Because I have been brought up in Western society....?

Question

...and am accustomed to T.V., P.C., Hi-Fi, etc, etc.. if I went to the Himalayas for a year with the intention to meditate in a cave by myself for one whole year would I go CRAZY without western things????

Answer 1

You need to take this step, little by little. What you are intending to do sounds like the ancients when they wanted to go for retreats or meditate to gain spiritual results.

Himalayas is not in the mountains, it is in your heart. Try NOT watching TV, using your cellphone or listening to music for 1 week at home... if you are unable to do that from the comfort of your home... chances are you will find it extremely difficult in a cave.

Maybe not even try a week... try 24 hours to be free of modern facilities and see how you handle it, if you are ok with it... I am sure you can persevere and succeed in the wilderness.

If your apartment can be free of all those things you mentioned, you need not go to the Himalayas to meditate, you can bring Himalayas to your own home to do it.

Answer 2

I doubt you'd truly go "CRAZY" as you say, but if you have become addicted to these things, then you might experience some mental anguish if separated from them. Usually a desire to do something like you describe (solitude in a remote, rugged place for some time) reveals something about a deeper need that you have. Have you talked to a priest, or someone you consider very wise, maybe also spiritual, who you know would give you a straight answer? If not, it might help much more than any soothing words you get on an internet answer forum. I wish you the best on your journey!

Answer 3

Perhaps...

I would suggest if you're really serious about doing it (assuming this isn't just a hypothetical question) you should try things in small steps first, like spend a few weeks in the woods by yourself and see if you can handle it. Watch less and less tv over time until you can get rid of it. Personally I don't see why you can't just incorporate meditation into your daily life instead of giving up everything you know to live in a cave.

Answer 4

Been born in the west, you will not know what are you getting into, and yes you may go Nut's!, If you don't have the commitment that necessary, for your self to get there, and begin to walk, work, live a accept the true from a Tibetan point of view, The true from the point of view of Gautama Buddha. It will be just like been born again, although you don't have the experience, to focus as Lamas and Monks do.

Answer 5

People don t be afraid. Some of us come in peace. We appreciate the good life, the hard working western culture and we want to contribute to build a better world for future generations. Life was difficult where we come from and many of the immigrants just want to be accepted and seen as normal human beings. We have also fled from a broken society that suffers from corruption, lack of vision and a desire to co-exist. So you can paint us all with the same brush or please be a little more patient with those who want to learn your better ways and perhaps teach them to those of us who don t know better. Either way you have bigger guns and can choose to use them if that makes you the bigger person.

Answer 6

Personally I doubt, that I would. I can't speak for you.
I go camping in the Adirondacks every year for a week,
and I look forward too it all year.

I get up every morning rain or shine, walk to the lake that
I camp near, and watch the loon's and the ducks.
Don't miss any thing that run's on electricity in the slightest.
But I suppose any thing would get a little old after a year.

Answer 7

sounds like a really cool experience. but maybe you should do a camping trip for a few days in the states first and see how it goes.

i actually find that kind of thing really enjoyable, but don't feel connected like that without getting away from everything, so i use the other stuff you mentioned mostly out of boredom anyway. i would guess, statisically even, a person is more likely to go crazy if they don't get away from technology like that at some point.

Answer 8

The things that you mention are strongholds. The only way to conquer a stronghold is abstinence. If you could survive a full year without these things, at the end of that you they would no longer have any relevance to you. You would not miss them. You would have found something more productive to occupy your time with. I got rid of my TV set more than three years ago and I do not miss it.

Answer 9

I would take some Western Imodium with you. Otherwise you won't get to the meditating bit and the cave gets very smelly.

Answer 10

Just make sure you take a cushion soft enough having to sit on your behind with your legs crossed is really going to catch you. I could live without those things as long as the weather is perfect everyday, a beach close-by and loads of fish to catch. I think you will manage, the first couple of weeks will be hell but you will get used to it. Go for it:)))))