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r72rock
Maybe so. Maybe not.




Registered: 01/06/09
Posts: 1,327
Loc: Chicago
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Self Discipline
#17089332 - 10/23/12 10:31 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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When most people think of Zen or Buddhism in the west, most people tend to think about meditation, chanting, and a person with a "zen" attitude -- really laid back dude with a solid footing on the ground.
It seems though, that if you talk to someone from the East and you mention Buddhism, it's thought of as the religion that most people just "follow." Kinda like Christianity in the US. But when zen's mentioned, it's nothing like that "zen" attitude that we find in the west. If Zen's brought up to a person from the east, they think of qualities such as hard work, discipline, seriousness, and vigilance. That if one works hard enough, and I mean really hard, like 110% of their effort goes towards it all the time, 24/7, then they'll attain peace. Which is really nothing like the western zen idea that I mentioned earlier of that chilled out dude.
I just kind of thought how it was an interesting contrast. I've found myself wishing (more wanting) to have self discipline. I wish I could get up early in the morning at 5 and have a meditation routine, or keep in contact with people, and study for school, and practice instruments. But I don't do that. I live a very apathetic and day by day life of school/work. When I'm not doing either of those, I kinda just fuck around on the internet, or game.
At the same time, when I look at people who use their days for nothing but getting work done, it seems so... mechanical. Like, what's the point of it? Sure, their long term goals may be reached, but then at that point, they'll just create more goals. It just seems like a dog chasing its tail.
I think it'd be good for myself to develop more self discipline than I have currently, but I wouldn't want to be so over worked like some of my friends who study for 10 hours a day, sleep for 6, and attend classes for the other 8 hours. To me it just seemed like so much effort -- but that could just be a radical difference in our values.
I guess I'm trying to point to a middle way of self-discipline, but what do you guys think? Do you see yourself as someone who's disciplined?
When I look at my friends who have been through the army, marines, or the navy, they seem like that just have their shit together. They're on top of things, prompt and punctual, they maintain a healthy life style, and pursue the hobbies that they enjoy. I would never want to join the US army because I don't support them, but I have at one point or another thought about it just so I may learn some discipline.
-------------------- Current favorite candy: Peanut Butter Kisses
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Bjorn_Stormcrow
The Farfarer.



Registered: 09/27/12
Posts: 2,572
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Last seen: 1 month, 26 days
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Re: Self Discipline [Re: r72rock]
#17089393 - 10/23/12 10:43 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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I think its because in the east they didn't get fixated on the crossing your legs and chanting form of meditation and realised that meditation can be worked into your every day life turning ANY activity into a form of meditation. which means the more you work and the harder you work the more you meditate and thus the easier to achieve "zen"...
Just my theory on it.
-------------------- Live Mythically
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Self Discipline [Re: r72rock]
#17090067 - 10/24/12 01:12 AM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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I thought Zen was about shooting arrows into little targets?
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Bjorn_Stormcrow
The Farfarer.



Registered: 09/27/12
Posts: 2,572
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Last seen: 1 month, 26 days
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Re: Self Discipline [Re: Icelander]
#17090113 - 10/24/12 01:28 AM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said: I thought Zen was about shooting arrows into little targets?
It easily can be, who is to say that archery can't be a form of meditation? I've managed to his some rather awesome zen moments while at the range.
-------------------- Live Mythically
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usulpsychonaut


Registered: 05/12/08
Posts: 2,814
Loc: Northland, New Zealand.
Last seen: 2 years, 3 months
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My nature is non-discipline. The universe manifested me in the perfect time and place to have no discipline. Ungrateful and misguided, for years I've wished for discipline. All efforts to be disciplined are met with crippling neurosis. Still, there seem to be people far less disciplined than I. Ingratitude and misguidance has caused that oscillation of getting down about being down for lack of accomplishment. Now days I accept my aimless meandering, despair and loneliness. Life is very simple, secure cannabis supply, suffer the sunlight then get high every night. This is my discipline, soul, spirituality and un-enlightenment. Perhaps a below centre middle way.
O Laziness most empty, O Laziness divine, All dullness and all incompetence Be every moment thine.
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r72rock
Maybe so. Maybe not.




Registered: 01/06/09
Posts: 1,327
Loc: Chicago
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Quote:
Ulfrick said: I think its because in the east they didn't get fixated on the crossing your legs and chanting form of meditation and realised that meditation can be worked into your every day life turning ANY activity into a form of meditation. which means the more you work and the harder you work the more you meditate and thus the easier to achieve "zen"...
Just my theory on it.
That's interesting, but from the people I know, they don't think anything like that. Not to say thought that I don't think that's impossible. I think that's something good to strive for. 
Quote:
Icelander said: I thought Zen was about shooting arrows into little targets?
It is. And isn't? I think it's something like that. 
Quote:
usulpsychonaut said: My nature is non-discipline. The universe manifested me in the perfect time and place to have no discipline. Ungrateful and misguided, for years I've wished for discipline. All efforts to be disciplined are met with crippling neurosis. Still, there seem to be people far less disciplined than I. Ingratitude and misguidance has caused that oscillation of getting down about being down for lack of accomplishment. Now days I accept my aimless meandering, despair and loneliness. Life is very simple, secure cannabis supply, suffer the sunlight then get high every night. This is my discipline, soul, spirituality and un-enlightenment. Perhaps a below centre middle way.
O Laziness most empty, O Laziness divine, All dullness and all incompetence Be every moment thine.
Hahaha, well that's different from what I was expecting. Made me think though... sounds like discipline to be undisciplined.
-------------------- Current favorite candy: Peanut Butter Kisses
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Rool Kat
Rutabga


Registered: 05/29/12
Posts: 526
Last seen: 9 years, 7 months
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Quote:
Ulfrick said:
Quote:
Icelander said: I thought Zen was about shooting arrows into little targets?
It easily can be, who is to say that archery can't be a form of meditation? I've managed to his some rather awesome zen moments while at the range.
Ulfrick nailed it!
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