Sitting as "What Is" when the house is on fire ...

[Doshin]

Doshin
St

[Jakuden]

Thank you Jundo Roshi. I think it was Isaac Asimov who famously predicted that boredom would be a prevalent disease of mankind in the future, and when thinking about it, it does seem like the root of so much deluded thought in our times. Even though we are so "busy," we still are bored by our lives and seeking a different kind of stimulation. Perhaps fueled by advertising and materialism in a capitalist society?

This resonates with me especially as someone with mild autism and ADHD, because it is said we have "interest-based" minds. Our executive thought-processes are always roaming, seeking change and novelty, instead of returning naturally to routines and habits the way most minds do. The discipline and routine of Zen is excruciating sometimes, like continually trying to fit that square peg into a round hole. Perhaps this was not a disease in other eras, when individuals with these qualities could be either more nomadic and adventurous or hyper-focused on the subjects they were skilled in, without going completely against the grain of society.

Today, though, being more aware of what our minds are doing and learning to be less self-focused, IMHO, helps us suffer less in a world of increasing interdependence. Sitting with boredom allows us to learn that we don't NEED to act on our every thought, as Jundo says, the world is going to go on (and perhaps be a little bit better off for us not rushing off doing some compulsive activity). I don't know if it will ever cease to be a struggle, but I will continue to sit with the struggle and see what happens. I feel like there are fewer bored mind-tantrums now than there used to be, but they certainly still occur.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Onka]

Thank you Jundo Roshi. I think it was Isaac Asimov who famously predicted that boredom would be a prevalent disease of mankind in the future, and when thinking about it, it does seem like the root of so much deluded thought in our times. Even though we are so "busy," we still are bored by our lives and seeking a different kind of stimulation. Perhaps fueled by advertising and materialism in a capitalist society?

This resonates with me especially as someone with mild autism and ADHD, because it is said we have "interest-based" minds. Our executive thought-processes are always roaming, seeking change and novelty, instead of returning naturally to routines and habits the way most minds do. The discipline and routine of Zen is excruciating sometimes, like continually trying to fit that square peg into a round hole. Perhaps this was not a disease in other eras, when individuals with these qualities could be either more nomadic and adventurous or hyper-focused on the subjects they were skilled in, without going completely against the grain of society.

Today, though, being more aware of what our minds are doing and learning to be less self-focused, IMHO, helps us suffer less in a world of increasing interdependence. Sitting with boredom allows us to learn that we don't NEED to act on our every thought, as Jundo says, the world is going to go on (and perhaps be a little bit better off for us not rushing off doing some compulsive activity). I don't know if it will ever cease to be a struggle, but I will continue to sit with the struggle and see what happens. I feel like there are fewer bored mind-tantrums now than there used to be, but they certainly still occur.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

THIS!!!

Gassho
Anna

stlah

[Risho]

this is an excellent thread!

I suffer from boredom and anxiety; I think it’s a subtle inability of mine or resistance to accept what is

something that came to mind for some reason after reading through this is something I’m going to practice with

I have read this, I think in Dogen, but we die moment to moment. we are something new. we drop off what we were and are something else; it’s this holding on that I struggle with and it actualizes itself as boredom and anxiety, but who is it that is beyond that? that’s something i need to sit with.


gassho

Risho
-st/lah

[Washin]

Thank you Jundo Roshi. I think it was Isaac Asimov who famously predicted that boredom would be a prevalent disease of mankind in the future, and when thinking about it, it does seem like the root of so much deluded thought in our times. Even though we are so "busy," we still are bored by our lives and seeking a different kind of stimulation. Perhaps fueled by advertising and materialism in a capitalist society?

This resonates with me especially as someone with mild autism and ADHD, because it is said we have "interest-based" minds. Our executive thought-processes are always roaming, seeking change and novelty, instead of returning naturally to routines and habits the way most minds do. The discipline and routine of Zen is excruciating sometimes, like continually trying to fit that square peg into a round hole. Perhaps this was not a disease in other eras, when individuals with these qualities could be either more nomadic and adventurous or hyper-focused on the subjects they were skilled in, without going completely against the grain of society.

Today, though, being more aware of what our minds are doing and learning to be less self-focused, IMHO, helps us suffer less in a world of increasing interdependence. Sitting with boredom allows us to learn that we don't NEED to act on our every thought, as Jundo says, the world is going to go on (and perhaps be a little bit better off for us not rushing off doing some compulsive activity). I don't know if it will ever cease to be a struggle, but I will continue to sit with the struggle and see what happens. I feel like there are fewer bored mind-tantrums now than there used to be, but they certainly still occur.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH

[Marw]

Thank you Jundo for these words.
The last days I often feel bored while I sit. Bored because I couldn't make it to let my thoughts go. It annoyed me. Also that my neighbors child was crying all the time...
But tomorrow I will try to accept it. If my thoughts don't want to go, they do not want to. If my neighbors child is crying, it crys and there is nothing I can do. Like there are some days with a lot of clouds in the sky and other day with a clear blue sky.
Thanks a lot

Gassho
Marwin
SatToday and LaH

Gesendet von meinem STF-L09 mit Tapatalk

[Rich]

Just sitting with boredom allows it to transform. Just like everything changes. IMO the root cause is craving which is always wanting to do something. Even in the midst of doing is a quiet place of non doing

Sat/lah


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Meitou]

Just sitting with boredom allows it to transform. Just like everything changes. IMO the root cause is craving which is always wanting to do something. Even in the midst of doing is a quiet place of non doing

Sat/lah


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, this I've looked at my own boredom and found it to stem from that agitating mind that is looking for a goal, wanting to move on to the next Big Thing. But of course the Big Thing is just to let go of any idea of Big and Thing, sit and let it be.
Gassho
Meitou
sattodaylah

[Kyōsen]

What a great topic, Jundo-Roshi!

Boredom is a great opportunity! It's a disguised opportunity to practice. When we're bored, we think we have nothing to do - but if we have nothing to do, then there's room in our life to practice!

The universe will exist for trillions and trillions and trillions of years and, if we're lucky, we get to be around for 80 or so years. We're here for a very brief period of time. How fortunately we are when boredom comes along because it means we have the time and space in our lives to devote some of our very brief lives to practice, and practice is one of the most wholesome and beneficial things we can do for ourselves and others.

May all beings be blessed with boredom! May all beings be free from too much busy-ness!

Gassho,
Sen
SatToday

[Kotei]

Kotei sat/lah today,

[Onka]

Gassho
Anna

ST

[brucef]

Dogen said that “All the worlds in the Ten Directions are One Bright Pearl”. That’s been going around my head lately like a koan. To me it means, among other things, that there is nothing that’s not part of that luminosity – and that the weeds of this life “belong” as much as the flowers. But also, that there’s nothing that’s not suitable for Dharma practice! Even boredom.

Before sitting, I don’t think it hurts to contemplate death. The fact of our death is certain, but the time of our death is uncertain. For all we know, each time we sit could be the last time we sit (either in this life, or forever, depending on whether rebirth is true or not). So, even if it’s boring, it’s a precious moment that might not come again.

My heart attack on the 4th of December 2016 changed me. It left me feeling fragile, and scared, anxious and depressed, because it taught me that you really can’t trust your own body. A heart attack is like being betrayed from within. One moment you’re having a morning cup of tea, and the next you’re in an ambulance. Everything can change so suddenly. But in retrospect, perhaps I was lucky to have been given that teaching. I no longer take anything for granted. Even on those rare occasions I’m bored, at least I’m alive.

Gassho
Bruce

ST

[Geika]

Lovely, Bruce. It is true, every moment is uncertain, and it is scary, but also gives us cause to be grateful.

Gassho

Sat today, lah