Boredom!

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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Claire
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Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2010 8:32 am
Location: South Wales, UK

Boredom!

Post by Claire »

Apologies if this is not the right place for this post. I guess I'm after a bit of advice really on how to combat boredom. I have no children, no family, no close friends and since the beginning of May this year, no job. I do have a partner but he works away a lot, almost every week and for most of the week. I find myself more and more bored of everything, even things I used to really enjoy. I used to run almost every day and attend a lot of fitness classes at my local sports centre, but now-days I find just the thought of it boring. I don’t clean my house as much as I used to (yes this was something I enjoyed) and I haven't done any of my home study course for ages. I don't know what it is, I'm not depressed, just really fed up. Like most people I can be lazy, but I'm also starting to get really lazy now. I can pick myself up a bit and give myself a bit of a kick, then I get on with chores, running, etc, but even when I'm doing things I find the boring, so it doesn't last long and I slump again. :| I'm new to Buddhism and I try to meditate or read some of the book I'm working through, looking for inspiration or something, but even the I get bored eventually. Any advice would be much appreciated... I think I'm going to loose my mind if I don’t get this sorted. Lol. :lol:
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m0rl0ck
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Re: Boredom!

Post by m0rl0ck »

Claire wrote:Apologies if this is not the right place for this post. I guess I'm after a bit of advice really on how to combat boredom. I have no children, no family, no close friends and since the beginning of May this year, no job. I do have a partner but he works away a lot, almost every week and for most of the week. I find myself more and more bored of everything, even things I used to really enjoy. I used to run almost every day and attend a lot of fitness classes at my local sports centre, but now-days I find just the thought of it boring. I don’t clean my house as much as I used to (yes this was something I enjoyed) and I haven't done any of my home study course for ages. I don't know what it is, I'm not depressed, just really fed up. Like most people I can be lazy, but I'm also starting to get really lazy now. I can pick myself up a bit and give myself a bit of a kick, then I get on with chores, running, etc, but even when I'm doing things I find the boring, so it doesn't last long and I slump again. :| I'm new to Buddhism and I try to meditate or read some of the book I'm working through, looking for inspiration or something, but even the I get bored eventually. Any advice would be much appreciated... I think I'm going to loose my mind if I don’t get this sorted. Lol. :lol:
What many of us do is log in to chat. Dhamma Wheel Chat You can hang out with other bored buddhists :)
“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.” ― Robert M. Pirsig
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BubbaBuddhist
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Re: Boredom!

Post by BubbaBuddhist »

Often boredom is a sign that you're in a rut. It can be a sign of other things too but that would be the bailiwick of a psychologist not strangers on an internet forum. If you are in a rut all you really need to do is shake up your routine. Take up a new, challenging hobby; attend classes in something you always wanted to learn; meet new and interesting people; see new sights. In other words, stimulate your mind. Hope this helps.

J
Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?
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AdvaitaJ
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Re: Boredom!

Post by AdvaitaJ »

Claire,

I listened to an AudioDharma talk recently, probably by Andrea Fella and probably about the hindrances -- wish I could be more specific, but I'm too old for that. :tongue: Anyway, my foggy recollection is that boredom is an offshoot of restlessness somehow. Your mind may be expressing its desire for something new/more/else to cling to. Time to take a look inside and see what's really going on, perhaps?

Regards: Jim
The birds have vanished down the sky. Now the last cloud drains away.
We sit together, the mountain and me, until only the mountain remains.
Li Bai
lojong1
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Re: Boredom!

Post by lojong1 »

Crack and meth and heroine don't help at all. Attack with a retreat. Makes everything fresh and beautiful.
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Claire
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Location: South Wales, UK

Re: Boredom!

Post by Claire »

I am one of those people who are constantly restless. I know I am stuck in rut, especially since I lost my job. I think I’m finding a new direction and as a result everything I have previously been doing in my day-to-day life just seems boring. :thinking: A bit of a shake-up is in order me thinks.

Thanks for the advice. :smile:
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pilgrim
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Re: Boredom!

Post by pilgrim »

Agreat antidote is to work for the benefit of others. Start a charity or something..
lojong1
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Re: Boredom!

Post by lojong1 »

Dunk in a river.
5heaps
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Re: Boredom!

Post by 5heaps »

Claire wrote:I guess I'm after a bit of advice really on how to combat boredom.
isnt it obvious? find out how to have a meaningful life. i dont envy you though, who has a clue what a meaningful life would even look like?
A Japanese man has been arrested on suspicion of writing a computer virus that destroys and replaces files on a victim PC with manga images of squid, octopuses and sea urchins. Masato Nakatsuji, 27, of Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, was quoted as telling police: "I wanted to see how much my computer programming skills had improved since the last time I was arrested."
lojong1
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Re: Boredom!

Post by lojong1 »

pilgrim wrote:A great antidote is to work for the benefit of others. Start a charity or something..
Go visit my cousins in Rhyl, turn them into guerilla gardeners, and PLANT HAZELNUT TREES EVERYWHERE!
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Goedert
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Re: Boredom!

Post by Goedert »

Dear friend,

I'm facing the same problem as you.

I advice you to engane in some new hobbies, class and fun times. Try to have equanimous love in your heart for yourself first and them to the others, metta is a good meditation for you. Go out with your partner, do different things, plan a vacation, cook for your partner, things like that. It is good to join a group that have similar problems as you, a theraphy group is a good option you gonna see different views of the perspective you are facing.

I will tell you my story, as if where in theraphy group, hope it helps:

I tried to practice the dhamma, but I could not live in accordance with the dhamma. I tried it, but people didn't understand the subtle and profoundity meaning of what is to live a happy, silenced, virtuous and free life. People around started to think this kind of thing of me: "He changed, He is getting crazy, He is unhappy, He don't like to eat meat, He don't like to party, Let him alone".

Then I could not continue to live in accordance with the dhamma (living like it is to live, pure with no illusory constructions). People in my country is so barbaric minded that they are engulfed and lost in senses pleasure, they don't understand the useless speech, they're mind is so confused and agitated that only trough suffering and powerfull subjugation they could be converted, because they don't even respect a harmless saint like the Buddha, even Christ (this is a catholic country) they disrespect, what say about the Buddha.

So the only option that was left, was to quit living in accordance with the dhamma. This started to get me really bored, I don't even know how to live like them anymore, the mind just dont adhere in the enjoyment of the playful things, but I'm doing things to this people do not judge me any more. Things like:

- Join a Gym;
- Study Neuro linguistic pattern;
- Study colors;
- Study wine;
- Bought a cute dog;
- Join a class to learn instrumental music;
- I paint art pictures;
- See movies;
- Follow the TOP 50 musics;
- Taking dance classroom;
- Bought a good camera;
- Taking drama class;
- Have a job that you are supposed to be pround of;
- Have a movie theather in your home and invite 3-10 people every one day in a week;
- Go to bars and restaurents;
- Have knowledge of things, politics, facts around you;
- Be mindfull of TV, radio, paper;
- Eat health food;
- Learn to cook very good;
- Learn new languages;
- Have a trip;
- Be a specialist in something;
- Know the best cloth trademarks;
- Learn about fashion;
- Learn about suits.

I'm starting to build up a great social proof and making meating many new people. This is very difficult to me, engage in such things is so useless, so empty but sometimes it is possible to advice some people in the way they can relieve they suffering from life when there is the proper situation (almost never, only when they are suffering from something). This is the only way that I've found to make a connection with this people and bringing happiness and some wisdom to their life.

In the case of womans the condition is even worst, they are very lost in futile things. They are born and raised in it, so I also joined in seduction and making multiple relation ships, like modern relationship or something. Something that I found interesting is the power of sensual desire, when it raises and you observe it as not-self, you can feel it, you can start control it and is a very strong energy, it is even more powerfull then adrenaline or rage.

Thats it. That list above is something that I only done to connect with and slightly convert people to reality, I live in a contry where 70% of people can read a text but don't understand what they are reading, so make your clues about theyre faculties. They are manipulated by the mass public media (TV system here is different from US and UE) and the fear generated by Democratic Policy State. Many people also have a good heart but ignorance of reality make they suffer.

I just focusing in mindfullness, concentration, energy, sympathy and EQUANIMITY using the two truths (mudane and supramundane) as pratice today.

Sometimes the rhinocerous sutta come to my mind but modern western culture are completely barbaric and I would make the roll family suffer if I live like beggar here.

Two times the tought of ending the life of this body come up to my mind but let them go away and they were gone. I decided to play the game of this people when this tought come up to the mind "Play the game, or the game play you out".

The Buddha was a perfect teacher, the arya sangha and monastic sangha should be venerated as precious jewels that are very rare to found, I can say it because I have no contact with a near theravadin sangha, what to say about a spiritual friend.

I have such a faith in the Buddha that I would give my blood in sacrifice to prevent the true dhamma to be corrupted or lost. This doctrine is of the highest utility to everyone.

I have message to forum friends:

You that are in contact with the jewels, that are in good mental and physical health, don't be headless. Focus in yourself, meditate, understand the phenomena of existence, this is really important and urgent. Be mindfull and let go your attachment to the sense of self. Otherwise the sorrow will rise in the end of your life, make use of your opptunity now.

Wish peacefull life to everyone.
chownah
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Re: Boredom!

Post by chownah »

I just spent a week flat on my back being very sick and it was really very very boring when it was not wrenching.

The first three days all I could do was try to sleep but probably got less than 2 hours sleep a day (working at it 24 hours a day) and then I started gradually sleeping more but not doing much of anthing else...a bit of rice and fruit twice a day was all I could stomach...no music...no tv...no nothing I just wanted to sleep....but....I can only yearn for sleep for so many minutes when my mind turns to other things..pain...discomfort...and mindfulness. I did a lot of mindfulness work. I probably had the opportunity of a life time for doing mindfulness work but have to admit that while it was great being freed up for this I did let my mind wander and wasted many precious hours in mindless turmoil of one sort or another and so benefitted less.

All in all a good experience but I don't recommend it......to unpleasant and boring.....but it does present an opportunity.

chownah
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