Comments on: As Happy As Monks http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happy-monks/ Exploring Healthy Psychotherapy Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:06:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tina http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happy-monks/#comment-15666 Tina Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:35:14 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=1627#comment-15666 I do think regular life gives us a lot of downs than ups. I dont think people in Nirvana have a clue about what it means to actually be responsible for someone other than yourself. That one thing makes us positive or negative people depending on our struggle between ego and responsibilities. I do think regular life gives us a lot of downs than ups. I dont think people in Nirvana have a clue about what it means to actually be responsible for someone other than yourself. That one thing makes us positive or negative people depending on our struggle between ego and responsibilities.

]]> By: Henry http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happy-monks/#comment-15606 Henry Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:38:44 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=1627#comment-15606 I loved reading your comment Derek. It is so true that discontentment is in human nature. I think most of us come up with excuses when we say we dont have time to do this or that. It probably is because we are lazy, not motivated enough and secretly content with the lousy day. I loved reading your comment Derek. It is so true that discontentment is in human nature. I think most of us come up with excuses when we say we dont have time to do this or that. It probably is because we are lazy, not motivated enough and secretly content with the lousy day.

]]> By: Derek http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happy-monks/#comment-15436 Derek Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:41:21 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=1627#comment-15436 Twenty minutes of meditation is all it takes to see improvement. We can all find this time somewhere in the day. Even if it is 20 minutes less sleep, wouldn't it be a great trade off for more peace of mind throughout the day? You don't need to get formal with it and you don't even need 20 minutes straight. Do four 5 minute sessions. Find somebody to start you out in the right direction. It certainly is worth it. I am speaking as a 15 year meditator with 2 small children. Really, try it for 3 months. The Dalai Lama is probably busier than most of us on a daily basis. He still finds time for meditation and is happy regardless of what conditions arise. As far as a study on monks using spirituality to escape conventional life goes, I believe it would be no more interesting than a study about therapists avoiding the troubles of their own life by surrounding themselves with the problems of other people's lives. The point of the Buddhist contemplative lifestyle is not to escape the problems of the world, but to experience the world as it is - as opposed to how one thinks it is or wishes it would be. One may think praying and meditating all day would bring contentment, but discontent will rear its head no matter what path you take in life. The grass is always greener... Stories abound of people escaping the world by becoming a monk/nun only to find themselves face to face with... the self. Twenty minutes of meditation is all it takes to see improvement. We can all find this time somewhere in the day. Even if it is 20 minutes less sleep, wouldn’t it be a great trade off for more peace of mind throughout the day? You don’t need to get formal with it and you don’t even need 20 minutes straight. Do four 5 minute sessions. Find somebody to start you out in the right direction. It certainly is worth it. I am speaking as a 15 year meditator with 2 small children. Really, try it for 3 months. The Dalai Lama is probably busier than most of us on a daily basis. He still finds time for meditation and is happy regardless of what conditions arise.

As far as a study on monks using spirituality to escape conventional life goes, I believe it would be no more interesting than a study about therapists avoiding the troubles of their own life by surrounding themselves with the problems of other people’s lives. The point of the Buddhist contemplative lifestyle is not to escape the problems of the world, but to experience the world as it is – as opposed to how one thinks it is or wishes it would be. One may think praying and meditating all day would bring contentment, but discontent will rear its head no matter what path you take in life. The grass is always greener… Stories abound of people escaping the world by becoming a monk/nun only to find themselves face to face with… the self.

]]> By: April http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happy-monks/#comment-15318 April Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:41:22 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=1627#comment-15318 A monk's life is definitely one to be studied and evaluated. I have never understood how they can go through the day in silence and meditation, for it does seem like that would be more than a little maddening. But I guess that for many of them it is the perfect lifestyle. I have thought about though how many of the people in these roles are using this as an escape from a life and world that is scary to them in other ways. That would be interesting to learn if anyone could ever delve and do the research on that I would love to hear the results. I do think that so many of us would benefit if we could do more like they do, in that we should all probably devote more time to study and prayer rather than always being so caught up in the material goods of the world. Is this even a possibility? It would be hard. A monk’s life is definitely one to be studied and evaluated. I have never understood how they can go through the day in silence and meditation, for it does seem like that would be more than a little maddening. But I guess that for many of them it is the perfect lifestyle. I have thought about though how many of the people in these roles are using this as an escape from a life and world that is scary to them in other ways. That would be interesting to learn if anyone could ever delve and do the research on that I would love to hear the results. I do think that so many of us would benefit if we could do more like they do, in that we should all probably devote more time to study and prayer rather than always being so caught up in the material goods of the world. Is this even a possibility? It would be hard.

]]> By: Joely http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happy-monks/#comment-15276 Joely Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:51:45 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=1627#comment-15276 The life of a monk or a nun spent in all of that quiet reflection and study would drive me insane! I am much more of a people person and that is how I stay happy- spending time with my friends and family. Too much quiet makes me feel like I am going crazy. I know that it must take really special people to be able to endure completely and happily this sort of life. But I know it ain't for me! The life of a monk or a nun spent in all of that quiet reflection and study would drive me insane! I am much more of a people person and that is how I stay happy- spending time with my friends and family. Too much quiet makes me feel like I am going crazy. I know that it must take really special people to be able to endure completely and happily this sort of life. But I know it ain’t for me!

]]> By: Kate http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happy-monks/#comment-15258 Kate Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:38:33 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=1627#comment-15258 Staying calm and collected is a challenge that I face constantly. I realised that after having a baby, I grew increasingly tense, anxious and depressed. The one thing that I was advised by doctors and friends was meditation and yoga. Definitely explains why monks are calmer and thus happier than most of us. Staying calm and collected is a challenge that I face constantly. I realised that after having a baby, I grew increasingly tense, anxious and depressed. The one thing that I was advised by doctors and friends was meditation and yoga. Definitely explains why monks are calmer and thus happier than most of us.

]]> By: Holly http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happy-monks/#comment-15240 Holly Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:26:10 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=1627#comment-15240 Maybe I would be that content as well if I knew that I had all day to devote to prayer and meditation, as well as feeling so close to God at all times. I think that many po us do not have the time to do this though. Maybe I would be that content as well if I knew that I had all day to devote to prayer and meditation, as well as feeling so close to God at all times. I think that many po us do not have the time to do this though.

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