Your moment of Zen

MauiRob said:
JurassicNarc,

A good friend of mine told me about his teacher who used to fire 3 arrows at the target--rather he loosed 3 before the 1st one hit. And he said the the 2nd split 1st and the 3rd the 2nd! If the source wasn't the most honest person I've ever met I wouldn't have believed it. But I hear you say nearly the same thing, and in between his story and yours I've heard it again. Amazing.

have you ever thought about taking Kyudo? Traditional japanese archery. A blending of Zen and archery IIRC.
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I never rush my shots, as your friend's teacher apparently does...perhaps he works for speed to emulate the English archers of old who, for military purposes, wanted several clouds of arrows in the air, raining death and destruction on the enemy. I shot only against myself most of the time, except for the occasional league night.....mostly for relaxation, satisfaction for shooting well, and for a good upper body workout (I'm an old diabetic).

Upon release of the previous arrow, my drill went something like this...Release, exhale for four beats and then lower bow; as I inhale for four beats the next arrow is slithering out of the quiver without conscious thought (it just seems to appear across the bow), two beats between breaths, exhale four beats while nocking and placing the fingers of the right hand on the string, two beats motionless as my eyes bore a hole where the arrow will appear, inhale four beats as I come to full draw, release half a breath and then work the shot, releasing and exhaling four beats before lowering bow, repeat...

As for kuydo, the japanese are a small people and their assymetrical bows are not set up for extra long draw. As has been kidded about else where on this forum, I really am a Neanderthal with an unusually long draw. Where the national average is 28" or 29", I truly draw 35" to the corner of my mouth (not to rear of jaw), and the diameter of my 2514 shafts would allow you to drop one of your arrows down my shaft, feathers and all. My friends joke about my shooting telephone poles.
 
I never rush my shots, as your friend's teacher apparently does..
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I don't think he rushed them normally (or anything else in life from what i've heard about him). He was a native american elder who had been raised in the old ways and taught to shoot that way was well. He and others like him used to hunt birds with their bows, and shot for (and hit) their heads. This story was told to me in order to demonstrate what is possible if we don't let our heads get in the way of what our bodies/spirits are capable of...of course it might take a bit of practice too;)

I am very lucky to know the man who became his pupil. The elder I speak of was once visited by a christian priest who had made alot of negative assumptions about him. The priest came to his home and shouted cruel and terrible insults at him for a half an hour. Through which the elder smiled at him with a look of compassion and love. After the priest had vented his anger the elder asked him a few simple questions about his faith and what he had just said, and about what love means. the preist broke down and sobbed. That priest later became a student and a great friend for life. This is the teacher of my teacher. And I'm so very grateful to receive even just a little of the wisdom he left behind.

Edited to add: the above story is not intended to be critical of christians, priests or anyone else. The priest just happened to be a priest in this instance.
 
As for kuydo, the japanese are a small people and their assymetrical bows are not set up for extra long draw. As has been kidded about else where on this forum, I really am a Neanderthal with an unusually long draw. Where the national average is 28" or 29", I truly draw 35" to the corner of my mouth (not to rear of jaw), and the diameter of my 2514 shafts would allow you to drop one of your arrows down my shaft, feathers and all. My friends joke about my shooting telephone poles.
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There is alot more to Kyudo than the bows and arrows they use. I know a man who teaches Kyudo and the way he speaks of it and the way you speak of archery sound quite similar--making use of the breath, and things seeming to happen of their own volition.

YMMV:)
 
MauiRob said:
There is alot more to Kyudo than the bows and arrows they use. I know a man who teaches Kyudo and the way he speaks of it and the way you speak of archery sound quite similar--making use of the breath, and things seeming to happen of their own volition.

YMMV:)
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Great story about the priest and the elder.....Projecting love and non-judgemental acceptance is exactly how I conduct my classroom...even to the kids dabbling in dope. I don't have to reach them all; if even a few experience increased self worth, then I go home tired and happy..........
 
Great story about the priest and the elder.....Projecting love and non-judgemental acceptance is exactly how I conduct my classroom...even to the kids dabbling in dope. I don't have to reach them all; if even a few experience increased self worth, then I go home tired and happy..........
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Thanks JN.

That's great to hear--I'm sure you are reaching quite a number of them too. If not right away, then down the road. Glimpses of peace or of someone living from the heart stick with people, and tend to demand attention at some point down the road.
 
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