Last night, I allocated my time between reading and meditation. In recent days, I’ve grown wary of the television and its role in my life (more to come on that later).
After finishing a particularly riveting chapter, I found myself daydreaming – staring at my big, bulky white blanket. At first, I realized that it looked a lot like heaps of mashed potatoes. Then, I noticed the texture of the fabric and the patterns of light cast by my lamp. I spent several minutes discovering new perspectives and new lenses through which I could view this one object.
When all was said and done, I realized it was a tremendous exercise in present moment awareness. So, go ahead and try it yourself. Here are just a few perspectives through which you can view an object. Add to this list on your own:
- In terms of light and dark
- In terms of textures
- Theoretically
- In terms of shadows
- Playfully
- In terms of history (What caused each crease? What caused each stain?)
- In terms of function
- Scientifically
- Through story-telling
- In terms of taste, smell, touch, sound and sight
- By design
- Abstractly
- Through shapes
- Magically
It was some of the best fun I’ve ever had between my sheets. 
April 30, 2009 at 4:51 pm
about the tv….you just need to enlighten yourself with better programming rather than the trash that you’ve mentioned that you watch (CNN is good, though). but you should watch the discovery channel and channels like that that can show you different places of the world…and can take you to the bottom of the sea or out into space to show you the beauty that exists there.
May 1, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Agreed. I wish now perhaps that I had read this blog before I commented on the other. So it goes.
April 30, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I Like MSNBC over CNN. Less shouting and talking at the same time (except on Chris Matthews’ Countdown). The News Hour on PBS is a breath of fresh air — guests actually talk long enough to make a point and expand on it.
James is right. Discovery, along with NGEO, History, and others often have good programming, HBO and Showtime are rapidly becoming leaders over broadcast TV in quality dramatic series.
April 30, 2009 at 7:24 pm
True. It’s removing the chaff from the kernels of worthwhile
viewing that’s the hard part. But, it is there.
Peace
April 30, 2009 at 5:32 pm
i actually play that a lot. a lot more than i should in fact. isn’t really helpful if you’re having a math test unfortunately. and everything might be fascinating really…
April 30, 2009 at 5:48 pm
you look like your f*****g your dog
April 30, 2009 at 6:06 pm
You are entering the ‘no spin’ zone – go Bill
April 30, 2009 at 6:29 pm
“It was some of the best fun I’ve ever had between my sheets.”
Yeah, right Davey, why don’t I really believe that? ….lol
April 30, 2009 at 7:03 pm
DW,
What say you about Swine Flu? Is this the big influenza pandemic scientists have been predicting? How does one maintain a focus on the present moment in the face of so much media driven fear? Are you afraid?
J.
May 1, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I think a pandemic would be nature’s way of saying “THERE’S TOO MANY F**K**g HUMANS ON THIS PLANET AND YOU’RE DESTROYING IT !!!” I really don’t understand why it’s all the rage to be “Green” these days and protect the environment but I never hear anyone talk about the biggest problem — population growth and unbridled consumerism.
April 30, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I’m afraid! I live by the border. But, I’m not living in fear. Just washing my hands a lot.
BTW, I love the painting on the wall!
April 30, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I had the same issue with television a few years ago, when “reality” tv started to become really popular. So I drastically reduced the amount I watch. I watch the news and about an hour of tv a night, if that.
May 1, 2009 at 1:35 am
I love the fact that you managed to slip in, “What caused each stain?”, that was awesome!!
I hope they were all wonderful at the time! I know when I take time to really examine things at different levels it proves to be an enlightening experience.
Great post!
Ciao!
May 1, 2009 at 7:11 am
I don’t have a TV. Well, I do, I just don’t have cable. My bf and I believe that if there is anything worth watching, we can simply dl it.
We do, however, have cable internet. Hey! We aren’t living in the 80′s, here!
May 1, 2009 at 8:14 am
we can just see things the way we want to see them it depends if we are optimistic or a pessimist one. It’s actually our prerogative or perspective. It’s our family that contributes greatly on how we will see things but by the time that we go out of the real world our environment will affect us on how we appreciate what’s really within the inner characteristic of a certain thing.
May 1, 2009 at 9:08 am
turn off the boob tube, and draw or paint,davey, off to the redwood’s in northern calif….
May 7, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I turned mine off Feb of 08
Hand the cable disconnected June of O8
The first month was like drug withdrawal
Now! I don’t miss it at all, get more sleep and a lot of other things done.
People always ask “Did you see _____?
They look at me strangely when you tell them you DON”T watch TV.
It’s like they know of nothing else to discuss.
They ask “How do you get the News?”
Well their are Newspapers and Radio!
They just look at you like your a sad lost case.
Oh well! I just smile.
May 1, 2009 at 11:40 am
I love it
May 1, 2009 at 10:52 pm
four out of five dental hygienists would agree: great post! Love the simple illustration of how there are almost limitless ways to look at something … anything.
May 2, 2009 at 12:10 am
Jesus H Christ – How about posting photos of something other than yourself shirtless. It is obvious you crave attention and want or need to know people are looking at you.
May 5, 2009 at 5:39 pm
How about you just stop clicking on his blog if it bothers u that much?? Idiot!!
May 2, 2009 at 2:11 am
How about as a landscape?
i see hills, gullies, rivers, and meadows.
May 7, 2009 at 1:56 am
Is that a real pollock?
May 7, 2009 at 9:04 pm
One of Davey’s Paintings
He’s shown and discussed it in several of the older blogs.
May 16, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Look fox news where they will correct their selves when a mistake is made. News they report and you make the decision. I like to do my own thinking. msnbc tells you whet to think and dosen’t correct many errors.
July 13, 2009 at 4:20 am
I don’t watch or read the news very often. The only important information I need from the news is whether or not it’s going to rain tomorrow. I don’t need to be reminded that Michael Jackson’s family are sad right now. I don’t need the latest number of swine flu victims. I don’t need to know how dismal the economy is getting. I don’t need to know who’s fault it is that something bad happened. I just need to know whether to pack an umbrella tomorrow.