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Have you ever noticed that in some situations you can just gaze endlessly at something or into something? Usually it is also very therapeutic or calming, I find.

In my case, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone here, I can practically spend hours looking into flames. Even the single flame of a candle can become a focus point that holds my attention.
Sitting on a beach and watching the waves roll in is another such experience, as is watching the shifting reflections in a quiet pool. Trees swaying in the wind also have something of a hypnotic effect upon me.

So anyway, what can you look at endlessly?

Women. Optional clothing is distracting.

And then there is the wallpainting I made. I can stare at that for many halfs of hours. My, we talked about that didn't we, when I made it? Seems like an age ago. Probably the end of one too.

I do not need to look at anything specifically - but when I try to concentrate about difficult abstract problems, I just phase out and look into the void - well, people think I stare at them and ask me why I stare

Thankfully this only happens at work where everybody knows I'm strange

Ah, Zen and the Art of Naval Gazing!

Almost anything will do for me, I can spend hours watching a rock grow.

Meditation in Buddhism is a technique for developing one's mind to gain control over its functions, to focus its attention and strength, and to use it as a tool for gaining insight, which ultimately leads one to liberation from rebirth and suffering, Nibbana. While the practice of meditation does have many other useful or pleasant results, the chief aim of meditation in (in Zen etc) Buddhism is this liberation from rebirth and suffering.

@Tricky,
yes.. I do indeed recall that..

[QUOTE=Xandax]Thankfully this only happens at work where everybody knows I'm strange [/QUOTE]
You mean it's just at work where everyone knows you are strange?

@Galraen and Claudius,
lol! Hmm... oddly enough I wasn't even thinking about mediation when I started this thread, but obviously, I can see the train of thought. It's also interesting, because I've always been able to slip into a meditative state very easily, so much so that I need to be careful I don't go in too deep. (a bit hard to explain )

A bit further off topic, I've always been intrigued by the concept of isolation tanks .. just being suspended in a dark, tank of warm water. Course.. I could never do it because I'm claustrophobic, but the notion holds appeal nonetheless.

I share the flame thing. This became a problem in when I went to school to learn how to fix regrigerators and such though. I accidentally set the oil in the system on fire when I went to solder a connection and just sat there staring at the pretty flame. I was never allowed to use the torch unsupervised after that.

I also generally find mirrors to be especially arresting.

On a more serious note, I can sit on the river bank and watch the water go by for what seems like forever. Five minutes at the very least.:speech:

Bloodstalker wrote:I share the flame thing. This became a problem in when I went to school to learn how to fix regrigerators and such though. I accidentally set the oil in the system on fire when I went to solder a connection and just sat there staring at the pretty flame. I was never allowed to use the torch unsupervised after that.

I also generally find mirrors to be especially arresting.

On a more serious note, I can sit on the river bank and watch the water go by for what seems like forever. Five minutes at the very least.:speech:

lol!

It's probably fair to say that your finding mirrors "arresting" probably prevents you from being arrested

Almost everything works for me. I can sit there, staring to flames or even blank wall even hours if I'm not interrupted. I'm actually happy that I can do that as when I'm staring to somethin that way, my mind usually relaxes and I can get prepared to the task waiting for me. This has especially came handy as a basketball referee where I must "zero my mind" between games to be fully concentrated. Also, when staring to one spot I usually get more creative, and that's good when thinking of my hobby as bassist/singer of the band.

dragon wench wrote:Have you ever noticed that in some situations you can just gaze endlessly at something or into something? Usually it is also very therapeutic or calming, I find.

In my case, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone here, I can practically spend hours looking into flames. Even the single flame of a candle can become a focus point that holds my attention.
Sitting on a beach and watching the waves roll in is another such experience, as is watching the shifting reflections in a quiet pool. Trees swaying in the wind also have something of a hypnotic effect upon me.

So anyway, what can you look at endlessly?

Probably my favorite is a blend of sea and fire, maybe some trees nearby, with the addition of the moon (we had a fullmoon yesterday here btw) (I wrote foolmoon in the first place LOL). So it's summer-time and night-time and you are on the beach. U can gaze/stare at the flames of the fire you have lit (I also like the whole procedure from setting/starting/creating a fire, maintaining the fire, maybe playing with it or transforming it, and finally... killing it!). Or you can gaze at the moon, it was such a sight the last nights! It rised orange when the sun was setting, then it was bright most of the time, and on the beach i saw it disappearing red behind the islands on the horizon. Or u can stare at the sea, the darkness, the lights of the street, the reflections of the lights on the sea, the reflections of the fire you have lit on the beach and the rocks, on the empty bottles of beer, or the reflection of the candles you have lit (instead of a fire) on the eyes of your...? Or at the stars on a moonless night... There are many options... And since you mentioned a "quiet" pool, that has to do with sound, right? So, on the beach you can listen to the sound of the waves, which is very soothing... Of course, all of this gazing and hearing experience depends highly on whether you are alone or not, and if not, who (and how many) you are with... And what you are consuming... So there is great replayability! Did you picture yourself alone when you wrote this post?

Another thing i like gazing at is water-falls. The last thing i got tottally absorbed staring at though was the left eye of a cat, I coudn't look at it endlessly, however... It was only some secs i think. And i was alone with some cats