OT: Zen in many places

Art of a comlpex nature, like interlace patterns (often attributed to the Celts, but practiced in many cultures) or tesselations. Sure, there is a brain-using planning stage, but the execution is done without conscious thought being directed to make it happen. I bet all of us who do something we are really good at and don't hafta think about while we're doing it have had our Zen-like mmoments.

When I play bass with a band, it is another good zen time. I don't hafta think abt it anymore, I just do it, listening to what we're making more as an outside observer than a technical participant in the making. When we're all really zenning out is when our improvisational pieces go the best. It is like all five of us making the music are one dude with 10 arms and 10 legs, like some Hindu God of Perception. All of us on the same wavelength for the duration of a song.

Keith
 
As long as there is a shooter and a target you arent "there"

When there is no shooter and no target even though they are present you are "there"

But as soon as you realize that you are "there" you aren't because then there is a " There" and "not there"

How's that for a koan? ;)

Such is the nature of enlightenment in the relative world. Fleeting.
 
cliff355 said:
Also, I handle the firing line on a public range occasionally and have seen more than a few folks who do not post targets. They are there for the noise.
Click to expand...

(!)

Would people pay to use jackhammers? Could reduce the real-estate requirements. Maybe you could make even more money by renting the people and jackhammers out for dayjobs.
 
Munk,
you are right, without the target you have no zen. Zen isnt something you have. It is nothingness. It is the empty part of a cup. It is the act of allowing the creative, intuitive part of ourselves take over and give our will, our intentions a rest.

Sensei often says that martial arts are like jazz music.
 
Bill Martino said:
If you watch closely you'll see Zen practiced right here.

Ever read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"?

Very good read.
Click to expand...


I read it in the late 70's, and learned a lot. On a more earthly level, I always wanted to cross the country on a BMW road bike after that! :D

Regards,

Norm
 
Read another book by a German fellow and dammit can't recall his name or the title of the book but it was his account of spending a year in Japan studying Zen archery and was another very good read. Anyway, it convinced me that I was not cut out for that discipline.
 
Bill Martino said:
Read another book by a German fellow and dammit can't recall his name or the title of the book but it was his account of spending a year in Japan studying Zen archery and was another very good read. Anyway, it convinced me that I was not cut out for that discipline.
Click to expand...

Uncle Bill, I'm guessing that it was one of these two, (probably the first) both originally written in German:


1) Eugen Herrigel, "Zen In The Art Of Archery", first published 1953. OR

2) Feliks Hoff, "Kyudo: The Way Of The Bow", first published 2002.


FYI, I subscribe to several net book search services, so even if you just have a subject or a few details let me know and I can probably find it for you!

Regards,

Norm
 
Herrigel's kyudo book is one of the earlier accounts by a westerner.
You mustnt be discouraged Uncle, if I can do kyudo , you can do kyudo.

Kyudo (japanese archery) is an excellent way to feel a zen experience.
It is probably the fastest way for a beginner to get there.
It is a strange kind of time travel. To the observer kyudo looks slow and artistic, almost boring.
To the practitioner it sems to go so fast you dont have time to do everything you know you are supposed to do.

I remember doing a kyudo demonstration at the japanese botanical gardens a few years back with the Texas Kyudo Renmei.
I had a lot of people who wanted to examine my bow and arrows and glove.

You might find it interesting to hear about what they had to say:

a. "How much was the bow? I am working on a japanese archer character for my role playing game and all I need is the bow and arrows."

b. "I was thinking about doing kyudo cause I like to play with energy."

c. "Why do you do it so slowly?"

d. "How do you aim it?"

e. "My compound bow will throw an arrow ten times faster and a hundred times more accurately than that. Whats the point?"

I dont judge these questions. I myself might have asked any of them. Once you have tried it and submitted yourself to the flow of zen around you, you will understand. The funny thing is, whenever I try to explain it, I keep thinking of things Yoda said.

Yoda was right about a lot of stuff.

hasho.gif
 
I guess they both rely on much practice and improvisation without conscious thought.

Keith
----------------------------------------------
"I'm only here to give Ferrous problems." --munk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top