Thread: Videogames and buddhism

Two words: Guitar Hero.

Great game for this sort of mentality, in my humble opinion.

Honestly though; in many ways I try to do every day things the way I play video games and thats the reason why. Playing video games teaches you (some aspects of) zen. This is evident in the blank stare someone develops when they are immersed in a game. Its not the apathetic daze that some see, its the detached mind, free from emotion, purely experiencing and reacting.

Playing video games teaches you (some aspects of) zen. This is evident in the blank stare someone develops when they are immersed in a game. Its not the apathetic daze that some see, its the detached mind, free from emotion, purely experiencing and reacting.

Another reason to try and convince my parents video games are not a complete waste of time.

I've never really thought of it like that. But video games, I can't say they've really helped me much, or maybe they have. It's a great analogy - "the zone" - I've always wondered what that really like, and now I know. I remember when I was younger, like 7 years ago, playing an online game and my brother was next to me yelling my name - and literally 10 minutes went by before I 'remembered' that he wanted to talk to me.

Right xaqaria, the first step is getting good at knowing what this state of mind is and how to get there, the second is applying this state of mind to daily activities.

This state of mind has been researched and analyzed multiple times in the history of psychology.

There was Abraham Maslow who called it "peak experience". You can read about it in his books, especially "The Farther Reaches Of Human Nature", and in connection with religious experiences in "Religion, Values and Peak Experiences".

Then there was Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who coined the term "flow" (Optimal Experience) and did scientific research on this with test subjects from all over the globe. The most all-around book by him on this subject would be "Flow - The Psychology of Optimal Experience".

In positive psychology, you might be interested in the works of M.E. Seligman.

In transpersonal and spiritual psychology, you might be interested in works of authors such as Ken Wilber.

Generally, the "flow" state of mind shouldn't be mixed up with (1) trance or (2) enlightment.

In video games, car driving and other such tasks, you usually enter trance. Also when you watch TV or a movie and you get absorbed, that is trance and not flow. Flow requires activity.

In sports, work, sex, meditation you can enter flow.

Enlightment is a totally different subject...

For more information on trance, which is not flow, but rather a state of intense concentration, awareness (and sometimes relaxation) with reduced self-consciousness, read up about hypnosis. Trance can make you feel good, while flow can make you feel great and totally fulfilled.

Reccommended reading (free): http://www.life2point0.com/2006/06/the_little_book.html

Personally I find that lucid dreams can have flow qualities.

I would say that playing video games is a "peak experience" and not a trance.

I know this is old..but very good thread Original Poster.

Most of the time I achieve this state of "peak experience" or "flow" is when making music/beats. I've also gotten it with video games and intense exercise. With exercise it feels like your literally high.."in the zone", and those feel good endorphins kick in. Feels like your literally approaching another dimension. In those moments you completely immersed into the present moment ( no past..no future ) there's just no sense of time.

With video games it seems like your totally immersed into the game world, like your literally "in the game". The times I experienced "flow" in making music usually comes from when I create something I thought was completely beyond my limitations and the creative process just flows effortlessly and beautifully.




I believe being in this state of "flow" and "in the zone" as a permanent state is the next step in human evolution.


I believe mindfulness and present moment immersion is the key. Using our mind to channel this cosmic consciousness energy from deep within us into the physical world....It literally doesn't get any better than this


Human beings are capable of so much ...my post just doesn't do it justice.

I'm not sure if it's quite the same thing.... Buddhism teaches you to be present in reality. If you're focusing on a video game you are being drawn into a fantasy world, which my teachers have always advised me to avoid. I do love video games though. I would say the Buddhist way to play a video game is to focus on yourself playing the video game. Or to not play it at all.

Mind you, mine is a purely Zen perspective. I don't know how other schools of Buddhism would look at it.