I Have A Serious Question Here Guys...

[Ariel]

I am 16 years old and I started watching Leo's video's not a while ago. I was happy that someone actually uploaded video's with ideas I have never heard before. There is only one problem. I watched Leo's video about television and I completly agree with it, it's a huge waste of time. I am not sure but I think Leo said that we should be careful with reading fiction books. 

I watched another video. It's called "Advice for highschool and college students" or something like that. In that video Leo made some really good points, but then he said that we (Highschool and college studentss) shouldn't go to partie's, shouldn't socialize, should quit sugary stuff and bread, shouldn't get into serious relationships.

I can see where that comes from, but isn't it taking it a bit too far? What will I enjoy in life? I like socializing (What is the definition for socializing? Maybe I'm wrong, English is not my mother language as you can see), I really like to go out with friends and meet new people. 

I quit watching television even before watching Leo's videos, I was happy that people agreed with me. But no fiction books?! I like to read, I like to read some good literature, it is awesome. It really inspires me and teaches me about random perspectives in the books, I become a character in the book, this epic. It can improve my language (As you can see, I really need to read some books in English), it makes my brain happy, my imagination is activated (Unlike television).

What if I'd like to watch the history channel, the news and/or watch a movie on tv once a while.

I have successful students in my class that don't eliminate television (for example) out of their lives, they keep watching sometimes but they focus more on studying and improving...

 

It's pretty hardcore. I can't suck all the enjoyment out of my life...

Can someone advice me something? Does it really worth it? I'm pretty 

[DoubleYou]

The first thing to realise is that you are completely free to do whatever the fuck you want to do in life. Always. 
Don't turn self development into religious abstaining. If you want to read a book. Read a book. It's that simple. 

What you can do however is be mindful of the things you do.

Don't quit anything if you don't even know why you quit in the first place. I remember a video from Leo where he stated: if you want to lose weight, keep eating those fat, greasy burgers. But, do it with all of your awareness. The more you do this, the more you'll see that it's not helping you. Same with all those other things. Become aware the moment you want to read that book. You might find out that you're actually doing it to avoid something. Explore that.

Good luck. Don't be too hard on your self. It shouldn't become a chore. That will only discourage you to further self actualise. 

[Ariel]

40 minutes ago, DoubleYou said:

The first thing to realise is that you are completely free to do whatever the fuck you want to do in life. Always. 
Don't turn self development into religious abstaining. If you want to read a book. Read a book. It's that simple. 

What you can do however is be mindful of the things you do.

Don't quit anything if you don't even know why you quit in the first place. I remember a video from Leo where he stated: if you want to lose weight, keep eating those fat, greasy burgers. But, do it with all of your awareness. The more you do this, the more you'll see that it's not helping you. Same with all those other things. Become aware the moment you want to read that book. You might find out that you're actually doing it to avoid something. Explore that.

Good luck. Don't be too hard on your self. It shouldn't become a chore. That will only discourage you to further self actualise. 

What do you mean by awarness?

[ajasatya]

@Ariel Leo is just another human being. this is what he does: he finds his own path to happiness, shares his discoveries that work for him and then tries to explain why they work.

the deepest life lesson we can take from him or from any other kind of teacher is: have the courage to walk the pathless path. experiment your life. experience things and be aware of the consequences. then you can learn how to build your own awesome life, just like Leo does.

[Christian]

After all, Leo is just another human being who has a lot of great things to say, but he surely does not know everything. I think you should do what you want and see where it takes you in this case. If you are happy reading fiction books and it helps you, great, but be mindful. If you like partying, do it, but always be mindful. You may find out that you are engaging in these activities to avoid a deeper issue. If that is true, dissolve that first and see if you still like the things you do.

And lastly develop a daily meditation habit!

It will help you get insights into this issue and investigate your beliefs. What do you believe about the world? What is meaningful to you? What would be a valuable activity to engage in given your short period of existence?

[Capethaz]

@Ariel There is no right way of living. Just do what feels true to you.

[LaucherJunge]

You have to consider that everyone is different in his core. That is why there might be many different right paths for you which would be the wrong paths for others just try too feel what is right for you and you will learn this over time by meditation and being aware/consciouss all the time that is where the real change can start.

[abrakamowse]

@Ariel  Here you have some definitions or explanation of "awareness"  and "mindfulness" and their differences.

Paying attention “on purpose”

First of all, mindfulness involves paying attention “on purpose”. Mindfulness involves a conscious direction of our awareness. We sometimes (me included) talk about “mindfulness” and “awareness” as if they were interchangeable terms, but that’s not a good habit to get into. I may be aware I’m irritable, but that wouldn’t mean I was being mindful of my irritability. In order to be mindful I have to be purposefully aware of myself, not just vaguely and habitually aware. Knowing that you are eating is not the same as eating mindfully.

 

More here:

http://www.wildmind.org/applied/daily-life/what-is-mindfulness

Edited October 17, 2016 by abrakamowse

[Xpansion]

Yes I agree with you. It's taking it too far. Take from Leos videos what resonates with you and drop the rest. You don't have to believe everything he says.  He is just another person making a video of his own personal opinions which you may or may not agree with.  Read stuff, watch stuff then make up your own mind and form your own personal opinions. It's what Leo really wants you to do. Find your own path.

Dude you're 16.  Enjoy life and do whatever you want while you still can.  Life has a way of becoming less frivolous as you get older and responsibilities begin to encroach.  Just have a really good fucking time, take nothing seriously and always question authority.  Thats what I did when I was 16 and it didn't really change for at least 10 years.  But be mindful if and when you can because it will help keep you safe.

Edited October 18, 2016 by Xpansion

[Ariel]

I'm still stuck...

 

[Bob84]

@Ariel In very simple terms, they way i understand it (please correct me if im wrong).
Leo is saying that you should set goals for yourself and follow your life's purpose and not let yourself get distracted.
When you want to achieve something, but instead spend all your time watching tv you will not achieve it. Or at least you are putting of the thing you really want with some cheap stimulation. And life is short, every day is one day closer to death.

Still there is nothing wrong with fun. These are all just concepts / tools you can use.
If i would completely follow the above i would have not even posted this message.

[Ariel]

So I think I will listen to Leo and see what's good for me. Don't get me wrong, he says a lot of awesome and helpful things. 

But no partying, no socializing, not reading fiction books... IT'S NONSENSE

[TheSophie]

It's not so much "no partying, no socialising"... it's more that if you are truly content in life then you simply don't NEED stuff like that.

Not needing it doesn't mean that you can't do it, just that your happiness is no longer dependent on it.

Person a) HAS to go out partying three times a week to avoid feeling bored,
Person b) Is content without the partying but CHOOSES to party three times a week.

Same result, same amount of parting, two very different people inside.

Just my thoughts.

ps. Ohhh, to be 16 again...

Edited October 25, 2016 by TheSophie

[abrakamowse]

3 hours ago, Ariel said:

So I think I will listen to Leo and see what's good for me. Don't get me wrong, he says a lot of awesome and helpful things. 

But no partying, no socializing, not reading fiction books... IT'S NONSENSE

Maybe it's good for him, you don't have to apply everything he says.

:-)

[Ariel]

21 hours ago, TheSophie said:

It's not so much "no partying, no socialising"... it's more that if you are truly content in life then you simply don't NEED stuff like that.

Not needing it doesn't mean that you can't do it, just that your happiness is no longer dependent on it.

Person a) HAS to go out partying three times a week to avoid feeling bored,
Person b) Is content without the partying but CHOOSES to party three times a week.

Same result, same amount of parting, two very different people inside.

Just my thoughts.

ps. Ohhh, to be 16 again...

Interesting...

[Marcin]

On 10/25/2016 at 5:16 PM, TheSophie said:

It's not so much "no partying, no socialising"... it's more that if you are truly content in life then you simply don't NEED stuff like that.

Not needing it doesn't mean that you can't do it, just that your happiness is no longer dependent on it.

Person a) HAS to go out partying three times a week to avoid feeling bored,
Person b) Is content without the partying but CHOOSES to party three times a week.

Same result, same amount of parting, two very different people inside.

Just my thoughts.

ps. Ohhh, to be 16 again...

There is also person c: is not content without parting and socializing but doesn't do it because it's scary 

[MaxBlank]

@Ariel I hear you. Enlightenment is not the END of anything. It is an internal change or realization. You MUST live out life on this mortal plane. Let's suppose you became a Buddha. Then what? You would go on with life, just like Buddha did.

 

Go on with it- with enlightened intent, purpose, etc. Be true to yourself, and take care of you!

[Bizarre]

@Ariel

Just because some 30 year old with the brain the size of a small planet wants to sit at home on his own reading books about being enlightened and spending  his saturday nights in his bedroom shooting self help videos for kicks, doesnt mean you have to rob yourself of your youth.

Perspective and moderation.

 

[Ariel]

I stopped watching the videos for a couple of months... 

I think I am missing something...

[abrakamowse]

@Ariel  I think you are too young. At your age I read a book about Buddha. 

When Buddha said that all the suffering comes from desire, that we had to stop desiring... I was like... 

WTH????

If I have no desire I won't achieve anything in life. Now I realize that Buddha was right, but you need to live that experience to assimilate it.

I am 47 now.