I think certain levels of entertainment is healthy but of course
one must be mindful (i.e aware, as I mentioned earlier) that it has
not gone to the level that it presents itself as a problem... (i.e
addiction) Like mentioned previously mindful awareness is important
without which we will easily go along with unconscious habitual
momentum.. with mindfulness, the mind movement (for example, I need
to play computer game now!) subsides as it is being seen as it is..
rather than being followed, one thought leading to the next, and
then resulting in the actions (karmic effect) the thought
desires.
Anyway addictive and stimulating activities which simply serves as
a distraction from our ordinary stress are poor substitute for true
mental equanimity and joy.. if one can develope these qualities
through meditative practise, which is not only limited to sitting
but also standing, walking, etc, then one will not be stressed in
the first place.. or have the need to find some new excitedment...
there will be contentment even if he is doing a very boring job,
for example. If one is very stressed, one does not necessarily need
to indulge in addictive activities... one can just relax in
listening to light music, Buddhist music, or practise meditation.
Meditation is very helpful in developing those positive mental
qualities such as those I mentioned... and also developing insights
into the nature of reality. Fundamentally speaking all these
discontentment, stress, aversion as well as desire/addiction is due
to the illusion of a separate dualistic self... which Buddhists
call the fundamental ignorance.
...Every addiction arises from an unconscious refusal to face
and move through your own pain. Every addiction starts with pain
and ends with pain. Whatever the substance you are addicted to -
alcohol, food, legal or illegal drugs, or a person - you are using
something or somebody to cover up your pain. That is why, after the
initial euphoria has passed, there is so much unhappiness, so much
pain in intimate relationships. They do not cause pain and
unhappiness. They bring out the pain and unhappiness that is
already in you. Every addiction does that. Every addiction reaches
a point where it does not work for you anymore, and then you feel
the pain more intensely than ever.
This is one reason why most people are always trying to escape from
the present moment and are seeking some kind of salvation in the
future. The first thing that they might encounter if they focused
their attention on the Now is their own pain, and this is what they
fear. If they only knew how easy it is to access in the Now the
power of presence that dissolves the past and its pain, the reality
that dissolves the illusion. If they only knew how close they are
to their own reality, how close to God...
~ Eckhart Tolle
