Comments on: The Cult of Productivity & the Art of Purposeless Living http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/ Live on Your Own Terms Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:39:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chris Done http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-27357 Chris Done Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:39:50 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-27357 This seems to be a modern long winded re-hash of Zhuangzi's treatment of uselessness[1], but I like it. [1]: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chuangtz.html This seems to be a modern long winded re-hash of Zhuangzi’s treatment of uselessness[1], but I like it.

[1]: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chuangtz.html

]]> By: Rose http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-17884 Rose Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:08:01 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-17884 I was reading back on some old posts and this one really spoke to me. I'm doing a correspondence course at the moment, and I thought I was studying to become what I wanted to be. But it has become a chore and has led me to not enjoy it any more. I feel kind of trapped and I think I have become a slave to my goals, a phrase you mention... A lot of your articles are really inspirational to me particularly at this time when I feel kind of lost and not sure if I'm doing things for myself or if I'm doing it to try and impress others or something. Um, this comment seems pretty rambly and all over the place, but I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you. And keep writing. I was reading back on some old posts and this one really spoke to me.
I’m doing a correspondence course at the moment, and I thought I was studying to become what I wanted to be. But it has become a chore and has led me to not enjoy it any more. I feel kind of trapped and I think I have become a slave to my goals, a phrase you mention…
A lot of your articles are really inspirational to me particularly at this time when I feel kind of lost and not sure if I’m doing things for myself or if I’m doing it to try and impress others or something.
Um, this comment seems pretty rambly and all over the place, but I guess what I’m trying to say is thank you. And keep writing.

]]> By: Is Productivity Really Getting You More From Life? — Aliventures http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-16525 Is Productivity Really Getting You More From Life? — Aliventures Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:49:47 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-16525 [...] Mead, The Cult of Productivity and the Art of Purposeless Living, Illuminated [...] [...] Mead, The Cult of Productivity and the Art of Purposeless Living, Illuminated [...]

]]> By: Unknown. « Bellatoscana’s Weblog http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-12153 Unknown. « Bellatoscana’s Weblog Tue, 19 May 2009 18:51:03 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-12153 [...] Give up trying to be ultra productive, especially if productivity is making you miserable. [...] [...] Give up trying to be ultra productive, especially if productivity is making you miserable. [...]

]]> By: John http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-11864 John Thu, 14 May 2009 22:23:41 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-11864 It occurred to me on reading this good blog that maybe the goal is the means and getting there is the end—just the reverse of what we normally think! In the classic "Zen in the Art of Archery," author Eugen Herrigel can't at first understand how supposedly purposeless shooting can achieve the purposeful goal of hitting the target. The master archer tells him to hold the bow and arrow correctly and wait patiently for "It"—not Herrigel—to shoot. In fact, this appears to be the real goal of the exercise and the target becomes the means to achieving this end. Herrigel seems to acknowledge this when, toward the end of the book, he says something along the lines of, "The real target you're aiming at is yourself." Thanks for posting a thought-provoking blog. It occurred to me on reading this good blog that maybe the goal is the means and getting there is the end—just the reverse of what we normally think! In the classic “Zen in the Art of Archery,” author Eugen Herrigel can’t at first understand how supposedly purposeless shooting can achieve the purposeful goal of hitting the target. The master archer tells him to hold the bow and arrow correctly and wait patiently for “It”—not Herrigel—to shoot.
In fact, this appears to be the real goal of the exercise and the target becomes the means to achieving this end. Herrigel seems to acknowledge this when, toward the end of the book, he says something along the lines of, “The real target you’re aiming at is yourself.”

Thanks for posting a thought-provoking blog.

]]> By: Getting Things Done With Gmail…Really? « Geeks Guide To Productivity http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-8445 Getting Things Done With Gmail…Really? « Geeks Guide To Productivity Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:41:33 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-8445 [...] whole trying to make square pegs fit into round round holes side of the productivity cult isn’t really working for me at the moment. Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is [...] [...] whole trying to make square pegs fit into round round holes side of the productivity cult isn’t really working for me at the moment. Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is [...]

]]> By: George http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-5050 George Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:43:39 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-5050 I've read this post and similar ones, and I can recognize that once I grasp this notion, I'll will have crossed another threshold, a turning point in my life as most of us experience as we mature and start seeing things for what they really are. I can relate to the "feeling" alive, but I find myself at a loss to see how to come to that point you are descibing and really feel it not convince yourself you are. I realize that some notions take time to reveal themselves, and this might be the case for me; I'm just hoping you can eloborate to trigger that revelation :) Thanks for sharing these deep thoughts with us I’ve read this post and similar ones, and I can recognize that once I grasp this notion, I’ll will have crossed another threshold, a turning point in my life as most of us experience as we mature and start seeing things for what they really are. I can relate to the “feeling” alive, but I find myself at a loss to see how to come to that point you are descibing and really feel it not convince yourself you are. I realize that some notions take time to reveal themselves, and this might be the case for me; I’m just hoping you can eloborate to trigger that revelation :)

Thanks for sharing these deep thoughts with us

]]> By: Death of the Clock: Reclaiming Your Time | Open Source Blogging http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-2793 Death of the Clock: Reclaiming Your Time | Open Source Blogging Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:42:34 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-2793 [...] ways to improve and optimize. But when we base our happiness on achievement, we’ve joined the cult of productivity. Being productive is no longer a means to an end. It’s the end entirely. And it’s a [...] [...] ways to improve and optimize. But when we base our happiness on achievement, we’ve joined the cult of productivity. Being productive is no longer a means to an end. It’s the end entirely. And it’s a [...]

]]> By: Exclusive Rebel Zen Interview with Yours Truly | Illuminated Mind http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-2149 Exclusive Rebel Zen Interview with Yours Truly | Illuminated Mind Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:59:43 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-2149 [...] Why your integrity and following your natural rhythms is vastly more important than any bulletproof productivity system. [...] [...] Why your integrity and following your natural rhythms is vastly more important than any bulletproof productivity system. [...]

]]> By: Rebel Zen Master: Jonathan Mead | Rebel Zen http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/05/18/the-cult-of-productivity-the-art-of-purposeless-living/#comment-2147 Rebel Zen Master: Jonathan Mead | Rebel Zen Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:16:56 +0000 http://illuminatedmind.net/?p=41#comment-2147 [...] gotta say it’s awesome to read about somebody else who’s given the Cult of Productivity the flick. I used to try and try to be this uber-organised dude, but then I was reading Getting [...] [...] gotta say it’s awesome to read about somebody else who’s given the Cult of Productivity the flick. I used to try and try to be this uber-organised dude, but then I was reading Getting [...]

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