Thanks okiyoe! That was interesting!

not interested,.....more contempt before investigation on my part...LOL

yah I hear you Bill....:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtCittJyr0

Thanks -- I am way tooooo tired to read this now, but will try to get to this later. I've been doing some investigation into the practice of Self Realization and different forms of meditation through yoga, so what you posted is pretty cool.

Paradox Time again. To Zen or not to Zen-That is a question.
DISCLAIMER-These are just my thought and ideas and I am by no way trying to imply that they are right or wrong. Its simply how I see it and some of you may or may not agree. Id love to hear your thoughts.
I write about this stuff a lot because I think, anyway, that its important. You all know my take that I believe that you have to live in the present, but with intent, otherwise youre just like a rudderless sailboat. The paradox is that sometimes its good to be a rudderless sailboat.
Let me explain. Being present with intent requires thought, decision making and action. Those things consume a ton of energy and willpower. It gets depleted throughout the day. Thats why adequate sleep (I wish), exercise and yes some form of relaxation or non-think activities are good for you. Ill be the first to admit that I think too damned much! So Im intuitively aware that I need to shut it down for brief periods of time otherwise I just wear down.
Many, many people swear by meditation as a means to quiet the mind and get into that non-think space. Ive tried and tried and I just cant do it by the traditional methods. Thats just me but kudos to you if you can.
So I have to find other means by which to get there. So here are a few that work for ME.
Exercise- I am so NOT a gym rat kind of guy but it IS 5 degrees out in NY right now with snow on the ground so hitting a tennis ball against the wall in the park isnt happening right now. That being said, I can reach that non-think runners high while trudging along on the treadmill or stair-master. Skiing, which I really hope to do soon now that the white stuff is in my backyard, also gets me there. So exercise is good on so many fronts- Good for all around health, can quiet the mind thus preserving you willpower and decision making allotment.
Music-Listening to it, creating it, playing it-All the above also helps get me to that place.
Water- Water you say? Im kind of weirdo in that I often take what I call Bath-Showers. I start off just soaking in a hot tub for about 15-20 minutes. I have chronic neck/back pain from fused, compressed disks and whatnot. So soaking it in hot water offers some relief. I can usually grab a few moments of zen-like non-think time while doing so (Thats if Im not reading or contemplating the meaning of life). I usually do all the above in varying degrees depending on the day.
Then theres the water in the summer. Ocean, lake, river, pool, I dont care. It refreshes, invigorates and just feels darned good. While just doing a dead mans float if you will I also can get into a kind of numb mind state. Body surfing also gets me there (that exercise thing again).

So what do you guys do to get into that restful replenishing kind of space or zone? All of the aforementioned things do help me get there but not for anywhere near enough periods of time. My undiagnosed ADHD (I dont need a shrink to realize that sitting still for more than 10 seconds is an issue-LOL) probably doesnt help.

Enjoyed reading the Lamas words. I've been reading more re Buddhism in the past few years. Also reminded me to meditate and eased the pain in my back. Freedom nice reply. I could tick them all especially anything to do with the water.

TY Billy...big wheel keeps on turning, but which turning am I in today? :)

Loved my meditation as a young man...got a sense of peace and respite that I needed. But it became sort of a grasping. ..the more I tried ti get to "that place", the further away it got, then I staryed to get disillusioned. Fast forward a few years and I had a whole lot of unlearning to do :) Funny how much the Ego can creep in and hijack even a simple, sacred little thing like sitting and breathing...like it says in the reading think I've been stuck in that particular "space between" for a LOOONG time :)

Interesting too the origins, the life experience of the Buddha. Got to thinking again this week...first he had it all and found wanting. Then he threw it all away and found that wanting too. Then he sat, and he sat, and he sat :)

Maybe that process is more important than we give it credit for...if you aint tried every which way to satisfy your craving you just cant see that its right here after all...

P

Or of course, that it's NOT here after all :)

P

Here Paul :))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO0L4CbNm0s