My favorite scene from Anna Karenina talks about the very same thing. This is the scene where Levin goes farming with the other farmers in his estate. They are so exhausted from manual labor that they are unable to think at all. And Levin considers it to be one of the very best days of his life
Levin's awakening is more or less a direct description of Tolstoy's. He claimed to remain in this state fairly consistently from the first moment that he grokked "god's word is true" through the end of his life. I subscribe to the belief that this sort of immediate and final psychic transformation (i.e "to live inside that feeling forever") is accessible to us all. Highly recommend "The Spiritual Writings of Leo Tolstoy."
Thank you for this. Is this similar to the concept of flow pioneered by Mihaly?
I have experienced this feeling of thoughtlessness while playing sports, dancing to music (often but not necessarily drunk), deep into solving a technical problem, even on weed (before the paranoia sets in haha)
I had some weird moments of dissociation along with these thoughtless states in my childhood. I was playing catch with a tennis ball with a friend.. and maybe after half an hour of this I suddenly realized I wasn't thinking at all, and then I felt I wasn't myself, that I was dreaming. It was very unsettling. These moments became more frequent over time until I became permanently dissociated for years
yes, very similar to flow!! I get this feeling with reading a lot and it's so wonderful--mind goes totally blank and your sense of time completely disappears
I identify so much with what you wrote in this post Ava. I have always lived more in my mind than in the real world and ruminating is second nature to me. My only escapes have been long meditation sessions (over an hour), very intense workouts and infatuations (way too frequently).
You would probably enjoy "The Hidden Spring," which is a book about the nature of thought/feeling and consciousness by the leading neuroscientist on the topic
I just try to sit and meditate for at least 15 minutes a day (eyes closed, letting thoughts pass through your mind) and I also do loving-kindness meditation right before bed!!
My favorite scene from Anna Karenina talks about the very same thing. This is the scene where Levin goes farming with the other farmers in his estate. They are so exhausted from manual labor that they are unable to think at all. And Levin considers it to be one of the very best days of his life
omg I love anna karenina but I totally forgot about that scene!! thank you for reminding me
Levin's awakening is more or less a direct description of Tolstoy's. He claimed to remain in this state fairly consistently from the first moment that he grokked "god's word is true" through the end of his life. I subscribe to the belief that this sort of immediate and final psychic transformation (i.e "to live inside that feeling forever") is accessible to us all. Highly recommend "The Spiritual Writings of Leo Tolstoy."
Thank you for this. Is this similar to the concept of flow pioneered by Mihaly?
I have experienced this feeling of thoughtlessness while playing sports, dancing to music (often but not necessarily drunk), deep into solving a technical problem, even on weed (before the paranoia sets in haha)
I had some weird moments of dissociation along with these thoughtless states in my childhood. I was playing catch with a tennis ball with a friend.. and maybe after half an hour of this I suddenly realized I wasn't thinking at all, and then I felt I wasn't myself, that I was dreaming. It was very unsettling. These moments became more frequent over time until I became permanently dissociated for years
yes, very similar to flow!! I get this feeling with reading a lot and it's so wonderful--mind goes totally blank and your sense of time completely disappears
Love as annihilation ...such a powerful concept...
<3
I identify so much with what you wrote in this post Ava. I have always lived more in my mind than in the real world and ruminating is second nature to me. My only escapes have been long meditation sessions (over an hour), very intense workouts and infatuations (way too frequently).
yes!! definitely the best forms of escape. though crushes can be painful
You would probably enjoy "The Hidden Spring," which is a book about the nature of thought/feeling and consciousness by the leading neuroscientist on the topic
just bought it!! will let you know what I think
Thanks, this seems really interesting. I've downloaded a copy on Audible.
Are there any meditation practices/techniques you would recommend for cultivating this feeling?
I just try to sit and meditate for at least 15 minutes a day (eyes closed, letting thoughts pass through your mind) and I also do loving-kindness meditation right before bed!!