Did you actually know that in classical EBT(early buddhist teachings) theravada buddhist practice, "viveka" ( seclusion in pali) is highly recommended to clear the mind of its impurities and achieve freedom from the taints?
I think the intention "cetana" in Pali is key. You want to isolate yourself from the crowd, from the social club, from whatever distraction, in order to do your practice, so I think that makes a big difference. Very old monks have very clear minds, clearer as any modern urban lay human, without all the modern neuroscience.
If you define happiness as freedom from suffering, that is what they have achieved to a lesser or greater degree. Freedom from dukkha (pali for misery, pain, discomfort, suffering) is actually the goal of Buddhist practice.
So solitude can be a great door opener and tool in the toolbox of a buddhist practitioner and does not necessarily lead to dementia, senility or less grey matter.
So the practice of viveka, accompained wih the practice of Sati ( mindfulness in Pali) and nekkhamma (renunciation in Pāli ) emphasizing the abandonment of worldly attachments and desires does certainly not have the outcomes depicted in this article.
I have been in retreat in the jungle for a month, going on almsround with the monks and was very satisfied and peaceful.
Could be interesting if you could find some RMI scans of old monks.
I am planning to ordain as a monk so would that would be interesting . I know there are a lot of studies and MRI scans of meditating monks taht proof right what i am portraying .
I wish you much success and freedom from suffering. _/\_
Ps/Don't forget to meditate. make it your uppermost priority! 1 hour in the morning and one hour before you go to sleep. keep the mindfulness during the whole day, for the rest of your existance in that body of yours.
Thank you Harold, for this thought-provoking comment! I do not disagree that solitude, as well as meditation, can be good for humans in many ways. As I distinguish at the beginning of the post, there is a difference between isolation and loneliness, with loneliness being something we feel and perceive ourselves to be. Though people may be isolated/alone, they may not always feel lonely. I imagine that many people who practice solitude in the ways you describe do not feel lonely even when they are alone - probably feeling connected to the Earth, to people who came before them, to fellow practitioners, and some spiritual being. And so they would not experience the impacts of loneliness as I describe, because they do not feel lonely. I will have a look at some MRI studies on monks as you highlight, it is a very interesting area of research!
Hi Nicole interesting post, but...
Did you actually know that in classical EBT(early buddhist teachings) theravada buddhist practice, "viveka" ( seclusion in pali) is highly recommended to clear the mind of its impurities and achieve freedom from the taints?
I think the intention "cetana" in Pali is key. You want to isolate yourself from the crowd, from the social club, from whatever distraction, in order to do your practice, so I think that makes a big difference. Very old monks have very clear minds, clearer as any modern urban lay human, without all the modern neuroscience.
If you define happiness as freedom from suffering, that is what they have achieved to a lesser or greater degree. Freedom from dukkha (pali for misery, pain, discomfort, suffering) is actually the goal of Buddhist practice.
So solitude can be a great door opener and tool in the toolbox of a buddhist practitioner and does not necessarily lead to dementia, senility or less grey matter.
So the practice of viveka, accompained wih the practice of Sati ( mindfulness in Pali) and nekkhamma (renunciation in Pāli ) emphasizing the abandonment of worldly attachments and desires does certainly not have the outcomes depicted in this article.
I have been in retreat in the jungle for a month, going on almsround with the monks and was very satisfied and peaceful.
Could be interesting if you could find some RMI scans of old monks.
I am planning to ordain as a monk so would that would be interesting . I know there are a lot of studies and MRI scans of meditating monks taht proof right what i am portraying .
I wish you much success and freedom from suffering. _/\_
Ps/Don't forget to meditate. make it your uppermost priority! 1 hour in the morning and one hour before you go to sleep. keep the mindfulness during the whole day, for the rest of your existance in that body of yours.
Thank you Harold, for this thought-provoking comment! I do not disagree that solitude, as well as meditation, can be good for humans in many ways. As I distinguish at the beginning of the post, there is a difference between isolation and loneliness, with loneliness being something we feel and perceive ourselves to be. Though people may be isolated/alone, they may not always feel lonely. I imagine that many people who practice solitude in the ways you describe do not feel lonely even when they are alone - probably feeling connected to the Earth, to people who came before them, to fellow practitioners, and some spiritual being. And so they would not experience the impacts of loneliness as I describe, because they do not feel lonely. I will have a look at some MRI studies on monks as you highlight, it is a very interesting area of research!