when do we stop thinking?

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by Ulas, Jul 19, 2002.

  1. Ulas Registered Member

    Messages:
    2
    I am alway keeping my brain busy thinking about different things. Esspecially if I have nothing to do, I start thinking about daily happenings, my future, relationships, politics, some utopias and many other subjects. I feel my brain is nearly exhausted. I wonder when we do stop torturing ourselves?

    I think that being conscious and intelligent wears people out. IS Yoga or Drugs or excessive alchol the solution? What do you think? When do we achieve mental comfort or stability? By the way, sorry for bad english
     
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  3. Joeman Eviiiiiiiil Clown Registered Senior Member

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    Try Meditation
     
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  5. Cris In search of Immortality Valued Senior Member

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    Ulas,

    Welcome to sciforums.

    Unlike mechanical machines, most biological components become stronger with use, and the brain is no exception.

    You should know that if you do not exercise your body you will become weak and probably obese.

    It is sad that when many people retire from active life thay tend to use their brains less and that results in poorer brain function and a swift decline into senility.

    However, after hectic activity the body does need rest and the brain is very similar. But to give you brain a rest, simple sleep is not sufficient since during most of sleep you are dreaming and that means the mind is still active.

    As Joeman states the best solution is a form of meditation that helps the mind to relax. TM (Transcendental Meditation) is probably the best since that technique allows the mind to become perfectly still. Other techniques tend to require some form of concentration and that still requires the mind to be active.

    If you ever retire then it is important to keep your mind very active.

    Hope that helps.
    Cris
     
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  7. ubermich amnesiac . . . Registered Senior Member

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    psychotropic drugs are probably quite comforting...

    i know for a fact they destroy that constant stream of thought that tortures your psyche perpetually....at least, they are supposed to.

    unfortunately, somepeople escape them with their minds intact...
     
  8. Adam §Þ@ç€ MØnk€¥ Registered Senior Member

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    Cessation of conscious thought is what sleep is for. In such periods the conscious and subconscious mind sorts out all its crap and has a rest from "thinking".

    Psychotropic drugs function by altering brain chemistry. What's the problem with that? Well, the balance of chemicals in there now is a balance. Mess with that too much and your brain literally starts functioning in ways it is not intended to. Chemically induced feelings of light-headedness, freedom, rapidly changing streams of thought, and so on are not indicative of having an open mind; they are indicative or messing up your mind.
     
  9. glaucon tending tangentially Registered Senior Member

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    5,502
    Wow!
    You must hang out with a great crowd Ulas. Just about every day I run into many people who I would say have completely stopped thinking.

    I imagine it depends on how you're going to define the thinking act.....
     
  10. Neutrino_Albatross Legion of Dynamic Discord Registered Senior Member

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    Most people tell me i think too much.

    I then politly explain that they think too little.
     
  11. Awaranowski Registered Senior Member

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    The problem isn't that the brain is working too much. All brains should work. They're supposed to. The brain is designed to be a tool for you. And not the other way around. When you use it, use it, and when you're done, put it down. But it doesn't want to stop. It sucks. It uses you. Have you ever done something you didn't want to do because your brain told you to? I have a book about that. It's a truly amazing book. It's called "The Power of Now". I seriously suggest you buy it or at least check it out, because it has so much relevence to this. It's about how to escape from the imprisonment of the mind. I would recommend it to anyone. The Power of Now. You will find youself stunned with its insight and intelligence. It explains complex things all the while, you never lose grasp of what's being talked about. You'll be amazed.
     
  12. Awaranowski Registered Senior Member

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    Crap, I just re-read that and I noticed something. I sound a lot like those guys telling you to read a book. Like a scientologist or something. I hate people that try to impose religion on you. But this is different. Trusssst me. The author is German. His name is Eckard Tolle.
     
  13. ndrs The Anti-Cthulhu Registered Senior Member

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    As Cris suggested, it is a VERY good thing.. Maybe you should look around and observe a few of those common people, whose brain never gets tired - they never use it.
    Alcohol does help it settle, just like a _good_ night sleep, meditation should help as well.
    When we die? Or maybe the other way round.. We die when we achieve mental comfort and stability.
     
  14. Awaranowski Registered Senior Member

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    32
    You acheive comfort of the mind when you let go of the identification with the mind, and when you realize you are NOT your brain.
     
  15. andrew.kaszubski Registered Member

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    1
    There are a number of portals to stop thinking.

    Listening to silence,
    looking at the empty space between forms
    focusing intensly on the tasks at hand (whatever it is your doing including walking)
    focus on breathing or being "in" your body.

    all this amounts to 1 simple thing.

    Being present .

    living in the now.

    Your body is the best way to becoming present. It is a gateway. Once you are present in the moment, your mind will cease, only occasionally trying to get your attention in many clever ways.

    When you are living in the present moment, there are no problems, there is no fear, there is no more torment.

    It is possible to live with no mind. The mind cannot exist without past or future, you will notice it taking into projected futures or reliving the past over and over.

    The mind cannot control you if you manage to stay present.

    The continual state of no mind is called enlightenment.
     
  16. Chagur .Seeker. Registered Senior Member

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    2,235
    Gee, hey ...

    I've been 'enlightened' for the last thirty or forty years!

    (stopped thinking when I figured I'd thought
    all the thoughts there were to think)

    Thanks for enlightening me!

    Take care

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    PS Welcome to Sciforums ...
     
  17. Raithere plagued by infinities Valued Senior Member

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    3,348
    Ulas

    Are you thinking or are you worrying? The act of thinking, itself, shouldn't be particularly strenuous unless you are attempting to solve some problem... whether it's a math problem, international politics, or worrying on personal problems. I would bet that what you're actually talking about is worry.

    In any case, meditation is a good way to rest the mind. It needn't be particularly formal either. My favorite meditation is simply going to a forest preserve or some such wilderness and simply walking and observing. Focus on your perceptions. Intrusive thoughts will sometimes try to take your attention but simply refocus on what is immediately around you. This gets easier with practice.

    And welcome!

    ~Raithere
     

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