose.
Whatever the reason it is blessing in,disguise if your select the path of meditation
From your writing it could be said you have done meditation before even though you do not remember it
One more thing I would like to add
Once Ajahn Bram said 'monk has monk's suffering and lay people has lay people's suffering'
Wow, I really understand you. That doesn't happen a lot.
I feel the same way about ''wishing nothing more but to help others.'' Although I hope to solve my financial problem (probably the most), I do help others when I can. There are many ways of helping, such as being kind, donating your time or money, wishing them well (Metta meditation - the thing I do every day around 30 minutes), etc. For instance, I help my friends a lot with their businesses. They seem to value my opinions and ideas, so they always reach out for me if they need help with something. Even when I'm tired, I always try my best to help them. Or whenever I see those who could use some food, drinks or cash for necessities, I am not shy of donating some. I may not have much left, but others may not have anything to begin with. I probably donated around 100 Euros in Thailand for those who seemed to need it. I eat very simple vegetarian meals in my country, so this 100 Euros was my food budget for the entire month. I realized this just now, as I usually just forget about these things.
About the ''hands don't look mine'' was suppose to be the right way. I asked the Abbot of the Thai monastery about it, and he said it was the right way, but I needed some more Samadhi to understand what it means. A few months have passed, and I am a few steps closer to it. I think it is the mind-body machine and awareness separating. I am getting tremendously closer to understanding Nisargadatta Maharaj's book I Am That. I am having many-many glimpses every day of what he meant by ''there is only life, there is nobody who lives a life.'' When he said ''I appear to hear and see and talk and act, but to me it just happens, as to you digestion or perspiration happens.'' I sort of get it now.
As I already mentioned, I never said I wished to go to the monastery in order to escape from something. But even if there are some small parts of things I would be escaping from, isn't this what we all do? What you do? I ask this with the best of intentions and kindness.
Man was born in the jungle with nothing. Having strong houses with central heating and electricity is not natural. Having to buy food from the grocery store is not natural. Connecting with millions of people via e-mail, Facebook or NewBuddhist.com website is not natural. If anything, aren't you escaping from what IS natural? Staying in a jungle and surviving next to wild animals? Growing and storing your own food? Connecting to only those who are around you (i.e. a lot more solitude and loneliness)?
Could you survive and thrive without all these luxuries? Or would you feel fear, loneliness and hunger? Are you escaping from these things?
With metta!
If humans have created houses and harnessed electricity then why is this not natural? It is a natural part of our development and interaction with the environment?
Otherwise, which arbitrary standard decides what is 'natural' or not - for example, where does technology or our development become unnatural? Is it unnatural to make fire by rubbing wood together as opposed to a lighter? To live in a hollow tree or a house fashioned from wood?
I think there is confusion here between what is 'natural' and what may or may not be subjectively 'desirable'.
If a person desired security (inside the house), isn't he technically escaping from dangers (i.e. sleeping at the jungle)?
All I wanted to say was that throwing around the word ''escaping'' can be a double-edged sword.
My vote -- given the discussion here -- is go ahead.
If it turns out well -- good deal.
If it fails -- good deal: You now know for sure why monastic life is not up your alley.
Sounds like a win-win situation to me even if I think your uncertainties might be more fruitfully addressed in other ways.
Best wishes.
Yes, man came from the jungle (sort of). And you seem to be saying that modern life is not "natural".
Okay, so what are you gonna do if you go back to the monastery? Walk to Thailand? After all, flying's not natural. When you get seriously ill, are you going to fore-go going to a hospital because hospitals are not natural? When you were in Thailand did you drink from a stream because bottle water isn't natural?
Life and how man lives it has naturally, over time, evolved.
Modern conveniences are not escaping from escaping anything. They're just convenient and safer ways to live. But of course, many things can be used as an escape, if that's the way one's mind is working.
Edit -- I see Zero was thinking along these same lines.
Maybe you should preach to the Dalai Lama and all the other thousands of monks about how their way of life is wrong because it doesn't match up to yours. I've never seen such arrogance.
@Lahke -- Look, I'm not out to argue with you.
You asked a forum of strangers their advice after telling your story /dilemma. I read your OP closely and carefully. You stated problems you have with (absolutely normal) circumstances of every day life... you don't like working with people, you don't like engaging people, have no interest in others or what they do, and by your own words say you desire nothing but to be alone, and disconnected from the world around you.
Then you mention a medical condition that makes "normal" interactions and time spend around other people even more difficult. You can't stand living with your own parents because of their pets and your dad's snoring...
When I pointed out that joining a monastery might not help much with your auditory issues; you said:
"Btw, my Misophonia is not that bad. I can tolerate it if things happen in a large room. If many people are eating, it's fine. But when things happen inside a small room with just 1-2 people, that gets me. Especially when I have no place to escape (as it would be with my parents). Monks sleep in kutis alone, which are small wooden buildings."
So how do you know every monastery has single wooden buildings for each monk? How do you know which ones have large, spacious eating areas and which have small cozy dining areas where the monks eat? I've seen many pictures of different monasteries and retreats where people sleep dormitory style, 2, 3 or 4 to a small room, and eat 6-8 at a table in a small dining area... and you think it's ok (and will be ok with the monks) to run off to a private room every time you start to feel anxious or uncomfortable- instead of trying to work through those issues? Well, ok... but from where I sit, that's escaping.
Anyway, like I said, not for me to argue about it. You do what you need to do to feel comfortable. But please don't act like I got the idea you're looking to "escape" out of thin air... because I didn't. I got that idea from reading your words as well as 'between the lines' of your words.
Peace, and Best of Luck.
I find it much more arrogant to strongly advise someone into running off to a Buddhist monastery in order to avoid dealing with personal/emotional/mental issues as the way to go.... but I guess we can agree to disagree on that as well.
Might look kinda odd bringing friends over for home-made cookies and cappuccinos and saying "This is my Granny- MaryAnne..." no? LOL
You gave your advice, there's no need to keep hammering on about it and if the OP chooses to do something you don't like then that's up to him. I don't see anyone "romanticising", as you put it. Maybe it's something he needs to do, for whatever reason.
Oops.
Someone Asked for advice.
I gave mine, others gave their's.
OP came back with further comments/replies to me, I responded. Some criticized the advice given, I explained myself further. I was not rude or trying to be 'authoritative'; only exchanging comments with OP/people.
Didn't realize I went over my allotted number of posts per thread.... I'll move on
The way I see it - and before any of you
jump down my throatcorrect me, the OP put the question out there, on a public forum, to have people give their opinions. From my POV, he/she then went on to defend/clarify his/her reason and some people agreed and some didn't. This happens ALL THE TIME on here. What makes this thread so special? Maybe it's holding a mirror up to us about things we don't like about ourselves?.....I think maybe that's just the way he/she is. If necessary to make ends meet sure I would say that you have to engage in society some way. But that doesn't mean the original poster cannot or should not have social isolation. Maybe that's what works for him/her? It's true that there were yogis who live in cavses. My teacher's teacher did chod for awhile where he lived on charnel grounds and meditated on impermanence.
I also recognize that everyone who posted on the thread was trying to help.
I would say, at this point, show yourself some compassion by finding a job to feed yourself and keep a roof over your head. Period. No excuses.
Worry about the other stuff later.
Sorry if I'm being short, but compassion isn't always about being nice. And compassion isn't always easy, maybe even more so towards yourself.
Yes, MaryAnne, not all monasteries have separate kutis for the monks. I know monasteries in Europe and America where monks sleep inside one building. I was simply comparing the Thai forest monasteries (that I heard of or visited) with living at my parents' home. If those were my only choices, I would find more peace and silence at the Thai monasteries. That's all I meant.
I never brought up the idea of escaping. If you read my OP closely, then what would I have to escape from? Do I suffer from a social anxiety? Sure! But that only really affects my ability to have a job where I must do presentations, deal with clients (i.e. be a teller at the bank), etc. I have done entrepreneurial jobs, and that way I am close to fine. Yes, I have my bad moments, but I am much better because I can avoid those situations that I may not be able to handle. I can prefer to discuss some matters over the phone (instead of an meeting at some office) - there are plenty of eccentric people out there. Howard Hughes had serious anxieties. Working for someone else and having a 9-to-5 job would not give me such control over how I interact with people and so on. So my social anxiety only affects that part of life. If you read the OP, then I only talked about it in a few sentences. That's it. If you read that paragraph, then I put way more emphasis on the inner gut feeling. The one that really objects the idea of having a job or doing certain business projects. How come nobody commented on that? Should I completely avoid my inner voice? The same voice that made me feel bad when I was rude to somebody? The same voice/gut feeling that made me feel horrible when I lied? Secretly ate my brother's candy as a kid? Thought about having sex with that somewhat drunk lady as a teenager? If acting on my gut feeling was a right thing to do in regards of being rude, lying, taking what's not mine or thinking about sex, then I only assumed I should listen to it in all matters (including when it comes to taking a job). Am I incorrect?
Coming back to escaping again, then yes, yes, yes, I get your points about what's natural. English is not my first language, so I may use slightly wrong words to express myself. All I wanted to say was that I could argue that everything the mankind has made was as a means to escape something. It's not of course the only reason or purpose, but to some extent it is true. Sure, Facebook is convenient and cheaper way to communicate with each other, but why was it created? It didn't just evolve on its own. Mark Zuckerberg & Co. thought that Facebook could make us happier. Make us more connected. In other words, he thought Facebook would allow us to ''escape'' from not being that connected. That's all I wanted to say. Not using Facebook is just as right or wrong as using it. Some of my friends have never joined Facebook - are they escaping from something? Are they escaping from the fact that having an account would mean that most people could get in touch with them more easily? Some people may not like being that available - are they guilty of escaping? I don't think so.
So I never said I wanted to escape this life to go to the monastery. I am meditating for hours every day. I am doing metta meditation. I read and study Buddhism. I meditate on the Dhamma. Just yesterday I meditated on the idea of sun never rising or setting. It only looks that way from a certain narrow perspective, but if I were in space, it would never rise or set. This is the type of thing I wish to do all day long. Of course I have my desires and attachments and so forth. Most (if not all) monks have them. I think even some of the greatest teachers still have them - they just don't take them seriously anymore.
I apologize for writing such a long comment again. I just feel like I should explain things in more detail, so they wouldn't be misunderstood. This is the shortcoming of words and sentences - each one of us have our own definitions and ways of seeing things. I bet each one of us reads a different story here. Including myself, of course! So I also apologize if I have misunderstood you.
I do value your input a lot, and I'm very thankful that you have taken your precious time to post your comments. I truly appreciate it! There's a lot of good karma for everyone because of this (I hope).
Further, who is to say that introversion is wrong and extroversion is right? Since we are more quiet and enjoy solitude more, it is only normal that the outside world is run by extroverts. They like interactions, meetings, presentations and talking. It doesn't mean that one is more correct or wrong than the other. Now does it?!
@Lahke, I'm dismayed but not surprised you regret posting here. But remember, opinions are ten a penny and in the end you should do what feels right for you. I hope you can work it out and please (if you can bear it) let us know how it goes.