Comments on: The Monk and The Academic: How to be Happy http://www.kesterbrewin.com/2010/02/09/the-monk-and-the-academic-how-to-be-happy/ // __ issues. in code. __ // Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:30:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Clare http://www.kesterbrewin.com/2010/02/09/the-monk-and-the-academic-how-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-2407 Clare Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:53:28 +0000 http://www.kesterbrewin.com/?p=1166#comment-2407 I also think that the prevalence of mental illness these days is indicative of a fundamental malaise which isn't being widely acknowledged; i.e, a capitalist system fails us all to some extent in terms of happiness. In my experience, even those who haven't escaped classification as mentally ill don't often seem to spot and/or acknowledge the deeper reasons for their unhappiness. Granted - I perceive society as encouraging them to fiddle about at the fringes of the problem, taking meds and trying to eat a bit more salmon etc. But I think I would sort of echo Acetate Monkey's question: how do we get people to realise that things could be so much happier and healthier whether those individuals are deemed to be ill or not? I also think that the prevalence of mental illness these days is indicative of a fundamental malaise which isn’t being widely acknowledged; i.e, a capitalist system fails us all to some extent in terms of happiness. In my experience, even those who haven’t escaped classification as mentally ill don’t often seem to spot and/or acknowledge the deeper reasons for their unhappiness. Granted – I perceive society as encouraging them to fiddle about at the fringes of the problem, taking meds and trying to eat a bit more salmon etc. But I think I would sort of echo Acetate Monkey’s question: how do we get people to realise that things could be so much happier and healthier whether those individuals are deemed to be ill or not?

]]> By: Acetate Monkey http://www.kesterbrewin.com/2010/02/09/the-monk-and-the-academic-how-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-2404 Acetate Monkey Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:54:43 +0000 http://www.kesterbrewin.com/?p=1166#comment-2404 Forgive the misplaced apostrophe in Dickens. Lynn Truss would not approve! Forgive the misplaced apostrophe in Dickens. Lynn Truss would not approve!

]]> By: Acetate Monkey http://www.kesterbrewin.com/2010/02/09/the-monk-and-the-academic-how-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-2403 Acetate Monkey Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:53:26 +0000 http://www.kesterbrewin.com/?p=1166#comment-2403 In contrast to not having enough, and the sucking in of various 'inanimate objects', happiness seems to have openness as a common strand. Either the willingness to admit we haven't 'arrived' (willingness to learn from spiritual teachers, education, mindfulness etc.) or proactive giving (altruism). These contrast to the shrivelling closure of our fists to preserve what we have and the diminishment of our horizons. When the fear of inadequacy is faced up to and embraced then we are free to engage in the relationships which capitalism dismisses instead of filling the vacuum with more inanimate objects. Is it really that simple? Dicken's Scrooge is an obvious embodiment of the concept, but somehow the saccharin glow of the Muppet's Christmas Carol never translates into real life. I wonder why? In contrast to not having enough, and the sucking in of various ‘inanimate objects’, happiness seems to have openness as a common strand. Either the willingness to admit we haven’t ‘arrived’ (willingness to learn from spiritual teachers, education, mindfulness etc.) or proactive giving (altruism). These contrast to the shrivelling closure of our fists to preserve what we have and the diminishment of our horizons. When the fear of inadequacy is faced up to and embraced then we are free to engage in the relationships which capitalism dismisses instead of filling the vacuum with more inanimate objects.

Is it really that simple? Dicken’s Scrooge is an obvious embodiment of the concept, but somehow the saccharin glow of the Muppet’s Christmas Carol never translates into real life. I wonder why?

]]> By: Clare http://www.kesterbrewin.com/2010/02/09/the-monk-and-the-academic-how-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-2399 Clare Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:25:35 +0000 http://www.kesterbrewin.com/?p=1166#comment-2399 Acetate Monkey: I agree. And capitalism plays on that fear as well as directing us to inanimate objects as the 'solution'. Acetate Monkey: I agree. And capitalism plays on that fear as well as directing us to inanimate objects as the ‘solution’.

]]> By: Acetate Monkey http://www.kesterbrewin.com/2010/02/09/the-monk-and-the-academic-how-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-2398 Acetate Monkey Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:11:36 +0000 http://www.kesterbrewin.com/?p=1166#comment-2398 I wonder if it's something to do with fear? From an evolutionary point of view fear seems to be about having enough. Either having enough external resources (berries, money) or internal resources (strength to kill tigers, ability to assert ourselves). If we don't have enough (or suspect we don't) then we need connections to make up our shortfall. Without being connected to others we wander lonely through life potentially annihilated by everything. Not a nice place to be and one that creates anxiety and depression. I wonder if it’s something to do with fear? From an evolutionary point of view fear seems to be about having enough. Either having enough external resources (berries, money) or internal resources (strength to kill tigers, ability to assert ourselves). If we don’t have enough (or suspect we don’t) then we need connections to make up our shortfall. Without being connected to others we wander lonely through life potentially annihilated by everything. Not a nice place to be and one that creates anxiety and depression.

]]> By: Clare http://www.kesterbrewin.com/2010/02/09/the-monk-and-the-academic-how-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-2397 Clare Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:04:01 +0000 http://www.kesterbrewin.com/?p=1166#comment-2397 "Question is then, why are we the unhappiest people yet to have lived?" - Relationship with life forms would seem to be the common factor in the above list. Not something that's encouraged within nasty capitalism. “Question is then, why are we the unhappiest people yet to have lived?” – Relationship with life forms would seem to be the common factor in the above list. Not something that’s encouraged within nasty capitalism.

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