This is not about Zen
So I've taken a great interest in eastern religions lately, and I've been absorbing one in particular; Buddism. I grew up as a Christian who went to church ocassionally, but my interested fell out and I soon became hopeless. I was first introduced to Buddism a few months ago when my older brother Mike opened my eyes and showed me a world with more than one religion. I believe there is truth in all religions, and each of the worlds great religions all have a Golden Rule that is almost universally similar - but Buddism was more exciting for me thanks to a thing called Zen.
I'm sure you’ve heard the word Zen before considering many GameCube titles require Zen-like concentration to excell in; namely Viewtiful Joe and Ikaruga. But I’d like to go a step further and talk about the actual experience of Zen. It would be impossible for me to try and explain Zen in words, but describing my personal experiences wont be too difficult.
The first time was in my basement one afternoon, I sat gazing at the television with my buddies for a few minutes before it suddenly dawned on me how silly watching television actually is. All the commercials and shows were so meaningless and redundant, I also noticed how my entire living room was layed out so every seat was pointed towards this small box sitting in the corner. One of Buddism`s beliefs is to not become attached to reality though, and I decided to apply this to the television and my friends. I never had a sentimental attachment to my television so that part was easy but detaching myself from my friends took some effort. As much as I enjoy their presence, respect, and all that jazz - they were still part of my reality. So I gave it a try and I got an unexplainable feeling in my mind, a tingling sensation that spread all over. Before I knew it I had left my body and was starring up at myself. My body, mind, television - my reality - had suddenly ceased to exist as one with me. I had trascended reality and was in a deep state of meditation where I could see the reality through one large eye that seamed to be projected on the inside of the top of my head while the rest of the space was occupied by black nothingness. Then it all suddenly hit me, there is something more to life than videogames and game forums! Had I discovered the essence of an ancient eastern philosophy or was I just incredibly high?
I would have believed the latter had I not experience Zen a few months later. This time it was during a very deep meditation one night in my bedroom. I sat there contemplating nothingness for quite some time when I noticed I had left my body once again. I was totally aware that my body wasn’t there, not only did I have my eyes closed in a dark room but I couldn't feel their physical presence. I was just a single conscious mind floating in a big black hole. It was quite the trip but it wasn't as exciting as my first experience.
I have yet to experience something similar to that time in my basement, where I was completlly detached from reality and involvment. But I’ve gone a step further recently during my visit to Nova Scotia. This time I was fairly detached from my reality but instead of mediating and contemplating the entire things I just went with the fllow. And the feeling that was once in my mind was now in my body - It was a great happy feeling. It was complete detachment with complete involvment, I had discovered how to apply Zen to my daily life. Before continuing with my experiences with Zen I`d like to share a short Zen story with you.
After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull's eye on his first try, and then split that arrow with his second shot. "There," he said to the old man, "see if you can match that!" Undisturbed, the master did not draw his bow, but rather motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain. Curious about the old fellow's intentions, the champion followed him high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a rather flimsy and shaky log. Calmly stepping out onto the middle of the unsteady and certainly perilous bridge, the old master picked a far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and fired a clean, direct hit. "Now it is your turn," he said as he gracefully stepped back onto the safe ground. Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and beckoning abyss, the young man could not force himself to step out onto the log, no less shoot at a target. "You have much skill with your bow," the master said, sensing his challenger's predicament, "but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot." (thanks to zen stories for your neighbour)
Back to my experiences. My most memorable moment yet must have been the time I experienced Zen at the local skatepark. I had stayed awake for 36 hours and I had hardly eaten, fasting you might say, and it was getting late. Normally all these factors would convince me to fall fast asleep in the middle of the skatepark but this night was different. This night my mind was in overdrive curious to see what could happen with the newly discovered Zen. The mindset didn't kick in until after meeting this chic who was gorgous and dreamy, she helped free my mind a little that night by showing me some wild and eccentric music and skating with such a random but focused style. She'd say a few words before I started skating and that was all it took to loosen my mind. Without hesitation I would jump onto railings backwards, hitting grinds that were previously unheard of for me. I couldn't believe myself, I was hitting these ridiculous tricks not only with precision but I was going surprisingly fast too.
I can't explain any further my experiences, the feeling is too mysterious for words. I continue to practice yoga and meditation though, and I recommend you give it a try to. You would be surprised at how powerful the mind truly is.
A gust of wind blows the forest trees, the wind does not move
I'm sure you’ve heard the word Zen before considering many GameCube titles require Zen-like concentration to excell in; namely Viewtiful Joe and Ikaruga. But I’d like to go a step further and talk about the actual experience of Zen. It would be impossible for me to try and explain Zen in words, but describing my personal experiences wont be too difficult.
The first time was in my basement one afternoon, I sat gazing at the television with my buddies for a few minutes before it suddenly dawned on me how silly watching television actually is. All the commercials and shows were so meaningless and redundant, I also noticed how my entire living room was layed out so every seat was pointed towards this small box sitting in the corner. One of Buddism`s beliefs is to not become attached to reality though, and I decided to apply this to the television and my friends. I never had a sentimental attachment to my television so that part was easy but detaching myself from my friends took some effort. As much as I enjoy their presence, respect, and all that jazz - they were still part of my reality. So I gave it a try and I got an unexplainable feeling in my mind, a tingling sensation that spread all over. Before I knew it I had left my body and was starring up at myself. My body, mind, television - my reality - had suddenly ceased to exist as one with me. I had trascended reality and was in a deep state of meditation where I could see the reality through one large eye that seamed to be projected on the inside of the top of my head while the rest of the space was occupied by black nothingness. Then it all suddenly hit me, there is something more to life than videogames and game forums! Had I discovered the essence of an ancient eastern philosophy or was I just incredibly high?
I would have believed the latter had I not experience Zen a few months later. This time it was during a very deep meditation one night in my bedroom. I sat there contemplating nothingness for quite some time when I noticed I had left my body once again. I was totally aware that my body wasn’t there, not only did I have my eyes closed in a dark room but I couldn't feel their physical presence. I was just a single conscious mind floating in a big black hole. It was quite the trip but it wasn't as exciting as my first experience.
I have yet to experience something similar to that time in my basement, where I was completlly detached from reality and involvment. But I’ve gone a step further recently during my visit to Nova Scotia. This time I was fairly detached from my reality but instead of mediating and contemplating the entire things I just went with the fllow. And the feeling that was once in my mind was now in my body - It was a great happy feeling. It was complete detachment with complete involvment, I had discovered how to apply Zen to my daily life. Before continuing with my experiences with Zen I`d like to share a short Zen story with you.
After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull's eye on his first try, and then split that arrow with his second shot. "There," he said to the old man, "see if you can match that!" Undisturbed, the master did not draw his bow, but rather motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain. Curious about the old fellow's intentions, the champion followed him high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a rather flimsy and shaky log. Calmly stepping out onto the middle of the unsteady and certainly perilous bridge, the old master picked a far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and fired a clean, direct hit. "Now it is your turn," he said as he gracefully stepped back onto the safe ground. Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and beckoning abyss, the young man could not force himself to step out onto the log, no less shoot at a target. "You have much skill with your bow," the master said, sensing his challenger's predicament, "but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot." (thanks to zen stories for your neighbour)
Back to my experiences. My most memorable moment yet must have been the time I experienced Zen at the local skatepark. I had stayed awake for 36 hours and I had hardly eaten, fasting you might say, and it was getting late. Normally all these factors would convince me to fall fast asleep in the middle of the skatepark but this night was different. This night my mind was in overdrive curious to see what could happen with the newly discovered Zen. The mindset didn't kick in until after meeting this chic who was gorgous and dreamy, she helped free my mind a little that night by showing me some wild and eccentric music and skating with such a random but focused style. She'd say a few words before I started skating and that was all it took to loosen my mind. Without hesitation I would jump onto railings backwards, hitting grinds that were previously unheard of for me. I couldn't believe myself, I was hitting these ridiculous tricks not only with precision but I was going surprisingly fast too.
I can't explain any further my experiences, the feeling is too mysterious for words. I continue to practice yoga and meditation though, and I recommend you give it a try to. You would be surprised at how powerful the mind truly is.
A gust of wind blows the forest trees, the wind does not move