Chapter 3, Profound Boredom
Interestingly, the author makes the argument that the more sophisticated allocation of attention is not “Multitasking”, that multitasking is a regression. Animals have to do it constantly, and it leads to an inability to experience “contemplative immersion”.
Another interesting part of the analysis is that boredom can arise from over-stimulation, and a yet lack of concentration(In favor of “hyper-attention”) “If sleep represents the high point of bodily relaxation, deep boredom is the peak of mental relaxation. A purely hectic rush produces nothing new”.
While I’m not sure the ‘synesthesia’ or whatever described here actually is directly caused by an ability to contemplate deeply, the point that “In the contemplative state, one steps outside oneself, so to speak, and immerses oneself in the surroundings.” resonates. Not only does it resonate with me, but I see it’s echo in many different important arguments about the right way to order your own mind to be happy and good. I will need a refresher, but I think on some level Mihalyi Cikzsentmihalyi (Author of “Flow”, name butchered) and the Stoics agree on this point: The dissolution of the “Ego” in pursuit of something greater than yourself is one of the steps for happiness. The modern refusal to even occasionally partake in this old advice may partly explain the more modern ‘depression’ epidemic.