It seems that there are various levels or depths to the state of focused joy, which I sometimes experienced when I was programming intensely during high school. At those times, I felt an immense joy, healing, strength, and a radiant light. While this was a relatively high state for my mental state at the time, it was a lower level of the zone in an absolute sense.

This is because, during high school, the zone occurred unexpectedly only a few times a year. While I was working with concentration, there were times when my understanding would suddenly increase dramatically, and that was the zone.

Since then, the zone has been with me, but its depth has gradually deepened.

Initially, it appeared only a few times a year, then it became once a year, once a month, and then once a week, several times a week, and eventually, I could enter the zone simply by concentrating. Gradually, some aspects of the zone state became part of my daily life.

This can also be seen as a basic level being raised. Since the zone state is a state of concentration, concentrating raises the basic level slightly. On the other hand, there is an original level of being in a normal state, and as that level gradually increases, the level of consciousness that can be reached when entering the zone through concentration is also raised.

There are people who criticize these zones, saying things like, "If you're not peaceful in your normal state, it's useless," or making statements that sound knowledgeable. However, in reality, as you repeat the zone, the basic level gradually improves, and the peace of mind in the normal state gradually deepens.

Therefore, the opinions of those who criticize the zone are not very essential and are simply noise intended to provoke others. There is no need to worry about them. Just repeating the zone will gradually lead you to a peaceful state of mind. Moreover, people who lack the concentration necessary to enter the zone may make such statements based on their imagination. Therefore, stories about the zone should be listened to by those who can enter the zone, and the opinions of those who do not know the zone are not very helpful.

And, as you repeat these zones, the boundary between the zone and the normal state gradually diminishes, which is true. When you are in a state similar to the zone on a regular basis, even when you concentrate on working, it feels similar to the normal state, and you can also be in the zone to some extent constantly.

Even so, it is possible to break through the equilibrium state of the "normal" zone.

Even the seemingly limited, peaceful, and quiet zone of normal consciousness can be surpassed, and the zone can deepen beyond its limits.

This can be called the mystery of the zone.

Initially, it was simply a zone of focused consciousness. And as it settles, the zone stabilizes, allowing one to live a peaceful life. This corresponds to the "emotional" level (which is the astral level in spiritual terms), where emotions become stable.

Furthermore, as those emotions subside, one enters the realm of reason. Even here, there is a zone, and understanding deepens. And in this case as well, there are stages of deepening and normalization of the zone: increased understanding during concentration, and then stability and understanding in a normal state.

This is not the end, as there is also a zone at the spiritual level, the mysterious level. Here, by concentrating, one can enter the zone and enter a state that can be called "oneness" or "the present moment." While becoming one with the object is the same as in the previous stages, at the mysterious level, the "boundary" with that object further diminishes.

I am currently at this level, but perhaps it is not true oneness, but a limited oneness, constrained by space, time, or something else. In that concentrated state, the details of the object are understood. However, the scope of what is understood is limited to areas in which I am relatively skilled. True oneness would likely involve understanding a much wider range of things, but for now, it is still limited.

I think it is good to consider this in terms of two axes:
- Normal state
- Concentrated state (zone)

The zone is both an entrance and, in a way, it always exists as a place to strive for something just beyond one's current normal state.