Story 68 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie
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On my way to school one bitterly cold winter's day, I passed a house in the early stages of being built. The workers were framing the roof. The wind was howling, the snow was blowing, and they kept at it because that is what we all must do. We choose our path…roofer, physicist, or, like me, a solo contemplative on a hilltop in India. But we hone our craft every day, even...

narrated by Ian McCrorie
2022
2 minutes 45 seconds

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Audio copyright, 2022 Pariyatti

'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' as a book and eBook can be found at https://store.pariyatti.org/a-lifetime-doing-nothing.

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Story 67 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie
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I was too thin to have good quality clothes fit me well. When I wore a suit, my head looked too small. When I turned my head while wearing a collar and tie, neither collar nor tie moved. Like a compass, my tie always pointed north. If it weren't for the sleeves, I could perform a full 360-degree rotation without my suit getting a wrinkle. But in the end,...

narrated by Ian McCrorie
2022
5 minutes 01 seconds

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Audio copyright, 2022 Pariyatti

'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' as a book and eBook can be found at https://store.pariyatti.org/a-lifetime-doing-nothing.

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Story 66 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie
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To be a Buddhist is to be a Stoic and to be a Stoic is to be a Buddhist. Neither is a religion. Mere belief in their precepts holds no purchase. Reciting them every morning proves futile. Both speak of universal truths and natural laws that govern human and social behavior. Both schools are empirical, which is to say they are evidence-based. And that itself is grounded or tested, even, on one’s own experience. They both conclude that...

narrated by Ian McCrorie
2022
5 minutes 28 seconds

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Audio copyright, 2022 Pariyatti

'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' as a book and eBook can be found at https://store.pariyatti.org/a-lifetime-doing-nothing.

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Story 65 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie
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From my small hut atop a hill in Maharashtra, I could watch the farmers on the plains below. Late afternoon was my favorite time of day. The cow dust hour, it was called, and for good reason. The cows kicked up reddish dust as they were herded home from the pastures. The farmers sang...

narrated by Ian McCrorie
2022
2 minutes 13 seconds

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Audio copyright, 2022 Pariyatti

'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' as a book and eBook can be found at https://store.pariyatti.org/a-lifetime-doing-nothing.

More by Ian McCrorie.

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Story 64 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie
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When someone says hello to me in Korean, I invariably reply “kamsahamnida.” My response is immediate and trips naturally off my tongue. Unfortunately “kamsahamnida” does not mean “hello.” It means, “thank you.” But I don’t care. To my ear, “kamsahamnida” sounds like a greeting. It sounds more like a...

narrated by Ian McCrorie
2022
3 minutes 39 seconds

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Audio copyright, 2022 Pariyatti

'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' as a book and eBook can be found at https://store.pariyatti.org/a-lifetime-doing-nothing.

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Story 63 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie
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I like to bake bread. Actually, the bread bakes itself; I simply facilitate the process. I add the flour to the yeast and water. I then knead the mixture, but even in this most tactile of experiences I am more an engaged observer than a creator. Kneading continues until the mixture reveals to my hands and fingers that the mixture is well kneaded. I do not know how long this takes,...

narrated by Ian McCrorie
2022
2 minutes 14 seconds

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Audio copyright, 2022 Pariyatti

'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' as a book and eBook can be found at https://store.pariyatti.org/a-lifetime-doing-nothing.

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Story 62 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie
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Because we aren't trying to get better or happier or stronger or wealthier, our life advice no longer needs to come from style gurus and lifestyle coaches. (What is a lifestyle anyway? And why does it need coaching?) Of course, we aren't trying to get sadder or weaker or poorer either. We are simply living a more unconditioned life, a more honest life, more content with our lot. We have not exchanged one overtly conditioned mindset for another,...

narrated by Ian McCrorie
2022
5 minutes 05 seconds

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Audio copyright, 2022 Pariyatti

'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' as a book and eBook can be found at https://store.pariyatti.org/a-lifetime-doing-nothing.

More by Ian McCrorie.

View more books and audio resources available in the Pariyatti bookstore.