Brain Wide Shut?

[FurryFury]

I hate paying bills so I always buy a calendar that has some bit of inspiration in it for my bill paying days. On my calendar today is the following thought:

"Enlightenment is not only the end of continuous conflict within and without, but also the end of the dreadful enslavement to incessant thinking, what an astonishing liberation this is."

That really struck me and got me to thinking.

How many of us seek, as I often do, to shut our over active brains down and just experience pure sensation?

The idea of that is so appealing to me. Though I find it rather hard to achieve. Life is so busy and I'm always in charge of so many things. My mind is nearly always going off in a hundred directions at once.

So is anyone else out there trying to shut down that pesky brain when they play?

 

[snowy ciara]

I'd kill to have it shut down enough to let me sleep! Or at least maim severely. As play is nonexistent for me, right now, it doesn't really affect me that way. But you're right, the incessant drone of my thoughts, combined with the pull of needing to be in 10 places at once is killing me. I sometimes think all these technological devises have made things so nastier for us. Now there is virtually no place where we cannot be found.

Here's a scary thought. My shrink, in an effort to get me to slow down and stop being superwomansubbiechick had me get a notebook to fill in whenever I had a chance.. Once an hour take a few moments and fill in where I'm at physically, what I'm doing, and a brief synopsis of my thoughts. I used 100 leaved composition books and filled 6 of them. In 4 days. And I didn't check in once an hour when I was awake, I missed some.

I'm a non-active subbie, bdsm wise. Those of us who do manage to shut it down, how the hell do you do it?

 

[FurryFury]

Wow!

Snowy C, I feel for you sweetheart.

Now and then, very rarely my brain will shut down or coast down or hit neutral and it is such a blessed thing.

The worst is when I should be sleeping so I can be spot on for my gigs in the morning but instead my brain is going wild, thinking about all sorts of things I have to do, my latest obsession or things I want to write.

 

[arctic-stranger]

I hate paying bills so I always buy a calendar that has some bit of inspiration in it for my bill paying days. On my calendar today is the following thought:

"Enlightenment is not only the end of continuous conflict within and without, but also the end of the dreadful enslavement to incessant thinking, what an astonishing liberation this is."

That really struck me and got me to thinking.

How many of us seek, as I often do, to shut our over active brains down and just experience pure sensation?

The idea of that is so appealing to me. Though I find it rather hard to achieve. Life is so busy and I'm always in charge of so many things. My mind is nearly always going off in a hundred directions at once.

So is anyone else out there trying to shut down that pesky brain when they play?

"Anything that can be written in a book, anything that can be said...all this is thinking. If you are thinking, then all the Zen books, all the buddhist sutras, all Bibles are demon's words. But if you read with a mind that has cut off thinking, then Zen books, sutras and Bibles are all truth. So is the barking of a dog, or the crowing of a rooster; all things are teaching you at every moment, and these sounds are even better than Zen books. So Zen is keeping the mind that is before thinking. ...Then we will attain our true self."

Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn

 

[snowy ciara]

Thanks Furry.. The shrink says I'm one of his highest functioning non medicated hyperactive patients, and while it's sometimes impressive, it's also worrying. Since I refuse to take anything for the hyperactivity, I'm at my wit's end sometimes trying to slow down. I'm swinging without a net here, sometimes. But I don't function well on drugs and I want to live, dammit, not just go through the motions!

 

[SueJ]

How many of us seek, as I often do, to shut our over active brains down and just experience pure sensation?

The idea of that is so appealing to me. Though I find it rather hard to achieve. Life is so busy and I'm always in charge of so many things. My mind is nearly always going off in a hundred directions at once.

So is anyone else out there trying to shut down that pesky brain when they play?

FF,
I lead about as close to a stress-free life as one can get, so I almost never have this problem. However, my husband is often plagued by it (maybe even more often than not), and one of my roles in our relationship is to pull him into a different zone, where he can shut out the day's stress to enter the world of sensuality. I can shut him down mentally pretty quickly and get him to change zones--usually within 5 or 10 minutes. He cannot do it by himself at all.

There is a kind of childishness in "playtime". I'm so glad you called it "play" in your question, because that is really key (at least, for him). When one enters that "play zone", they re-enter the world of childlike enjoyment that they had in the sandbox, where creativity and sensation reign. Humor plays a big role, and it is through humor and my own playfulness that he gets lured into the playground and leaves the Big Issues behind. I lighten his mood basically by joking around with whatever I can come up with at the time. Threats regarding what I'm going to do to his body if he doesn't lighten up do the trick when all else fails, and then I end up in an uncomfortable position with him laughing. <wink> (He's the D in the D/s, so me threatening him playfully often gets him over the hump.) As soon as he starts to laugh and play, the mood has swung, he's in the Zone, and he takes over from there.

If you have a regular S/O, perhaps that person could try a lighthearted approach with you and see if it helps you to shut down and go into the play zone for some Hide 'n Seek or Tag. <wink> I don't know if it works for everybody, but when my husband is really down or preoccupied, this is the only approach I've discovered that works consistently, and he has come to depend on me being able to take him away from the real world at night.

I'd be very interested in hearing from anybody else about different approaches to this as well. I'd love to develop a range of ideas that work---just haven't come across others yet that do the job for him. I'm not allowed to touch him until he's In the Zone, and it's my job to get him there.

Sue

 

[FurryFury]

Hi arctic-stranger !

"Anything that can be written in a book, anything that can be said...all this is thinking. If you are thinking, then all the Zen books, all the buddhist sutras, all Bibles are demon's words. But if you read with a mind that has cut off thinking, then Zen books, sutras and Bibles are all truth. So is the barking of a dog, or the crowing of a rooster; all things are teaching you at every moment, and these sounds are even better than Zen books. So Zen is keeping the mind that is before thinking. ...Then we will attain our true self."

Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn

I LIKE that! Thanks for that contribution. I love Zen quotes! When you can just be quiet and experience things that is so wonderful.

Hi snowy ciara !

The shrink says I'm one of his highest functioning non medicated hyperactive patients, and while it's sometimes impressive, it's also worrying. Since I refuse to take anything for the hyperactivity, I'm at my wit's end sometimes trying to slow down. I'm swinging without a net here, sometimes. But I don't function well on drugs and I want to live, dammit, not just go through the motions!

I totally understand your thoughts on not wanting to deal with drugs. *hugs* Sounds like you are doing damned good but there is always something new to learn and that is one reason I am here. Maybe we can learn together.

Hi Sue!

That is exactly the sort of thing that I am talking about. Thanks for adding your thoughts. Your husband is a lucky guy. Hopefully more folks will write in with ideas.

The funny thing is, I've tried to de stress my life, slow down this crazy carousel but it always seems like three things come to fill in the place of the one thing I've managed to let go of.

 

[Guest]

"Anything that can be written in a book, anything that can be said...all this is thinking. If you are thinking, then all the Zen books, all the buddhist sutras, all Bibles are demon's words. But if you read with a mind that has cut off thinking, then Zen books, sutras and Bibles are all truth. So is the barking of a dog, or the crowing of a rooster; all things are teaching you at every moment, and these sounds are even better than Zen books. So Zen is keeping the mind that is before thinking. ...Then we will attain our true self."

Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn

For a long while I did occaisional work for a gated community..What made this rather unusual, was it's composition of very well heeled transcendentalists...Which seems something of a contradiction. I mean, these folks were what is traditionally referred to as "filthy rich".
One day we (Myself and my help) saw a flier there for a seminar to help you "find yourself".
After a few moments, we hit upon a plan...We would give a seminar on "finding ones Self" and as the people walked through the gate, we would hand them a tool belt. Thereafter we would build something useful.
Sound silly?
Not really, none of us could ever remember seeing a man with a hammer in his hand that needed to "find himself". He might need a lot of other things, but not that.
Simplification of ones life works... It's one of the reasons I still love working with my hands... Also, there is benefit to ones self in having a tangible result at the end of the day.

 

[FurryFury]

For a long while I did occaisional work for a gated community..What made this rather unusual, was it's composition of very well heeled transcendentalists...Which seems something of a contradiction. I mean, these folks were what is traditionally referred to as "filthy rich".
One day we (Myself and my help) saw a flier there for a seminar to help you "find yourself".
After a few moments, we hit upon a plan...We would give a seminar on "finding ones Self" and as the people walked through the gate, we would hand them a tool belt. Thereafter we would build something useful.
Sound silly?
Not really, none of us could ever remember seeing a man with a hammer in his hand that needed to "find himself". He might need a lot of other things, but not that.
Simplification of ones life works... It's one of the reasons I still love working with my hands... Also, there is benefit to ones self in having a tangible result at the end of the day.

I think that makes perfect sense. I remember being in eighth grade after a long day of physical labor, just being able to sit out on my balcony looking out at the lake with a soft drink and snack, and just let my brain drift and idle. I felt at such peace and very tired but in a good way. Thanks for your thoughts.

Fury

 

[arctic-stranger]

For a long while I did occaisional work for a gated community..What made this rather unusual, was it's composition of very well heeled transcendentalists...Which seems something of a contradiction. I mean, these folks were what is traditionally referred to as "filthy rich".
One day we (Myself and my help) saw a flier there for a seminar to help you "find yourself".
After a few moments, we hit upon a plan...We would give a seminar on "finding ones Self" and as the people walked through the gate, we would hand them a tool belt. Thereafter we would build something useful.
Sound silly?
Not really, none of us could ever remember seeing a man with a hammer in his hand that needed to "find himself". He might need a lot of other things, but not that.
Simplification of ones life works... It's one of the reasons I still love working with my hands... Also, there is benefit to ones self in having a tangible result at the end of the day.

There is a great book on Zen called Chop Wood, Carry Water, and they make essentially the same point. You find this in Christian monasteries too. Monks work pretty hard, as well as pray. Ora et labora...prayer and work.

 

[Marquis]

I use an age old herbal remedy that I feel works really well.

 

[FurryFury]

And that age old remedy would be?

 

[Marquis]

Why, oolong tea of course.

 

[arctic-stranger]

And that age old remedy would be?

green tea, of course.....

 

[FurryFury]

Tea! Why didn't I think of that? While I was thinking of so many other things?

Green tea, I have already. I'll go make some. Might fill me up even.

Oolong, I'll put on my list. I'll try anything at least once.

This is making me want to go to my favorite restaurant and smell their tomato and bean curd soup. Mmm. Serenity in a bowl.

 

[Marquis]

Yeah, tea is good, but ArcticStranger told me weed is even better.

 

[arctic-stranger]

Yeah, tea is good, but I ArcticStranger told me weed is even better.

yeah, i really get off on those dandilions...and rag grass....mmmmmm

 

[FurryFury]

It's been years for me but I remember some very relaxing times after eating some laced brownies!

 

[Killishandra]

It's been years for me but I remember some very relaxing times after eating some laced brownies!

The only two times I ate food cooked with pot were times I ended up comatose... I was able to hear and comprehend everything going on around me (like my friends freaking out over my prone body, discussing if they should call an ambulance or if I'd just fallen asleep reeeally fast) but could not say a word or move a muscle for hours. The first time it happened I had climbed naken into the shower and laid there for about an hour until my sister got suspicious and came in to carry me to bed... The second time, I ended up AGAIN in bed, with my boyfriend laying next to me, worryingly stroking my hair for 3 hours until I woke up (eventually I drifted off to sleep.)

I will never.... ever.... eat magic-anything again. lol. Horrible experiences.

 

[FurryFury]

Wow girl! What was in those things? Not simple hash I'm thinking.

 

[Marquis]

I will never.... ever.... eat magic-anything again. lol. Horrible experiences.

No, you will never... ever... knowingly eat magic-anything again.

Hang out with the wrong type and you might find yourself staring at the ceiling while your blouse is being unbuttoned.

 

[Killishandra]

Wow girl! What was in those things? Not simple hash I'm thinking.

I believe it was marijuana butter used in the brownies (the first time) and straight-up buds mixed into the cookies (the second time.) Knowing my ex-bf, he probably made the cookies quite strong.

 

[Killishandra]

No, you will never... ever... knowingly eat magic-anything again.

Hang out with the wrong type and you might find yourself staring at the ceiling while your blouse is being unbuttoned.

Remind me to never eat baked goods you offer if I haven't seen them being prepared!

 

[Marquis]

Remind me to never eat baked goods you offer if I haven't seen them being prepared!

I've seen your profile picture.

I wouldn't take any drinks from me either.

Hell, I'd avoid meeting me at all.

 

[Killishandra]

I've seen your profile picture.

I wouldn't take any drinks from me either.

Hell, I'd avoid meeting me at all.

Why is it we never take the really good advice??