my interjection is

i believe that it is the beauty that is seen. monks meditate and become in tune with themselves and thus everything around them with their strict disciplines. thus they see through eyes of themselves and see beauty that we all miss. isn't that a form of being connected with the universe. every time i have seen a little "secret" moment that feels like everyone else passes, be it the wind blowing the leaves or the blueness of the sky i feel connected. maybe the astronauts feel that feeling because they feel like they are seeing a secret that is between them and the cosmos that gives them a new perspective on life and therefore when they get back they appreciate life a whole lot more. i think in the moments that we feel connected it's because we allow ourselves to and don't let society or the "norm" influence our decisions. we feel complete in ourselves and in our place in existence. i envy the monks for their strict discipline and feeling of always being in touch with the universe. i wish i had their eyesight but alas i'm happy with my own.
:P life is good you just have too look around and see it. that is the challenge of living. in all moments we are connected and in all moments we are balancing on another. no man is an island, and no group is completely individual. but every individual makes up the universe and every decision is paramount to the universe. it all adds up in the end.
and that is my rant for the moment lol