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[Diana]

Is there a metaphysical prerequisite to have access to the eternal present ? Is the eternal present the same to some extent as being in "the zone" ? When one is total in what they're doing they'll in the zone, whatever they are doing, doing art, gardening, meditating, doing nothing, playing, talking, driving, even making money... It seems that those people who are expert in their field whatever the field are gifted at being in the zone. But does being in the zone mean once is in touch with the more authentic aspect of self ?

Yes. I can attest to this and I have often recommended hobbies or being in nature for this very reason.

Often one is asleep while awake, thinking, acting, having emotions... Asleep because the deeper part of the self is not here, not noticing and being present. Thinking, feelings and acting happen and are saying " i think", "i" do this", but where is the real "I" ? One feature of sleeping while awake is that the elements of thinking, feeling and acting have taken all the awareness of the person, very easy to loose balance then. With somebody who is more awake, thinking, acting and feeling are only extensions of the more real self.

There is nothing wrong with thinking (as long as it's balanced with being present and not thinking). The problem is when you are not thinking your own thoughts. Exactly the reason I recommend staying away from the anesthetizing media. Becoming, and realizing the potential of, one's authentic self is a major, if not the only task, of life.