On the good side they prevent boredom; they are benign and help you to lose your ‘self’ and to relax. A glass of wine and watch a movie. Make it easy on yourself.
On the negative side distractions are an existential cop out; a failure to face life’s seeming lack of purpose. They promote restless busy-ness and workaholism such that there is no time to stand and stare or to have quality time with the family. Make it busy on yourself.
There are fashion industries for distractions. The PR and spin merchants create obsessions and addictions to niche marketed status symbols for the young, old, male and female. Electronic gadgets, sports gear, alcoholic beverages, foreign holidays etc. Bread and circuses.
Your attention centre might close down during deep sleep but it is active during the waking hours. It may not be immediately obvious but it is possible to choose what occupies it.
In terms of basic survival, attention has to be paid to lions in the Savanna, trucks in the High Street and pick pockets in the shopping mall etc. But, in our modern cultures, with food shops, effective policing, and labour saving devices, there is plenty of time left over to do constructive things with the attention centre.
And what is the most constructive thing you can do with your attention centre? Be still and avoid distractions. Pay attention to your breath coming in and going out. When attention wanders, as it surely will, then bring it back to the breath. Let go of the worldly chatter about distractions and get to know the clarity and peace that is the true nature of the undistracted mind.
“I got in and started the engine, also turning on the radio. When the music began I wished that there might be more switches to turn on, for it was somehow not enough.” ― Saul Bellow, Humboldt's Gift
No comments:
Post a Comment