Finding quiet living conditions as a householder

[philosopher]

As an adult I’ve often run into issues with noise in my living situations. I strive to be an 8 preceptor and to always maintain mindfulness throughout the day, and I think in some ways my practice has increased my sensitivity to external noise. Or, to try to put it another way, I've developing a stronger liking for silence and a stronger aversion to noise. I’ve always lived in urban or suburban areas.

What’s the best way to find quiet living conditions as a householder? Living in more rural or isolated areas? Ideally I’d like to live in a monastery or some kind of Buddhist community where conditions are more conducive, but this may not be possible given health restrictions. I’m curious to know if this problem has been encountered by other practitioners.
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[JamesTheGiant]

Yeah, I moved out to a farm to get away from people and noise. I rent a meadow from a friendly farmer, and I live there by myself in a yurt. I have solar panels, a log fire, and even a little kitchen.
The loudest noises are the birds, and sometimes a strong wind roaring in the trees.

[salayatananirodha]

Not all of us can move right out into the country, so we have to make our minds quiet keeping precepts, guarding sense doors, being generous, keeping good friends, doing what we can otherwise and then ideally moving to a suitable locality or going forth. Ajahn chah says it's not the sound that disturbs us but we who disturb the sound.

[befriend]

Irritation to sound is a good meditation object it's aversion watch the aversion pass and sound won't bother you.

[2600htz]

Hello:

As a householder i just moved to a rural area.
If you cant do that, there are always quiet neighborhoods in the cities. You can also make an investment in sound isolation for your house or apartment. If you cant do any of those, just make more money so in the future you can solve the problem. The cheap solution is lowering your stress levels so sound doesnt annoy you so much.

Regards.

[ToVincent]

...

Yes, sometimes I think it's good to take a break.

[philosopher]

Yeah, I moved out to a farm to get away from people and noise. I rent a meadow from a friendly farmer, and I live there by myself in a yurt. I have solar panels, a log fire, and even a little kitchen.
The loudest noises are the birds, and sometimes a strong wind roaring in the trees.

That sounds amazing.

[philosopher]

Hello:

As a householder i just moved to a rural area.
If you cant do that, there are always quiet neighborhoods in the cities. You can also make an investment in sound isolation for your house or apartment. If you cant do any of those, just make more money so in the future you can solve the problem. The cheap solution is lowering your stress levels so sound doesnt annoy you so much.

Regards.

I appreciate the practical advice; thanks.

[philosopher]

Irritation to sound is a good meditation object it's aversion watch the aversion pass and sound won't bother you.

I have been trying to do this; thanks for the suggestion. I will keep trying. I notice that the anger lingers for quite some time - perhaps because it brings up the memories of all the battles so far with the neighbors - the fear (they have a dog that barks a lot and slams itself against the fence), the police refusing to do anything, and everything this brings up from my childhood (I went through a lot of abuse, trauma, and bullying...'intrusiveness' is a huge negative theme for me)

But I will keep trying.

[JamesTheGiant]

That sounds amazing.

Yes, it's a pretty good spot to live.

[philosopher]

That sounds amazing.

Yes, it's a pretty good spot to live.

Lovely. Thanks for sharing.

[Polar Bear]

Yeah, I moved out to a farm to get away from people and noise. I rent a meadow from a friendly farmer, and I live there by myself in a yurt. I have solar panels, a log fire, and even a little kitchen.
The loudest noises are the birds, and sometimes a strong wind roaring in the trees.

Sorry to ask about vulgar practicalities, but where do you poop? I’m genuinely interested and it could be useful info for others thinking about how to set up their own spot.

[JamesTheGiant]

Sorry to ask about vulgar practicalities, but where do you poop? I’m genuinely interested and it could be useful info for others thinking about how to set up their own spot.

One of those toilet-seat chairs for disabled people, with a bucket under it.
Poop in the bucket and throw a handful of sawdust on top to stop smells.
Cover bucket to stop animals.
When the bucket is full, I take it to the end of the meadow where there is a deep pit which the farmer throws dead sheep into, and old car tyres, and other unpleasant things covered in green water and oily muck.
I tip it in, and then set the empty bucket upside down in the grass with a brick on top to stop it blowing away.
There are about 7 buckets in a row there.
The insects and time clean the dirty bucket for me, and I use a fresh bucket from the other end of the line.
Each bucket takes maybe 3 weeks to fill, so I have about 4 months of buckets in the line, reusing the first one again after 4 months.
It works well and it not smelly.
In the past I would compost the poo and sawdust and use it on my garden, but I dont have a garden now and the farmer said just chuck it in the pit with the dead animals.
The "Humanure Handbook" is the best resource for home-composting poo, that's the most responsible way to do it.

[SarathW]

Sri Lankan's adopted the one thousand years old sanitary idea to solve the problems associated with modern toilets.

https://dharmawheel.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=283

[Polar Bear]

...

Right on, thanks for the info.