#meditation moment

[sunnymindinspo]

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[ominouspuff]

Remembrances

Companion-piece to this Cody piece

[platoapproved]

— A flaccid full-length play based on nothing other than the superficial observations of the vampire Sam, his meditation on vampiric existence and enduring. — Strange, I remember you racing back from rehearsals to tell me how ambitious the conceit was.

[royalelemental]

Don’t you just love it when they’d both rather bash their helms in than admit they caught feelings for each other? They’re both idiots your honor.

[nobeerreviews]

Our greatest experiences are our quietest moments.

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

(Warszawa, Poland)

[turtleblogatlast]

Something I like about Leo is that he’s honestly really chill? It’s easy to remember the moments where he’s being obnoxious or excitable but I feel like most of the time he’s incredibly “go with the flow” and has an overall affable demeanor.

[shamelesslyimpurrfect]

nothing lasts forever :)

[faronmckenzie]

Sometimes you’re so focused on the future that you don’t realise you’re in the middle of exactly what you used to pray for.

[aiartwerk]

"Neo-Fantasy Heroines"

A stunning collection of dynamic portraits blending realism and fantasy, featuring diverse heroines wielding swords, seeking solace in meditative moments, and reflecting in atmospheric settings. These artworks celebrate strength, introspection, and empowering narratives of powerful women.

[lxdymaria]

adventuring gear + camp clothes

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Zen

The philosophy of Zen is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes direct experience, mindfulness, and the attainment of enlightenment through meditation and intuitive insight rather than through doctrinal study or ritualistic practices. Originating in China as Chan Buddhism and later flourishing in Japan as Zen, this philosophy seeks to transcend the dualities of ordinary thought and to awaken to the true nature of reality, which is seen as beyond conceptual understanding.

Key Concepts in the Philosophy of Zen:

Direct Experience and Enlightenment (Satori):

Immediate Awareness: Zen emphasizes direct, immediate experience as the path to enlightenment (satori). This means engaging with reality without the interference of conceptual thought or the ego, often through practices such as meditation (zazen) and mindful awareness.

Satori: Enlightenment in Zen, known as satori, is often described as a sudden, profound realization of the interconnectedness of all things and the emptiness (śūnyatā) that underlies reality. This insight transcends ordinary understanding and reveals the true nature of existence.

Meditation (Zazen):

Seated Meditation: Zazen, or seated meditation, is the core practice of Zen. It involves sitting in a specific posture, focusing on the breath, and observing thoughts without attachment. The aim is to quiet the mind, develop concentration, and eventually experience deep states of awareness and insight.

Beyond Techniques: While zazen is a formal practice, Zen teaches that meditation can extend into all aspects of life, encouraging practitioners to bring the same mindfulness and presence into everyday activities.

Koans and Paradoxes:

Koans: Koans are paradoxical statements or questions used in Zen practice to transcend logical thinking and provoke direct insight. A well-known example is, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" The purpose of a koan is not to find a logical answer but to break down the barriers of conventional thought and open the mind to a more profound reality.

Beyond Rationality: Zen often challenges the limits of rationality, using paradox and contradiction to point out that true understanding is beyond intellectual comprehension.

Non-Dualism and Emptiness (Śūnyatā):

Transcending Duality: Zen philosophy rejects the dualistic thinking that separates the self from the world, subject from object, and good from bad. Instead, it teaches that all distinctions are illusory and that true reality is non-dual.

Emptiness: The concept of emptiness (śūnyatā) is central to Zen. It refers to the idea that all things are interconnected and lack an independent, permanent essence. Understanding this emptiness is key to realizing the impermanent and interdependent nature of reality.

Mindfulness and Present-Moment Awareness:

Living in the Present: Zen encourages practitioners to live fully in the present moment, without attachment to the past or anxiety about the future. This mindfulness is cultivated in both formal meditation and daily activities.

Mindful Action: Zen teaches that any action, no matter how mundane, can be an opportunity for mindfulness and awareness. The concept of "being one with the task" is emphasized, where the distinction between the doer and the deed dissolves.

Simplicity and Naturalness:

Simplicity: Zen values simplicity in both thought and lifestyle. This is reflected in Zen art, architecture, and daily practices, which emphasize naturalness, austerity, and the beauty of the unadorned.

Natural Flow: Zen encourages a natural way of being, in harmony with the flow of life. This idea is often illustrated by metaphors of nature, such as the effortless way a tree grows or a river flows.

Compassion and Ethical Living:

Bodhisattva Ideal: Although Zen emphasizes direct personal experience, it also upholds the Mahayana Buddhist ideal of the bodhisattva—someone who seeks enlightenment not just for themselves but for the benefit of all beings. Compassion and ethical conduct are integral to this path.

Engaged Buddhism: In modern times, Zen has also inspired forms of engaged Buddhism, where mindfulness and ethical living are applied to social, environmental, and political issues.

Art, Aesthetics, and Expression:

Zen Arts: Zen has profoundly influenced Japanese arts, including tea ceremony, calligraphy, poetry (such as haiku), and gardening. These arts embody the principles of simplicity, mindfulness, and the transient nature of existence.

Expression of Enlightenment: In Zen, artistic expression is often seen as an extension of the meditative mind. The spontaneity and directness found in Zen arts reflect the same qualities valued in Zen practice.

Non-Attachment and Letting Go:

Letting Go of Ego: Zen teaches the importance of letting go of the ego, desires, and attachments that create suffering. By relinquishing these attachments, one can experience a deeper, more peaceful state of being.

Non-Striving: Paradoxically, Zen teaches that enlightenment cannot be attained through effort alone; it requires a state of non-striving, where one lets go of the desire for enlightenment and simply allows it to arise naturally.

Silence and the Ineffable:

Beyond Words: Zen often emphasizes the limitations of language in capturing the essence of reality. Many Zen teachings are conveyed through silence or direct, non-verbal actions, highlighting that the deepest truths cannot be fully expressed in words.

Ineffability of Truth: Zen suggests that true understanding comes from direct experience, not from intellectual discussion or analysis. This is reflected in the Zen saying, "The finger pointing at the moon is not the moon," indicating that teachings are merely pointers to the truth, not the truth itself.

The philosophy of Zen offers a unique approach to understanding the nature of reality and the self, emphasizing direct experience, mindfulness, and the transcendence of dualistic thinking. By cultivating a deep awareness of the present moment and embracing the simplicity and natural flow of life, Zen practitioners seek to realize the interconnectedness of all things and attain enlightenment. This philosophy has had a profound influence on both Eastern and Western thought, inspiring not only spiritual practice but also art, literature, and approaches to everyday living.

[nonbinarydeity]

There is a world within you, and a world around you. These worlds are not separate; everything is connected with you, and you can actually feel this interconnected nature, as if you were feeling your own body.

When I started experiencing this, I was trying to work with energy. What I found instead was a vast emptiness, a spacious experience of the world around me. At the time, I wasn't sure what it was! Now I understand, this is what we ARE: stillness, spaciousness, emptiness, here and now.

It might be difficult at first, but you can do this too! Feel into your body. Feel the way things are tangible to you within this space. Ask yourself "is this really all I am? Where do 'I' end?" Then, as if you were feeling into your own body, look around the room and FEEL the things around you, without touching them.

There is a tangible experience of stillness, of "non-experience" within the world around you. You can FEEL the emptiness of the outside world. It feels like nothing. But it is TANGIBLE and REAL.

I truly believe that this is a part of ourselves that we have been taught to disregard. We are taught to think we are only our minds and bodies, but how could that be when we can feel beyond the sensations of the body, and into the stillness of the world? We are One with everything, and it is not hard to experience it for yourself!

Can you be curious about this? Can you experience this every day, for long enough that you begin to wake up out of your limited ideas of being a "someone" in time and space? You ARE space; time is an illusion making up a construct of being only a person, but we are EVERYTHING and ALL AT ONCE. We are here, we are now.

[touchlikethesun]

kuroo's an asshole and gets people riled up on purpose for funsies, but he's also genuinely a very caring guy and tries his best to help and encourage people.

tsukki's an asshole, and if he doesn't like you he will laugh as you run off a cliff. if he does like you, he'll laugh at you for being thick, but he'll stop you before you can truly hurt yourself. (bonus secret soft side can be unlocked, but watch out)

oikawa is an asshole, but only because he's keeping up an act to protect himself - and to make others laugh. when the act drops, he's shockingly serious and sincere no trace of assholerey to be found.

kags isn't an asshole at all, he's just incredibly straightforward, and people constantly mistake his bluntness as him being a dick on purpose.

most people get fooled by suga's outward appearance and think he's a nice guy just so sweet, but that's just because they aren't paying attention. make no mistake his asshole streak runs dangerously strong.

[kindnessoverperfection]

ADHD really does put everything at equal levels of importance, huh? Like I'll have an email I need to write that'll take maybe 10 minutes, and getting that done will alleviate 6 months of stress. Then I'll notice a sock on the floor I need to put away. Then I'll get the strong conviction that it's up to me to cure cancer. And my brain will tell me that I need to do all of them at once, start and finish them all in the time span of 0 seconds, and my executive dysfunction will throw up its hands and do none of the above.

[momentsbeforemass]

Intrusive thoughts

“What do you do about intrusive thoughts during prayer?”

This is the heart of a beautiful question I received from someone who’s thinking about becoming Christan. Specifically, a Catholic Christian. And they’re starting to pray the Rosary.

They’ve already figured out that the Rosary is meant to help you be present with God. It’s Christian meditation. To make a quiet place inside us to just be with God.

Something a lot of cradle Catholics don’t know.

They’re having problems with intrusive thoughts. It’s frustrating. It feels like the opposite of a quiet place to just be with God.

Something everyone of us who prays the Rosary knows all too well.

So what do you do about intrusive thoughts during prayer?

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I can tell you what I do. And it depends on the thought.

If it’s small potatoes. Something I just remembered. Or something I need to do. Or an email I need to return.

I just jot it down on my phone. Then I can let go of it. Because I know it won’t get lost.

What if it’s not small potatoes? What if it keeps coming back? What if it’s something I’m really wrestling with?

Maybe it’s a relationship that’s struggling or a health issue that’s getting worse. Maybe it’s a job search that’s gone cold or financial problems that keep growing. Or anything else that’s weighing on your heart.

Whatever it is, that’s what you need to be talking with God about.

If this time when you pray the Rosary, it creates a place for you to be with God – about what’s weighing on your heart?

Then that is how you need to pray.

Be with God, about what’s weighing on your heart.

If this time when you pray the Rosary, you never even finish the first decade – and the Lord’s Prayer trails off into pouring your heart out to God about the stone on your soul?

Then that is how you need to pray.

Pour your heart out to God about the stone on your soul.

If that is the Rosary that you need to pray in this moment, then that is how you should pray.

Whatever it is, share it with God. Let God be there for you.

Don’t waste your time trying to sort things out so you can have quiet time with God. Do it with God.

Pray as you are, not how you think you should be.

“We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us.” - C.S. Lewis

Today’s Readings

[thoughtsbysofi]

Legacies Written in Energy: Why We Create in a World Where Nothing Seems to Last

What remains when time fades everything

I have to confess: I’ve developed a new obsession. There’s something I find strangely captivating about videos of people exploring abandoned places. Old houses with peeling wallpaper, forgotten buildings overtaken by nature, dusty staircases that lead to nowhere—I can’t stop watching them.

There’s a peculiar kind of emptiness in those spaces, one that feels oddly comforting. I see what remains of what was once someone’s dream, someone’s home, and it leaves me in awe. These weren’t just houses—they were built with care, brick by brick, as if they could stand forever. But time has a way of erasing even the strongest foundations.

When I see those places, I find myself thinking about the people who lived there. Did they pour their hearts into building these homes? Did they think they were creating something that would last forever? And if they had known that one day, all of it would crumble, would they still have done it?

It’s a question that lingers in my mind. So much of our lives is spent working, striving, and building—careers, relationships, homes, legacies. We fight to leave our mark, to create something that proves we were here. But when I see those abandoned houses, I start to wonder if we’re chasing permanence in a world where nothing really lasts.

At first, this thought unsettled me. It made me question so much of what we value, of what we’re told to chase. But then I remembered something: just because something doesn’t seem to last forever doesn’t mean it didn’t matter.

Those houses, those places—they were never just about the walls or the furniture or the roof. They were about the lives lived inside them. The laughter, the arguments, the quiet moments of solitude. And though the structures may crumble, the energy of what happened there doesn’t just disappear.

The same is true for us. Whether we realize it or not, everything we do leaves a mark. We all contribute something to the world, even in small ways. It’s not about the legacies that are visible to everyone—it’s about the energy each of us leave behind. The kindness we show, the people we touch, the way we try to make the world a little better than we found it.

Even if what we build isn’t visible forever, the impact of our actions ripples outward, shaping the lives of others in ways we may never see. Because It’s not the physical things we create that endure—it’s the love, the effort, the intention behind them.

And there’s something comforting in that, too. Just like those houses, the things that feel overwhelming or all-consuming right now—every worry, every problem—they’ll fade too. Time has a way of reducing everything to rubble, not just the physical but the emotional. And somehow, knowing that the things weighing me down today will one day be as irrelevant as an abandoned house makes me feel lighter.

Again, that doesn’t mean what we do doesn’t matter. Quite the opposite. It’s a reminder that the legacy we leave isn’t about things—it’s about the energy we pour into the world and the connections we create.

In the end, it’s not about chasing permanence. It’s about being present, living with intention, doing our best, and contributing to something greater than ourselves. Because even if everything eventually crumbles, there’s beauty in knowing it stood, even if only for a moment—and in the ways it left its mark on the lives it touched.