I just saw this video, and it blew my mind. Between the music and the gorgeous scene, my breath was taken away.

The footage is take at the Kuroshio Sea (the 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world). It is SO big, it can hold 4 Whale Sharks.

Definitely watch it full screen.

NatGeo offers a rare glimpse inside the secret archives and private chapels of the Vatican. Pretty cool.

Tina Su of ThinkSimpleNow just announced that she will be taking a trip to India to attend a mediation and spiritual retreat.

She goes into some detail about what each day’s program will be like.

Sounds like fun!

Do you have a favorite thinking spot? A place where, once you’re there, you take a deep breath and relax. A place where all the static that hums through your head begins to quiet down. Where time seems to slow a little, and you can sit quietly and just… think.

Some of you know what I’m talking about and have such a place, others might still be looking for it.

For me personally, even though I’ve had the great fortune of visiting beautiful places around the world, I still find it challenging to do my best thinking anywhere other than my favorite spot.

Either a place is ‘too” beautiful that it distracts me, or it’s too dull to really inspire.

For me it’s a summer afternoon sitting on a bench by the Hudson River. Despite the people around, I can lose myself in the tranquil and hypnotic flow of the river. Watching the water ripple with the reflection of the sun and clouds. It’s pretty spectacular.

It’s my place, my temple, where I can sit in bewilderment at the wonder of existence.

I feel we each need a place like this. Where we can sit without any of the worry and noise of our lives, and just… be.

It’s not easy to give a checklist for finding the perfect spot. It can be different for each of us. But if you haven’t found yours, here are some ideas for finding your perfect spot:

1. Can You Get To It? – I know that beach in Maui might seem like the only spot, but if you have to spend more than 2 hours getting to it, it’s not likely you’ll be visiting often enough. You favorite spot has to be readily accessible, just in case you’re feeling spontaneous.

2. Can You Lose Yourself? – By this, I mean is it mesmerizing enough where you can think, but not get too distracted by the scenery.

3. Does it Have a Natural “White Noise?” – People walking past you is usually not bad, their sounds pretty much just blend together. But if there’s music, chances are it will distract you from your thoughts, so make sure it’s a place where you’re not likely to hear someone blaring Rhianna.

If you have a favorite spot, I’d love to hear about it.

An interesting article by Jennifer Blair discusses something similar, but in the context of travel, and how certain places people visit can cause an immediate spiritual connection.