Bliss of Blank Walls
I purchased a ticket just as the train rolled in, leaving me just barely enough time to jump on to head into work.
As usual it was busy so I moved my way into the middle of the carriage to stand somewhere comfortable for the next half an hour.
The train I was on was an older one so the usual advertisement segments on the walls were blank.
Looking at these empty spaces I noticed how quite my mind was.
Without the constant stimulus provided by advertising and people rushing everywhere it had naturally quietened down.
It was really nice just standing there looking at this dull grayed out wall, occasional glancing out the window at the fresh green grass.
Nature is wonderful but sometimes all you need is a blank wall. Be sure to take a few minutes to look at one next time you get the chance. 
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January 18th, 2009 at 3:17 am
This reminds me of a yoga DVD that I was doing yesterday. In some of the more difficult poses, the instructor would say to focus your eyes on one spot and that will soothe your nervous system. I think that’s pretty similar to your “blank wall” philosophy.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:30 am
I should call it ‘train yoga’… maybe not
January 19th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I was used to do “nothing” while on train to and from work. Last week I tried listening to an interview while on the way. I watched my feelings and I could notice that it was more stressy – for example only the fact that if a police car is passing by (with sound) and you don’t hear the voice during that time this is already an annoyance.
The blank wall without advertising is removing another input (advertising). In times of information overflow people get sick and overwhelmed of information. A blank wall is like medicine then.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
i’ll try that
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Thanks for this post. I’ve found that turning off the car radio has the same kind of “blank wall” effect for me. (I also realize how little value what I heard on the car radio had for me — it’s nothing more than an electronic companion.)
January 25th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
lol, my first thought was that spiritual growth makes us be easily amused.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
@Martin: Nice comment. I try to multi-task as little as possible. The challenge is to not involuntarily multi-task by having your attention ripped away by things.
@Chris: Yeah so many we do just because we think we should be making more use of our time or because we think it will be entertaining.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
@Ariel: Totally agree. I spent an 8 hour car trip as a passenger today in wonder. ‘Oh that’s an interesting shape, the road sounds different hear, etc. etc.’. All without words offcourse.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Hmm, so that’s what you did. I was wondering what you were doing while I was sitting next to you listening to music, whereas they had nothing on in the car. Often thought of offering the other earpiece to you, but was sure that you would deny it.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
@Anna: Yeah. It comes back to feeling rather than thinking. If I was thinking about what I was seeing than I would have probably got bored but by just ’seeing’ the experience becomes very lively and interesting.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Hi Jarrod,
I found you from Amanda’s post. Nice reflection here. It’s true that too many things bombard our senses all the time and sometimes removing all stimuli can quieten our minds. I’ve been thinking about decorating my study wall but now I think maybe I’ll leave it blank!
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 am
@Daphne: Haha nice.
I find it intriguing that sometimes seeing everything is awesome and other times seeing nothing is just as brilliant.