05/07/2026
Boredom is a Privilege
At my very first meditation retreat, I asked the teacher, “I get so bored just sitting, observing my breath and bodily sensations that I find myself constantly falling asleep.”
She replied, “Boredom is an impurity. Just keep observing it.”
What does that even mean? How do you observe boredom?
Well… I finally get it!
We’re always busy doing something. We like to keep ourselves occupied, don’t we? But when we’re asked to sit in silence and all stimulation is taken away, there is absolutely nothing to do.
We’re faced with a choice: we can either be bored, or we can be present.
If we choose boredom, we’re resisting the present moment. We want to be somewhere else, doing something else.
If we choose presence, something begins to change. Our perception shifts, and we become the observer of this person we think we are, a person shaped by every experience, habit, and conditioning from our past. I hope I haven’t lost you here…
What I’ve learnt is that boredom is actually a privilege!
If you can stay with it long enough, it becomes a doorway to presence. And from that place, there is such a gift in seeing clearly.
A contribution from my boyfriend - the society we live in feeds off us being busy. We’re constantly encouraged to do more, consume more, and stay distracted.
If only we could stop and be “bored” for long enough, we might realise that we don’t always have to keep doing.
Sometimes, simply being is enough! 🙌
Peace out ✌️
