Friday, July 27, 2007
A little happening just now:
In my room, I set the laptop on the bed so that I could write this very entry, or at least something in the blog tonight and alongside it, my new calculator, an HP-50g, that my company graciously provided me. Faced then with the choice of writing or playing around with my new toy, what did I do? I sat in zazen for almost 30 minutes. I was aware of the choice as it happened and wasn't sure if I had ever chosen, in a moment such as that, my spiritual practice over my toys or other interests.
It felt good. It felt right. I'm quietly happy about it.
Now, back to toys for a second. . .
The 50g is the latest in a long line of HP's I've owned over an almost 30 year span. Have I used them for all they'll do? Nah. Not even close, not even when I was in engineering school. But I've always been fascinated by the design and by them as a tool. So, earlier tonight, as I browsed for the reference guide online, I saw that HP has now introduced the 35s, a retro-style scientific that has BIG ENTER key back, something lost on recent models, something that HP geeks like me miss. So after getting this brand new widget, I find that I'm now lusting over yet another.
Now, there's something to meditate on!
Just that sort of thing can be an obsession and has been many times for me in the past and tonight I sit here sort of chuckling at myself: Sure, at some point, I may drop the $60 and pick one up or have my company buy it. But maybe not. I'd use it, as I do the others that I still own—a 41c, 41cv, 33s, 28s, 48g, 11c, 12c. It's a harmless sort of hobby: They're quiet and don't disturb the people around me. I can balance the heck out of a checkbook with them. They don't cost much in the adult scheme of things. The real thing is, though, I don't feel driven about them—or anything else for that matter—at all. That's where the difference is in life right now.
Freedom.
In my room, I set the laptop on the bed so that I could write this very entry, or at least something in the blog tonight and alongside it, my new calculator, an HP-50g, that my company graciously provided me. Faced then with the choice of writing or playing around with my new toy, what did I do? I sat in zazen for almost 30 minutes. I was aware of the choice as it happened and wasn't sure if I had ever chosen, in a moment such as that, my spiritual practice over my toys or other interests.
It felt good. It felt right. I'm quietly happy about it.
Now, back to toys for a second. . .
The 50g is the latest in a long line of HP's I've owned over an almost 30 year span. Have I used them for all they'll do? Nah. Not even close, not even when I was in engineering school. But I've always been fascinated by the design and by them as a tool. So, earlier tonight, as I browsed for the reference guide online, I saw that HP has now introduced the 35s, a retro-style scientific that has BIG ENTER key back, something lost on recent models, something that HP geeks like me miss. So after getting this brand new widget, I find that I'm now lusting over yet another.
Now, there's something to meditate on!
Just that sort of thing can be an obsession and has been many times for me in the past and tonight I sit here sort of chuckling at myself: Sure, at some point, I may drop the $60 and pick one up or have my company buy it. But maybe not. I'd use it, as I do the others that I still own—a 41c, 41cv, 33s, 28s, 48g, 11c, 12c. It's a harmless sort of hobby: They're quiet and don't disturb the people around me. I can balance the heck out of a checkbook with them. They don't cost much in the adult scheme of things. The real thing is, though, I don't feel driven about them—or anything else for that matter—at all. That's where the difference is in life right now.
Freedom.
# posted by goldpython @ 11:38 PM 
