No Tv, no video games, no radio, no internet for 1 month

This makes me think of the islanders and indigenous races who still live and work essentially the same way they have for thousands of years. (That is, in a nature-based, non-technological sort of way.)

When the power goes out, when all comes crashing down... I believe these people will scratch their heads and say:

"What apocalypse?"

Posted this in a thread about the possibility that much of the US population is hopelessly brainwashed. Definitely applies here as well. This is the condensed version of my path but it has changed my life. No going back I'm afraid. It started with eliminating drama in my life and understanding & living in the present moment (see Eckhart Tolle). From there it was like going to university and not being able to keep up with all the new awareness--haha. Anyhow, here's a sample of some of the things that impacted me.
***************************************************************************************************

There is a way to deprogram. I've done it and the perspective you gain is profound.

1) Turn off the television for two years.
2) Keep abreast of "news" consciously. You'll get more than what you need from others idle comments. Most of it is not news and will never affect you directly.
3) Learn to quiet the chatter mind.
4) Strip your mind of all labeling and judgments. Start to look at the world with a completely open mind.
5) Learn to see life through others eyes and realize we are all the same.
6) Eliminate all forms of dogma in your life.
7) Tame the ego and use feelings/emotions as indicators & mirrors to self discovery.
8) Tune into nature.
9) Acceptance of what is. Eliminate drama. Learn to be present to the moment.

Life becomes real and you start to see the circus drama for what it is. You recognize the fear-driven ego in most all of politics, you see television as a distraction (program) that takes you from a physical life to a mental reality show that attaches to your emotions--making it a very powerful addiction. Unfortunately here in the US it usually means you will find many of your relationships just aren't that fulfilling due to others attachment to drama.

Sadly, most in the US will never realize the trap they are in.

I spent a month in Central America.

There was electricity, but it was mainly used for lighting. There was absolutely no TV and no air conditioning, and there was only cold water. It must take more than four weeks to get used to a cold shower because I never did.

We generally traveled to a town three or four time a week to get a bite and use the internet. The streets were mostly gravel/dirt and there seemed to be an abnormally large chicken population--there were chickens roaming around everywhere you went. The internet was dial up and really slow. Everything took so long to load that checking email was all i could bare.

Looking back on it now, I can honestly say that I miss some things from my time there. The vegetation was beautiful and we spent almost all of our time outdoors. You had to get up early because it was too hot to sleep late. You fell asleep early because there wasn't much to do once it was dark, and the rest is pretty welcome when you've been out all day.

All of the soda that we bought was made with cane sugar. And the Coke was in glass bottles.

When I got back to the States, I didn't actually turn on the TV for at least a full day. It just didn't occur to me to turn it on. I also had to adjust to air conditioning. I was pretty cold for the first couple of days.

I was very happy when I returned home. Leaving the country actually made me appreciate it a little more. This has been several years and I'm now back to complaining about everything here (in the US), but it was kinda nice to feel good about my home country and my situation for at least a moment in time.

Also, I find many parallels to zazen practice. Sitting... just sitting. Watching the posture and breathing, and just being.....

If you replace "entertainment," (eg, TV, video games, radio, internet,) with "mind" or "thinking," and try to be without attachment to THAT for any extended period of time, I find that the result is exponentially similar to what you've discovered in your experiment here.

At first there is a feeling of anxiety... one becomes aware of their dependence on these stimuli (quite like an addiction.) The self is so amped up, that the "baseline" is not tolerant of silence, of stillness.

Gradually, with that special effort of no-effort, one cultivates this appreciation of reality, inand of itself, with no decoration, no accent, no special goal... The ego tells on itself, and continues to do so.

There is no end to this practice. It seems to me that by dropping yourself into this experiment, you have awakened yourself to a certain extent. However, Zen does not promote asceticism. When we are tired, we sleep, when we are hungry we eat.

But can most people JUST EAT? Haha... I think we talk, or some watch TV, some think about the food, think about our day, etc etc... How delicious even a rice cake would be if we actually JUST ate it!

Anyhow, I just wanted to point out that I respect your experiment. I think it is a worthy practice. If you continue it, without punishing yourself, then gradually your practice will become deeper and more still, until you (as you've said) are no longer DEPENDENT on these things, but may use them freely... as a tool, as a toy, for what they are truly...

Originally posted by FraternitasSaturni
Now try the same but without electricity...

I think no electricity that is the test.

Recently, due to my house being renovated (it was built in 1736), we had cold water and electricty for six weeks, with no broadband, gas or TV. We lived off the kettle and a portable stove, microwave and our two inglenook fireplaces keeping us all warm.

Great fun. Re-learned Monopoly, Scrabble et al.

Modern gadgets are driving us apart and not together.

Regards

Originally posted by elmoastro
There is a way to deprogram. I've done it and the perspective you gain is profound.

1) Turn off the television for two years.
2) Keep abreast of "news" consciously. You'll get more than what you need from others idle comments. Most of it is not news and will never affect you directly.
3) Learn to quiet the chatter mind.
4) Strip your mind of all labeling and judgments. Start to look at the world with a completely open mind.
5) Learn to see life through others eyes and realize we are all the same.
6) Eliminate all forms of dogma in your life.
7) Tame the ego and use feelings/emotions as indicators & mirrors to self discovery.
8) Tune into nature.
9) Acceptance of what is. Eliminate drama. Learn to be present to the moment.

Life becomes real and you start to see the circus drama for what it is. You recognize the fear-driven ego in most all of politics, you see television as a distraction (program) that takes you from a physical life to a mental reality show that attaches to your emotions--making it a very powerful addiction. Unfortunately here in the US it usually means you will find many of your relationships just aren't that fulfilling due to others attachment to drama.

Sadly, most in the US will never realize the trap they are in.

This, my friend, is probably the best quoted paragraph I've read for years.
Starred!

I have really nothing more to add, but this simple thought:
Trying to get my parents to turn off their TV for any amount of time proves the biggest challenge.
They are what I would describe as "addicted"...to the extreme.
When I ask them to try it out, it's as if I'm asking a drunk to put his drink down.
They don't understand the principle or reasoning behind my questions.
They act as if their very livelyhood depends on the news.

Which is very dis-heartening.

But I like to lead by example and that's why I love your list so much.
It is almost an exact copy of what I've done these past few years.
Which is the number one reason I have lost a few companions, too.

It's better to know the truth and act upon it, than ignore the truth and comply.



Excellent thread and great posts...
OP, just remember, as everything is OK in moderation.

Originally posted by omarm1984
Today I completed my 25th day of my no distractions from technology challenge.
The reason why I took this was as an experiment, to see what would happen to me.

My thoughts for doing this were that cutting off most technology must be good for your goals since most technology is made to distract you. But using it unnecessarily is such an encouraged habit in our society that we don't even think we're doing anything wrong.

Actually, tv, music, computer, and video games are very bad for your life and, dare I say, your ability to procreate. I think this is the reason why immigrants usually exploit our economy so well and become wealthy, because they don't have the same habits as the average US population.

Here's what the challenge consisted of:

TV - no
Radio - No
video games - no
Internet - 30 mins a week, except for emails, work (my job doesn't really require it that much), and emergency once in a blue moon situations (career research, weather, etc)
Music - 20 mins a day max
Video / audio - 30 mins a day, cummulative (If I dont use it one day I can do 1 hr the next) This is only instructional videos that I actually need, such as spiritual related, guided meditation, self actualization, etc
Cellphone - Only as necessary, not for distractions, no internet.
Movies - No movies except at movie theaters if invited

Unintended exposure is ok. meaning if someone at my place is watching tv or listening to music, its ok. I can also watch a game if my friends are watching (dont wanna be a party pooper), or at the sports bar, and I can go to clubs with music, as long as my intention is to be in a social environment.

Was this like jail? No, because hits much harder when its at your disposal.

I wanted to see how long I could do this for.
Well today I gave in. Broke the rules by watching tv and listening to music. I couldnt take it. The thing is that i was a little sexually stressed. Plus some issues with work. Yesterday and today my thoughts were racing and I had to slow down somehow.

I do have some insights:

The first 2 days I was having a mix of emotions ranging from fear to happy. Frankly, when i had nothing to do I felt defenseless and lost. My state of boredom eventually motivated my self amusement.
I became more focused on people. Interactions with others became more engaging. I was so focused some times that I could foresee the next thing the other person was gonna say and knew the best way to respond, without really thinking of a response.
From the things they like to talk about and from their worries, you begin to see the extent to which the media filters into people's lives .

The most valuable lessons that I learned:

I think you learn a lot about yourself by having alone times doing nothing. But its hard, and you'll realize that the less you love yourself, the harder it is. You also realize that the more time you spend with out distractions when you're alone, the more you start accepting being with yourself, and this is the definition of self-love. Some people are always taking advantage of all the distractions brought by technology, thse people dont accept themselves.

I've learned to accept myself. The liberation that this brings and the progress to my life this brings is too much to give it up to wasting hours in front of tv radio and computer.

Being aware and conscious is being in control and aware of everything you do, and this includes being in control of your thoughts. You're only conscious when you're in control of thoughts. If your thoughts take control of you, you lose, and if you try to drown them with tv, video games, music, or alcohol, drugs, or porn, you lose control of your own life. You fall into the state of semi-consciousnes so prevalent nowadays. As pick-up artist Tyler Durden well puts it, "Most people walk thru the world in a walking daze". Today I lost, but its like a blessing in disguise because its helped me see the benefts this expierence brought me.

Having control of your bad habits is essential to confidence and self actualization.

Sadly, I no longer see any use for this forum which has helped me and others a lot. I don't intent to log in any more but maybe i will in my moments of non-acceptance of myself, moments which distractions will actually only end up increasing.

My advice, use technology only when necessary.

Good for you! I think we all need to take a break from technology. We are bombarded with too many distractions from electronics. We need a peace of mind to connect to our spiritual self.

I totally agree with controlling bad habits (or curbing them completely) leads to greater control of self, thus improving your confidence in thyself. Not so sure of the self actualization part. And yes, only use technology as necessary....like now, I am replying to your post!

Originally posted by mainidh
Golly darn it, I tried to crawl back into a womb to get away from it all, and found everything I needed was given to me there.

I can't go without anything it seems.

I guess, the only way to not be human, is to stop being human. Or die.

Fancy that, as a species we strive to better ourselves, only to look at it all and say "Enough of this nonsense, I'm going to live in a cave."

Cavemen had it no better, what with clubs and fire.

"Ugh, I try live without fire for month, eat only leaves. Now I better for it. Ugh!"

they didnt fare so well, I assume, since I read it on the internet that they became extinct.

Kudos for trying to live free, but you are trapped in a bubble of technology. A bit like "I dont like you technology, so I'll tell everyone about it on twitter!"

edit on 20-2-2012 by mainidh because: (no reason given)

No offense but........God, what a prick!!

If that last sentence wasn't a backhanded compliment I don't know what was.

I don't know how old you are, but when I was growing up, NO ONE had the internet, not even the military, and I still remember when Pong came out. Only the rich kids in split-levels in the suburbs had that game. All the rest of us were cave dwellers I guess.

At least the OP is giving it up. He's not trapped in a bubble. All you're doing is putting down the people like him who want to see what it's like not living the "modern" life.

People talk about how in other parts of the world the conditions are far worse than here. No electricty, no modern source of running water, no internet, etc...... Did you know that not 100 miles from Chicago there lies a community where the people live without ANY of that? By choice even? No electricity, no cars, no natural gas, well water that you have to run a gas powered generator to pump out of the ground, and, they even school their children themselves.

I know of one large extended family in this area, about 4 households worth down to the second cousins, who have a combined wealth more than that of TOWN I live in. (I think their budget for this year was 2.5 million.) And many other towns just like this across the U.S. Towns that, by the way, have ALL the luxuries of modern society.

What are these "cavemen" called? The Amish.

Sorry to burst your bubble dude, but even "cavemen" can be rich.

Originally posted by omarm1984
Today I completed my 25th day of my no distractions from technology challenge.
The reason why I took this was as an experiment, to see what would happen to me.

My thoughts for doing this were that cutting off most technology must be good for your goals since most technology is made to distract you. But using it unnecessarily is such an encouraged habit in our society that we don't even think we're doing anything wrong.

Actually, tv, music, computer, and video games are very bad for your life and, dare I say, your ability to procreate. I think this is the reason why immigrants usually exploit our economy so well and become wealthy, because they don't have the same habits as the average US population.

Here's what the challenge consisted of:

TV - no
Radio - No
video games - no
Internet - 30 mins a week, except for emails, work (my job doesn't really require it that much), and emergency once in a blue moon situations (career research, weather, etc)
Music - 20 mins a day max
Video / audio - 30 mins a day, cummulative (If I dont use it one day I can do 1 hr the next) This is only instructional videos that I actually need, such as spiritual related, guided meditation, self actualization, etc
Cellphone - Only as necessary, not for distractions, no internet.
Movies - No movies except at movie theaters if invited

Unintended exposure is ok. meaning if someone at my place is watching tv or listening to music, its ok. I can also watch a game if my friends are watching (dont wanna be a party pooper), or at the sports bar, and I can go to clubs with music, as long as my intention is to be in a social environment.

Was this like jail? No, because hits much harder when its at your disposal.

I wanted to see how long I could do this for.
Well today I gave in. Broke the rules by watching tv and listening to music. I couldnt take it. The thing is that i was a little sexually stressed. Plus some issues with work. Yesterday and today my thoughts were racing and I had to slow down somehow.

I do have some insights:

The first 2 days I was having a mix of emotions ranging from fear to happy. Frankly, when i had nothing to do I felt defenseless and lost. My state of boredom eventually motivated my self amusement.
I became more focused on people. Interactions with others became more engaging. I was so focused some times that I could foresee the next thing the other person was gonna say and knew the best way to respond, without really thinking of a response.
From the things they like to talk about and from their worries, you begin to see the extent to which the media filters into people's lives .

The most valuable lessons that I learned:

I think you learn a lot about yourself by having alone times doing nothing. But its hard, and you'll realize that the less you love yourself, the harder it is. You also realize that the more time you spend with out distractions when you're alone, the more you start accepting being with yourself, and this is the definition of self-love. Some people are always taking advantage of all the distractions brought by technology, thse people dont accept themselves.

I've learned to accept myself. The liberation that this brings and the progress to my life this brings is too much to give it up to wasting hours in front of tv radio and computer.

Being aware and conscious is being in control and aware of everything you do, and this includes being in control of your thoughts. You're only conscious when you're in control of thoughts. If your thoughts take control of you, you lose, and if you try to drown them with tv, video games, music, or alcohol, drugs, or porn, you lose control of your own life. You fall into the state of semi-consciousnes so prevalent nowadays. As pick-up artist Tyler Durden well puts it, "Most people walk thru the world in a walking daze". Today I lost, but its like a blessing in disguise because its helped me see the benefts this expierence brought me.

Having control of your bad habits is essential to confidence and self actualization.

Sadly, I no longer see any use for this forum which has helped me and others a lot. I don't intent to log in any more but maybe i will in my moments of non-acceptance of myself, moments which distractions will actually only end up increasing.

My advice, use technology only when necessary.

I dont get why you would remove some of this from your life? I'm assuming during this time you still drove a car?!
Whilst in your car why would you not listen to music, or a good debate on the radio? I can see the others could not be productive but if you're driving somewhere then you may as well put some music on at least!

awsome brother! You did very goood, I havent been without distractions...since I was a little child with an imagination (I mage nation). We loose to ourselves when we are distracted because it takes the focus out of our individual being, and our lives we set out before incarnation.

Soon when Im ready, I will have no use for internet, phone, music (nature is better then music anyways..) and all the electronic distractions we have in life, which is more then we consider and accept. How can we evolve and advance if we dont give ourselves the time to do so ? Its im-possible.

Thanks for sharing, much love my friend

reply to post by Taupin Desciple


your a genius my friend

reply to post by omarm1984


Try again jerk...You didn't quit anything...Let us know how the experiment goes when you actually cut out all that crap completely.

S&F! I have always wanted to do this.

I spend all day at work staring at my computer, get home and stare at my laptop, go to bed and stare at my ipad, go to the toilet and stare at my mobile, go to sleep and have a dream about staring at a computer.

Well done! - sort of.

I can't help but feeling like you started off saying, "OK absolutely no TV, video games, internet etc for one month." And then you slowly gave up and admitted defeat by saying "OK only 30 mins TV a day, internet for checking emails, and it's OK if I watch TV if someone else turns it on."

Apologies if this is not the case, but that's just what appears to have happened. You probably did better than I could do. So kudos for that.

Try it with absolute zero TV, games or internet or whatever and see where that gets you.

I'm planning on doing something similar soon, when I can build my will power up a bit.

Originally posted by LoveisanArt
awsome brother! You did very goood, I havent been without distractions...since I was a little child with an imagination (I mage nation). We loose to ourselves when we are distracted because it takes the focus out of our individual being, and our lives we set out before incarnation.

Soon when Im ready, I will have no use for internet, phone, music (nature is better then music anyways..)

Nature is better than music? WTF?
That's like saying Saturdays are better than ovens.

And if you're quoting Bashar, it's I-magi-nation, a nation of magicians!

I've seen a few of these experiments "without technology" before, and on almost all of them the subjects end up devouring books, reading for a few hours almost every day (this behavior was mentioned in this thread).

Well, isn't reading books a form of distraction also?

There's not much difference between reading a book on paperback or on a Kindle.

I gave up all media news input for 2 months.
I started January 1st 2011, and finished March 9th (The Japan Earthquake)
Our TV is not connected to any service so already don't watch news at home.
I could only checked my emails online, could not go to any internet news source.
I listend to no radio while driving no news, no music, complete silence. 15 min commute.

Ever since 9/11 I was obsessed with news and information. I remember driving to work programing my AM stations on my radio. I never listened to talk radio before. but I was like an addict all of a sudden needing to know what was happening next. From then on I was in a constant quest for the next major event.

Anyway, I wanted to free up some of my time as my family was growing and I was pretty much over the relentless attacking and sarcasm that was spewing out of talk radio.

I started out intending to do it only for 3 weeks. I had such a hard time the first two weeks I decided to keep trying for another 3. Once I was able to shake my old routine I was able to prepare for a day without any media. I planned other things to fill my time where I would normally be at the computer searching.

Now driving to work in complete silence was the hardest thing. I made a simple commitment that helped me out. I committed to looking up. I would look up at the clouds, look at the horizon(when it was safe to do so). I needed to do something to take my focus off of the obvious silence.

The results were great I got a lot of stuff done around the house, My family and my spiritual life were consistent again. I had some great Ideas and now I could actually followthrough with them.

Then The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. I could not resist, it would have been un-human for me not to find out what was going on.

I still don't listen to any talk radio. I do check out the news online every night, but I have learned to fit it in with my new priorities.

I really appreciate anyones who attempt to deny themselves even it is just something simple. You will get a new perspective even if you only last a few weeks.

If you replace "entertainment," (eg, TV, video games, radio, internet,) with "mind" or "thinking," and try to be without attachment

If you TRY to be without attachment, you are attached to trying.

so byy no internet you mean not a lot of internet



great idea, but I want to see someone eliminate it entirely

This is a good idea.

Television is biased and will trick you into seeing things the way they want - they use subliminal messages.

Video Games are violent and has an effect on your sub-conscious and they use subliminal messages.

The radio just host popular opinions and play popular music - no real information there.


I'm not sure why a person would want to go away from the internet though, this is the only true free-speech zone left (it seems)...

You can learn many things on the internet. Just ask any question and become smarter and Google it. Very bad idea to take a break from the internet, because it offers so many different point of views that even a book will not give you.