Thread: Mindfulness - An Alternative Approach to ADA

Originally Posted by FryingMan

Any other favorite puzzles or logic/memory/visualization games that people find good for a brain workout? I don't play shooting or fantasy games or anything like that as I consider them a waste of life and time. Come to think of it they're pretty contradictory to the goal of being present in the here and now as well.

Hehe, I actually do play video games. I find that after a meditation session, once you have reached a very mindful state that reaction times, decisions, clarity etc... are all at amazingly high levels. You also don't feel "attachment" to the game or to what is happening within the game, you actually have a much more enjoyable experience playing, it's somewhat difficult to describe. I suppose in the Buddhist sense they are a waste of time, on the other hand if you play a fast paced shoot'em'up after a meditation session you can 1) experience a very clear and very "practical" showcasing of just how important and even powerful the mindful state can be and 2) the game does try to really draw you in which is why it's a great workout for resisting that temptation and staying mindful.

There's plenty of warning not to get caught up in how "useful" mindfulness can be, since that can degrade your mindfulness; I feel that has more to do with not getting attached to the feeling, like you would be to being "high", regardless I don't think there is a problem with appreciating how amazing it is and seeing its usefulness for life and skill development.

You might like the Myst series, very good for problem solving abilities and imagination in general.