Week 4

Video 1 - Playing the Game of Life, by Alan Watts

Note: Alan Watts was a scholar and speaker who wrote extensively on Zen back in the 60's and 70's.

1. What does our society tell children?

Society tell our children that they have to solve a problem, and that problem is: What are you going to do about your future? How can you prepare best so that you can have lots of money for the unpredictable future?

2. What is our society's "preparation for life?"

Every second of the day is preparing for the next “stage” of life. For example, kindergarten prepares you for first grade.

3. When one arrives, Watts claims that he or she often feels cheated. Why?

Because! You will never be satisfied! We are programed to believe that there is always something better in the future that we need to prepare for. If you are always thinking that, you can never be satisfied, or grateful for the present moment.

4. What is the final goal of our society?

Retirement

5. What is the problem with living ever for the future?

We all are victims of this. Everyone thinks that the grass is always greener on the other side. I know I have a horrible habit of making really big changes in my life, hoping that it will make me happier. The problem is this: As a society, we do not place value in activities that don’t prepare you to make money to have a secure future. We think that having money will make us happy, but it can only make you happy, I think, if you spend it on activities that make you happy, like art. For example, my dad spends his extra money on his guitars. He’ll never be a rock star, but being with his music gives him time at the end of the day to live in the moment. That’s why he’s such a chill guy.

Video 2: The Secret of Life 

1. What is the Chinese word for nature? What does it mean?

Zìrán, it means, that which happens of itself, not under any control of an outside force.

2. According to Watts, you stop the spontaneous flowering of nature if you do what to it?

Try to control it.

3. According to Watts, what are human beings?

We are spontaneous creatures! Like flowers

4. What is the secret of life according to Watts?

To be completely focused on the here and now, and be happy because you are doing what you love to do.

Video 3: You're Already Awesome

Note: Dr. Judson Brewer is a professor at Yale University's department of psychiatry.

1. What was Dr. Brewer's experience of flow?

When he was riding a bike trail.

2. According to the Harvard study mentioned by Brewer, what percentage of time do we get caught of up thinking?

50%!

3. Finish the sentence: "A wandering mind is an unhappy mind"

4. What happens to the brain during meditation?

Basically, the part of your brain that is usually active when you are stressed gets smaller or disappears all together.

5. In nine minutes, the test subject mentioned by Brewer learned the difference between what?
Between thinking about breathing and feeling the breath.

Reflection Question:

Reflection question:

Was there an idea in any of these talks that stood out to you? If so, what was it and why?

I really like the idea of taking time out of our day to do what really makes us happy. I think that doing what makes you happy gets you into flow and makes you focus on the present moment. Whether it is yoga or playing a sport or practicing art, doing something that doesn’t prepare you for life’s next phase (like Watts says in his video) is good for your inner self and your brain.