nice idea - are PC's and meditation compatible?

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of all the things i've lost i miss my mind the most... (ozzy osbourne)

every moment of life, waking and sleeping, should be meditation. PC's and meditation are compatible. Video games and meditation are not compatible.

The difference is, whether the consciousness is awake and perceptive or absorbed and asleep. This helps remind me that I need to be awake and perceptive. Really quite useful!

so; video games do not allow the conciousness to be awake and perceptive? and; are they not included in 'every moment of life'?

(i'm not being beligerent, i just want to understand what is behind your work...)

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of all the things i've lost i miss my mind the most... (ozzy osbourne)

No, i understand the question and anticipated it based on my initial response.

I have found, from my direct experience of video gaming (an ex-hardcore gamer), that the enjoyment derived from participating in a video game is largely drawn from being lost inside of fantasy, absorbed in the details and sensations of the game. Upon leaving the video game I would feel groggy and drugged, much similar to day-after effects of other substances (which have been deemed illegal by various authorities).

Is it possible to have the consciousness awake while playing a video game, as every moment in life should be meditation? Yes, it absolutely is. Do video games promote this? In my opinion no, they do not. There have been a few games created which could possibly do this, but through my experience they are still more of a distraction than a mode of enligthenment. The games that come straight to mind are the Myst games, and Journey to the Wild Divine.

Movies are for the most part the same, however there are a few movies, (Baraka, Chronos, Koyaanisqatsi, Mindwalk, etc) that do encourage free-thought and active, conscious perception. Most film, as with most video games, give their pleasureable effect by lulling the viewer into a hypnotic state, which is the oposite of meditation. The difference, again, is whether the consciousness is active or passive. (the induction for meditation and hypnosis are remarkably similar, having explored both).

It is my opinion that hypnosis controls the mind, where meditation liberates it. So anything that controls the mind, without the direction of conscious willpower, only encourages sleep and ignorance.

Many people feel that some form of "escape" is necessary, and claim that video games and movies provide this for them. I would also add that books, music, and other things can do this as well. I agree that these provide means of escapism. But it is my philosophy that if we just try to escape our responsibilities, nothing positive and constructive will ever get done. It is my experience that I feel so much more in-touch, well-balanced, and complete as a human being when I take a perpetually active approach towards existence, even when resting.

To read a bit more about the effects of television on the brain, here are some interesting article's I have transcribed:

[link]F1CDF94-6F10-456D-9B922E1AC5E21600258559031

an enlightening response : thanks...

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of all the things i've lost i miss my mind the most... (ozzy osbourne)

I love how clean the design is, yet i wonder about its zenness. Isn't zen represented by clean lines, pure sududed tones, lack of dynamism and movement, serenity and calm? It looks more art deco with the 'modern'circular motifs and bold colours...but hey, it works. That's what's important, right?

It's beautiful! I'm wondering about materials and height, however. Could you let us know?

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Avatar by ~Falln-Avatars ...

Thanks for the compliment! Here are the specs.

Dimensions:

Height:
Floor to main table: 12"
Table to monitor stand: 8.5"
Total height: 21" (floor to top)

Width x depth:
Main table: 39.5" x 24"
Monitor stand: 33" x 6"

Materials:
The main table is recycled from an old computer desk from Staples, which appears to be some sort of particle board with a plastic coating (ver.20 will be completely different style using some nice, light wood, this is just a test piece). I figured why throw it out when its perfectly useable. The table legs are made of particle board shelving, 3/4" thick, cut with a skillsaw and sanded smooth, painted flat black. The top shelf is made of 3/4" thick plywood, light cherry stain, thinned out and sanded down.

You're probably entirely right. Although I've studied Zen Buddhism, I've not studied too much Zen art. I used the term Zen because most westerners attribute any form of meditation to "Zen" style, even though it has its own very specific techniques and process of enlightenment.

I figured, Its low-profile, meditation-style, requires a meditation chair/cushion to sit at, might as well call it zen