The first half of January has been loaded with the typical negativity, and in all honesty, we certainly contributed by calling out particularly absurd commentary and getting caught up in the maelstrom. As we emerge from the storm, we realize that nobody is free of scrapes and bruises; everyone has suffered a variety of injuries that cast a pall on a hobby that revolves around fun and entertainment. Regardless of our mood or passion, we can all take things too seriously, and now it's time to back off…take a deep breath…and get all…Zen.
Maybe you can't contort yourself into even the most basic Yoga positions, and perhaps you live nowhere near a peaceful shore. But you must make do and resort to feeding your inner self: as most ancient philosophies will tell you, the body is little more than a vessel of blood, skin, chemicals, water, and a bit of electricity. To release one's mind from time to time is a necessirty; if you don't step away from the body, the body is said to consume the soul. …and if the throngs of the depressingly dazed and confused that wander Wal-Mart are any indication, this has already begun to happen. Therefore, think nothing of these trivial – yes, trivial – console wars. Ignore that forumite who called you an "ignorant fanboy." Stop seething about the latest anti-PS3 article. Don't lose yourself in endless arguments that involve circular logic, strawmen, and needless personal attacks. Just let yourself go .
Sit back. Close your eyes…(but first finish the instructions). Your soul is slowly tearing free from your physical self; it's a painless departure and one that triggers brain activity and allows your muscles to relax. The tension, which has managed to tighten multiple parts of your body, slowly moves upwards and passes out through the top of your head. This will leave shortly after the soul; the two will separate like oil and water in the plane of existence the human eye cannot see. Your breathing slows and your fingers unclench and come to rest lightly on your knees. Your shoulders slump but as your brain remains at attention, your back remains straight. The sensation of inward movement settles as you begin to experience something that's between floating and a mental massage. In this state, you are no longer removed from nature and the energy that formed the celestial beings we walk beneath but unfortunately ignore begins to spread. You're no longer battling. You're submitting.
As you hover in this completely satisfied position, all those warm, wondrous gaming memories will flood through your consciousness. You will recall the first time you saw a video game, and then, as an unconscious smile creeps across your face, you will recall your earliest hours of electronic bliss. You will see, with your far-reaching internal eye that is now only drawn to the memories that feed your freshly freed soul, your first accomplishments. Your inner child will giggle with abandon at the recollection of blowing on cartridges, arcade buttons slick with pizza grease, and unwrapping that new game (the one you got before any of your friends). The eyes will roll behind your closed lids as you remember the ceaseless frustration of Super Ghosts 'n Goblins , then quickly switch to unbridled mirth as you let the memories of multiplayer sleepover parties assault your receptive soul. The tears will develop when Aeris' death returns, and the jaw will tighten when you remember the console that finally stopped working. Even the latter adopts a rosy tinge of nostalgia.
It will all be there. The entire experience will have been relived in minutes, but the Zen approach has weeded out all the negativity and left you with one final thought: why you began to play games in the first place. When this happens, the session is complete and you can allow your soul (and a bit of that tension, which is a requisite for everyday life) to come back. But the goal is complete…you've resurrected your smile. 😉
I would have needed that Ben but I guess I beat you to the punch, already on the pineapple express. Makes that article vivid though.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 1/16/2009 10:15:08 PM
I kinda beat him to i also, I usally listen to this
Thank you Ben for delivering me this moment of peace. After the day I had today I need it.
I'm the king of bad days, let it out Gold.
peace and tranquility, unfortunately my eyes burn like hell and a new collage semester has started which has me going nuts. so indeed life goes on.
i feel bad =( i was roaming through walmart @ 11pm lol but at least I was searching for something in specific, but then bought a 20$ psn card XD lol
I work @ academy (only in some southern states) and it right next to walmart and i get off at 11pm lol so yeah
does Texas still think Bush came from there?
The US is cold as hell at the moment(in a lot of ways)
I'm with you Ben, we all need to relax a bit and just enjoy life and the games we like regardless of anything.
I'm happy and can't wait for SFIV, aaaah
Talking about Zen,
We need a quality Zen PS3 game! Like ICO, or Shadow of the colossus.. Where you can wander around vast spaces of nothingness only surrounded by the echoes of footsteps of distant beasts……
Aaahh only few games can deliver such immersion!
Go with the flOw.
Interesting…
BTW Ben, I'm pretty sure anyone can accomplish the yoga corpse pose lol. All you have to do is lie down and relax legs together arms at your sides. (lol they made us do some yoga in school and that's pretty much all I took away from it).
Wow. That really worked. I feel so calm, so relaxed. Ok maybe the benedryl and ambien are helping, but you have a good point.
Just forget about the console wars. If sony does good, awesome. If microsoft does good, then good for them.
This is refreshig after all the hate I felt on this website the last couple of weeks.
I'm gonna sleep now. Then I will go to Austin and party for the weekend. See you tuesday PSXE/everyone else.
That last sentence is powerful enough to make people smile xD
Oddly enough i was doing some research on Zen last night. And to think i said that when i'd get my PS3, i'd stop participating in arguing against fanboy junkies. I definately WILL now. I keep forgetting the main damn reason i support Sony is because the PS3 is like the grandson [or grand-sucessor] of the glorious Playstation; the console that brought me many memories [oh, the nostalgia]. I'll always thank & appreciate Sony for that.
Last edited by Douchebaguette on 1/17/2009 4:59:37 AM
Yea relax,as simple as that,enough with the arguments,getting too fired up isn't good for ya heart.
Am glad Dutka is teaching you a thing a two about relaxing,taking it easy,playing your games and just living your life.
Peace to all you proud PSXextreme members.No other site feels like home like this one.
some of the articles on psx are strange. but nice to see they aren't just a load of *insert insult here*
It's so peaceful if only the 7th generation was only peace instead of the anti-sony editorials and no news reports on BBC,CNN and the death of that retard pachter
Everyone can always enjoy a good movie. I just watched Gran Torino. It's shockingly funny. 2 thumbs up!
This isn't weird at all.
I don't really see the use in arguing over consoles and games, play what you like and have fun. Last time I checked thats what gaming is about, right?
Agree, but easier said than done, at least for me.
a seinfeld quote " I am speechless, I am without speech.
Nice read.
Wack, try effexor.
Who can relax with so many games I wanna play it's hard to choose & there's not enough time to finish them all before the next one arrives.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. . . . . intermission.
Makes me wanna break out and sing-along with an old goodie of Brewer & Shipley's….
"One toke over the line, sweet Jesus, one toke over the line"
I think I'll take my copy of "Zen & the art of the motorcycle" down from my shelf & re-read it once again.
OR maybe I'll just take another cold-assed 500 mile ride on my Harley(cause I really don't have time to think about anything else than thawing out my frost-bitten nuts afterwards).