TAOISM | The Fasting of the Heart

In psychology, as well as popular culture, we see the emerging of different types of detox. The dopamine detox, for example, also called the ‘dopamine fast’ is currently presented as a way to “reset” our brain’s reward system, by abstaining from all kinds of activities that bring pleasure.

The idea of detoxing ourselves from outside influences isn’t new. The ancient Taoists acknowledged the value of letting our minds rest, so we stop the exhausting maelstrom of judging, identifying, analyzing, fantasizing, et cetera. According to the Taoists, silencing our faculties for a while not only replenishes our energy, it also brings us closer to a mysterious and incomprehensible force referred to as ‘Tao’.

The ‘fasting of the heart’ entails temporary abstinence from intellectual as well as sensual activity. This concept isn’t just about detoxing the mind; it’s about detoxing the soul, by shutting down the mind and the senses. This video explores the ‘fasting of the heart’.

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[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Don’t give up what you want most for what you want now.”

[Diggles]

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” - Socrates

[sizwenxumalo]

"When we let our mind use us theres a chance that it becomes a liability rather than an asset - The more we attach ourselves to our beliefs, the more hostile we become to different views; the more stern we are the more brittle we become; the stronger we desire something, the more painful not acquiring the object of our desire will be; the more troubled our thoughts, the darker you see the world; the more we feel that we possess something, or someone the more fearful and domineering we become." 6:17 - 6:50

Einzelgänger

[aeopmusic]

_“Meditation isn’t something isolated from daily activity, something that you do for 20 minutes in morning or afternoon or night, and then forget all about it, and carry on your unconscious mischief. It’s all inclusive.”_ ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

[benjaminvroman]

At like three in the morning two nights ago I went on this adventure out into my neighborhood. I sat in the middle of a random person’s lawn and closed my eyes for a moment, getting into a present state. It was this magical and strange time of night where the crickets hadn’t finished their chirping, but the birds had already started singing. The wind moving around me and the lack of sound coming from the highway that was within visual distance was enough to remind me of that ache. I remember weeping because I could finally remember what it felt like. That ache of flowing, gentile but persistent movement on both the inside and the outside along with the feeling that the two were finally able to synchronize. It was so so beautiful.

[FlameGorgoneion]

“Do less, do less, do nothing, rest.” I say these words in hypnosis. I refer to Jacobson’s theory of relaxation where relaxation is not a doing but a ceasing of activity. I’m happy I’ve seen your video, somehow it gives me new meaning for non doing.

[SilviuSDJ]

"The solution to our problems lies in our hearts" ..very beautiful said !

[johannpaullundgrenzoz]

Einzelgänger, thank you so much!

I've recently moved to a new country without any family or friends around. I felt lonely, afraid and generally trapped inside my mind and not being able to feel empathy or love, desperatly trying to ''make sense'' of this new reality I was in.

But through your videos and external help, I've managed to slowly but surely perceive what I really care about and what really drove me to this new land. Thank you so very much! My life is regaining it's sense!

[Akhnaton]

"The senses are the gateways between the world around us and our mind". My body just twitched feeling these words... it's like the exact words I've been looking for

[WizardLvl]

Fangirl here. Haha. I really like your content. This is just an extremely sincere -Thank you-. Thank you for working so much and so incredibly on this channel. The value I find, the value you give, the value anyone can obtain. Thank you.

[cephandrius]

Can we get a full video about escaping the addiction? I would really like to see philosophical point of view on this topic :)

[BASEDBOARD]

have studied eastern mysticism for several years now, via Easwaran, Watts, etc. and I can honestly say that this really opened my eyes. Probably the first thing since Seneca's stoicism or Plato's republic to do it to me, plus I guess what I'm trying to say is that your explanation of this concept was super well-presented. "Dopamine detox" is another way I've seen this explained.

[shiptj]

I have a very stressful, fast-paced job. The quarantine actually helped my brain to recover and I was enjoying life. Now I'm back to work and I am struggling to be happy again.

[ilonavos]

Confucious and Lao Tzu, while both Chinese around 500 B.C., had practically opposite philosophies. Confucious was all about rules and relations and social advancement while Lao Tzu was all about simplicity and nature and the flow. Confucious was a bureaucrat and Lao Tzu was a hippy.

[checkreactz]

Great video. I think detoxing your mind, body, and heart is necessary especially in this day and age

[mizty]

Very timely!!
Another thing, this is the earliest i got on a video!! I so

[conquererofgaming]

I wanted to thank you because of school work I’ve stopped meditating and stopped inner thought about myself. This made me remember to keep a moderate life.

[shimmypolkaroo]

Taoism appears to be explaining how to tap into our introverted side. I appreciate that very much.

[conorcurran]

Big video. I've been studying taoism partly through these videos you have provided. For a while I felt disengaged from life and uncaring - but now it seems less so like numbness and moreso like stillness. Good man

[nokratirun]

It was in these late years, with my studies of Eastern philosophy, that I found myself a natural Taoist instinctively