The Zen philosophy of Basho described how one can focus on the simplicity and imperfections of life to seperate from the burden of oneself. Basho believed to do so we will find inner peace and a strong connection with the world. He looked to nature and his travels for unity and balance. Funny, because when I travel and look at nature, I do not find harmony. I still feel the pressures of everday and I still am myself. I escape the world through my phone or in the comfort of my own home. What makes me feel at peace and seperated from myself in society is video-games.

Trapped in room,

escaping through closed doors

I am home

When I’m commuting I can observe the people around me, the buildings, trees and every cloud I pass. As I do these things however, I am thinking of what school is going to be like today? What I should eat? Who should I talk to? Did I wear the right clothes for the weather? All these things I am concerned about and my mind is not at rest. But at that same moment, I can pull put my phone and those thoughts are gone. I am not concerned about myself or anyone else. I am figuratively in a different world. The people had changed, the laws had changed and I had changed.

A dirty window,

text message read on phone

start of journey

I don’t know how I am at Zen when my mind is still rigorously thinking and my body is not even close to meditating. Or maybe I am meditating but I just never saw playing video games that way. Well make it so, that from now on playing video games is not a waste of time. It is a crucial time of meditation and discovering Zen.

The sun shines

through the glass of a bedroom,

a child plays