Clearing the mind while driving

[ethic]

I have heard lot of people about you can practice clearing your mind while driving, i've been trying too, but after some time i begin to feel drowsy, hence i think it's not after all a pretty good idea to do that, i mean i don't know why do i feel drowsy (i have slept well)? am i entering to slight trance or something?, because it happens only in the car while i am just driving, but i have also tried to clear mind while walking and that doesn't happen (probably because i'm moving). any idea? thanks.

[Stookie]

That's a good subject.

I think a good example of it is Zen buddhism. Any physical task can be completed with a clear, yet focused mind. You don't want to enter a trance - like you said, that will make you sleepy or too relaxed. But you can still get into a state of "zen" or passive awareness without entering a trance. It's good for just about any task.

Driving requires very little physical movement, so it's easy to slip into a trance. But something walking keeps your body active which helps with the body/brain/mind connection. (Henry David Thoreau's short book "Walking" is a great example of this).

I bet good racecar drivers enter a state of zen.

[James S]

Yes, a full trance could have some rather... unwanted results while driving. 

One very easy method is taking deep slow breaths and count them as you exhale.
Count however you want - from 10 back to 1 then back up to 10 again, or whatever works for you. This keeps the mind chatter down - you're focussed on both the counting and the breathing without being distracted from what's going on around you, and the deep breaths help keep you clear, energised and alert.