Hype!

Further, Zen absolutely does not demand that you always *engage* with literally everything at all times. At zen retreats, we put anything written away from sight and do not speak. Does that too seem like hiding mind and reality to you? Not to mention that zen tends to abstinence and monasticism.

While you aren't wrong, in the context of technology "Zen mode" just basically means "peaceful mode". It's common in certain video games. Maybe some discussion could be had about cultural appropriation but it's actually not ultimately incorrect use of the word either. You can go towards Zen.

Oh you meant in that sense. I never thought of it like that though that might be because my teachers generally discouraged that kind of thinking it as that could easily become a distraction. I move between wanting to escape to being almost dissolved.

I don't know about stages, the system I follow doesn't really have the. I do various meditations but most commonly a basic form of following the breath down on inhale, note the brief pause and up on exhale, note the pause. Similar to you but emphasis on the transition between inhale and exhale.

I know some stuff and I've meditated a lot 😅

The underlying association is your story about yourself (which is just an array of thoughts). Depending on how firmly you believe in it, the more motivated the mind is in trying to make everything that arises "make sense". Good you're noticing the coming and going - worth focusing on.

Bummer because I'm fascinated by Miyazaki's worlds but the fights just aren't worth it. And I really don't like the mob reset at the grace/camp. Finding my fairly strong reactions to this interesting though. Especially because I'm fine with Monster Hunter (but it does have more randomness).

Like I get no pleasure from beating a boss (solo). It just means I memorized a pattern. And the longer I have to spend time memorizing a pattern, the less interesting the boss fight becomes. I totally get why some people find it satisfying but for me it's just... sterile/clinical/dull. 2/3

No matter what happens, you can always trust your mind to find some way of connecting them. Pattern recognition does that. And AI bots are just more of that. Why do you meditate?

No reason. Your brain generates thoughts, that's what it does. It does random thoughts quite a lot, you just don't necessarily notice it outside meditation.

(I'll grant you some of the pages could do with a little bit more consideration legibility but the vibe is on point :P)