Evening, I would say the distractions are "screwing up". Our lives today are so heavily packed with tons of information and so so much overload it's easy to not turn it off. You are 100% right the best use of our pipe time is to just shut everything off. The good thing is that you realized that and are going back to your home place, just looking around, listening, wondering, and finding that solitude from the maddness of the world around us. We are so pressured in our current society to constantly do more. Well the "more" you need is "less" so plan for it and long for it as you go through your day. Take Care and God Bless
I agree about the distractions. As far as the doing more-if it's more distraction, then I agree. At this season of life, however, I truly need to do more-but actually doing meaningful work. I'm happy to report that that's been happening for me this past month or so. A man has not been relaxing much. lol. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
Good morning, dear friend. It's 6am on Sunday, October 27th. I just finished watching your film. It's always nice to share a bowl with you like this. Some people have A.I. ChatBot friends, but we have this. Similar, but different. Right? Right. While you were enjoying your Night Cap, I was enjoying Old Toby. Haha! Well, that's what I call Capstan Blue. It was JRR's favorite tobacco, so I assume that's what he based Old Toby off of. I have no proof of that, but it makes sense. I even have an air tight glass jar with the words, "Old Toby" on it, in which I keep the leaf. Yeah, I guess I'm just an old Hobbit at heart. But wait, 60 is young for a hobbit, yes? A-hahaha. But aside from all that, it seems that you had yourself a little Zen moment. Congratulations. Keep going! Things will get better. The Japanese have a word for it. They call it Shikantaza. It means, "just sitting," or, sitting in silence, as you called it. There are many different meditation techniques, like counting one's own breaths, or concentrating on a mantra, etc. But Shikantaza is simply sitting in silence. Yes, the mind will jump around like a monkey in a mango tree, as you experienced, thoughts flying every which way. The key is to just observe the thoughts, but don't grab on to any one of them. Just sit. Just watch. Let the thoughts come and let them go. In time, you'll notice that the speed at which the thoughts are flying around is getting slower. But again, don't worry about that. Just let it happen. Then some day, the thoughts will just stop and you'll achieve Mu-Shin, the state of, "no mind." But don't worry about THAT goal. Just let it happen. It if takes a month, ok. If it takes a year, ok. Even if it takes ten years, it's still ok. The goal isn't the important thing. The practice is what's important. So yes, I congratulate you on putting aside the podcasts and phone and just sitting. And I also congratulate you on your decision for self improvement. Just remember, the weight didn't go on overnight, so it won't come off overnight. Baby steps. You'll get there. I believe in you! Ok, that's my 2-cents, from my cozy little hobbit hole in south central Illinois.
That's cool (Shikantaza). I experimented more with meditation when I was younger, but the whole closing my eyes thing wasn't my favorite. If I'm allowed to sit and just smoke my pipe, it might be doable after all.
@@amanrelaxes That's the beauty of meditation. There's no hard and fast rules. Do what works for YOU! In fact, that's why I created my channel. It's how I relax and meditate. Our channel's are very similar, with the only real exception being that I don't talk at all in my videos.
I started dropping some weight about a month and a half ago. I’m down 20lbs. I’m a tall thick framed fella so I don’t look my weight but 280lbs was too much. I’m trying to get to 250
Being a fat man just kind of...happens. I believe it's part and parcel of the ageing process. Focus gets lessened, life gets in the way... etc., etc. Don't be too hard on yourself... 33:25
