Curious1991
USA
10 Posts
Posted - Apr 28 2015 : 12:00:31 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Topic Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Message Delete Topic
Aside from spiritual practices how do you develop discipline to accomplish other desires/goals?
The progress I've made spiritually has allowed me to become more detached from my goals and seeing them for what they truly are(i.e attachment to thoughts leads to disillusionment).However, I personally think that one can still pursue desires/goals (I could be wrong) while on the spiritual track.
Personally, I thought I was lazy due to my previous attachment on the outcomes of my goals. However, as I my ego became reduced, this was no longer the case. I am fine if these goals/thoughts never manifest into "physical reality", however I would like to develop self discipline even if it is futile in the grander scheme of things.
My goals are to continue to make strides in my academic career while using my free time to pursue my interest in art. I have waken up early, made schedules, got rid of my laptop & smartphone and still I find myself lacking willpower to complete these goals. I have had a lazy lifestyle filled with mindless stimulation via internet surfing since I was 9 (I'm 23). It hit me that even after, I removed all my vices for an extended amount of time ( 8 months) I still find myself doing absolutely nothing.
There was a quote from Ramana Maharishi that I found interesting, "Work" is the hindrance. Ask yourself, "Who works?" Remember who you are. Then the work will not bind you, it will go on automatically.
I'd love to hear stories from you guys on how you all developed self discipline in any aspect of your lives. This seems to be the only thing that makes me "suffer" now a days.
Dogboy
USA
1605 Posts
Posted - Apr 28 2015 : 5:00:02 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
Sometimes the simple "what can I do in the next five minutes?" is enough to get the ball rolling and accumulate small accomplishments. Five minutes is a short enough commitment to overcome a lazy impulse, but long enough to see progress. Have you got five minutes to give it a try?
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Bodhi Tree
2972 Posts
Posted - Apr 28 2015 : 7:21:27 PM Show Profile Email Poster Visit Bodhi Tree's Homepage Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
Well, discipline is derived from a Latin word meaning "instruction, knowledge", so if you are seeking to instruct yourself by means of acquiring knowledge--that is very good. As Yogani says, the most important question we can ask is: Who am I? (Who are we?) Also, what are we doing here?
So, discipline is training oneself to the answer these questions with direct knowledge and direct experience. Discipline also means becoming a disciple of a certain way of living. Here, we are disciples of multi-channeled yoga practices, which come from, and lead to: stillness in action, ecstatic bliss, and an outpouring of divine love.
On the road of discipline, removing vices will be part of the equation, but there is much more to fill in the blanks. For instance, once I gave up drinking alcohol, pornography, and gambling, there was still a strong desire to experience life in a vivacious way, so I turned to yoga, meditation, playing music, spiritual literature, and lately, building a website and community to help people in recovery from addiction.
Bhakti is what drives the journey. The desire for more. And we want to share it, because possessing it for ourselves will never be fully satisfying. It's a simple but brilliant design.
Enlightenment isn't really like a schizophrenic flip, i.e. going from "ego" to "no-ego" or "attachment" to "no-attachment". There's quite a few teachers who try to spin it that way, but I think that style is misleading. What's more accurate and realistic is maybe the light bulb metaphor. Maybe we are glowing at 50 watts, but we sense we can amplify the wattage to 75 watts, so we open up the nervous system to achieve that. Gradually, with self-pacing, the purification and opening occurs at a steady rate.
I've been to hundreds of AA meetings, and a big pitfall is when people get obsessed with "staying sober". They're too focused on the absence of something. Much better to focus on the presence of what will replace your vice. There are an abundance of options to fill in the blanks. Just taking a long walk in Mother Nature and using my refined senses to soak in the lushness of Her Beauty can be enough. Still, as Robert Frost wrote: "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep."
Best of luck.
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NoDogma
USA
118 Posts
Posted - Apr 28 2015 : 9:55:54 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
quote:
Originally posted by Curious1991
The progress I've made spiritually has allowed me to become more detached from my goals and seeing them for what they truly are(i.e attachment to thoughts leads to disillusionment).However, I personally think that one can still pursue desires/goals (I could be wrong) while on the spiritual track.
Personally, I thought I was lazy due to my previous attachment on the outcomes of my goals. However, as I my ego became reduced, this was no longer the case. I am fine if these goals/thoughts never manifest into "physical reality", however I would like to develop self discipline even if it is futile in the grander scheme of things.
aaaah.... that famous verse from Bhagvad Gita :
'Karmanye Vaadhikarasya, Ma falechu kadanchana;
Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani' :
This translated literally means 'you only have right to do karma, but none to its fruits. Don't motivate by fruits of action, nor attach yourself to inaction'
I doubt if I will ever reach there .. I bow to those who practice it. For me, the desires of body/mind remain and that includes setting goals for the fruit, striving for successful completion of work.
However, I like different interpretations of the verse : For normal humans, the desire of fruit drives one to decide a goal. So, it is ok to dream the fruit to decide the goal and expect successful completion of work, but (a) once you've decided the goal, forget the fruits and do the work to enjoy it. (b) when the results happen, don't get too carried away by the success (of achieving the goal) or get too depressed/frustrated by failure. (c) don't be disappointed by the quantity/quality of the fruit upon completion of work.
Hey, I came to AYP looking for a way to get the fruit .. not because I was wandering aimlessly searching for something to occupy my time. and i continue to practice because of the bliss it gives me
i seem to be able to do it by splitting long term goals into daily goals ( like DogBoy said even 5 minutes) .. and enjoy the work. Just finished a 2 year research project on my own (i.e. not working for someone) and started another.. and no, I don't have any self-discipline even now (like fixed sleeping habits, or fixed work time ... routine is boring for someone like me ) .
(some famous guy said) : give difficult work to the lazy one ... he will make it simple
Edited by - NoDogma on Apr 28 2015 10:48:46 PM
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greymatter
USA
24 Posts
Posted - Apr 29 2015 : 3:07:05 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
Hey all, thanks for the topic. Self discipline is something I need to work on as well.
For me personally, I can get really worked up if I'm coming up on a deadline. Sometimes, I expect too much of myself without considering the positive effects of the efforts I do make. It makes me forget that I am actually trying to achieve things and live my life as best as I can.
When deadlines come and I get stressed, I don't have to consider whether I need more self discipline because I recognize that stress is what makes me want to change. I know it would be better for me to be a superstar, but my meager effort isn't at all worth dismissing. Part of becoming self disciplined is noticing the times when you are disciplined, as much as focusing on the need to change.
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Will Power
Spain
415 Posts
Posted - Apr 29 2015 : 3:25:31 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
The important thing is to create a habit. How do we create a habit? By repeating something many times. But this is difficult if you don't have established the habit first.
Then how to do it? By mentally repeating what you want to do many times, specially when you are in alpha or deeper brain states. In other words, everytime before sleeping and after waking up and before and after yogic practices, visualize yourself doing what you want to do (i.e. going to sleep early, practising meditation after getting up and after work...), while feeling the joy of having achieved what you wanted (peace, love and being filled with light for example).
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LordBuzzKill
Canada
171 Posts
Posted - Apr 29 2015 : 3:42:15 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
Everything you ever wanted to know about Habits!
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
The best book I have ever read on habits!
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Will Power
Spain
415 Posts
Posted - Apr 29 2015 : 5:12:28 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
Oh and track your progress for instance using My Chain app (at least it works for android)
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dv2014
USA
92 Posts
Posted - May 02 2015 : 7:00:38 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
BTW, if internet surfing is a concern, I have found Google Chrome's 'StayFocusd' pretty useful.
