A usual Saturday morning in December. Outside is cold and gray. Although it's mid-December, we haven't had much snow yet. Life goes from weekday chores to weekend chores and back again. Work and family take big chunk of my time. I hardly have any time on weekdays. I haven't had a chance to keep up with my blog in while. I hope to start writing regularly again. Days seem to pass so fast, after a while it feels as if I didn't live at all. I have vivid memories from my childhood. If I close my eyes, I could see those events as if I am watching a movie. But now I have difficulty recalling even what happened last week. We live in the age of disconnection. We are disconnected with life. It is quite strange. We are getting more and more connected electronically everyday but disconnecting with the life itself. Some time back, I was listening to Canadian radio and the host talked about what he observed while he was walking on a street. He saw that there were men walking and talking, but they were not talking to each other. They all were talking on their cell phones.
Yesterday's Bokken class was challenging. It is always challenging physically - because the master always comes up with a new workout. Yesterday we practiced Bokken techniques most of the time. Generally we do hand techniques and then Bokken techniques. But yesterday was last class of the year, so it was focused on Bokken techniques. After coming home, my right hand was feeling so heavy, as if I had done several sets of bicep curls. But it was good feeling. At the end of the class, we meditate. We sit in seiza - Japanese sitting posture and master calls - 'Mokuso'. We sit with eyes half closed, gaze focused on nose tip, breathing deep. While we sit, master sometimes walks among us with lit incense stick. It creates very soothing and serene experience.
It's night now. Day has gone in usual frenzy and now I have some time to sit by my self. Wife is watching a movie on netflix, kids playing in their rooms and here I am typing my thoughts. After all we had some snow today. Day went by in dropping and picking older son for his ACT class, a trip to K-mart for wife's shopping and then dinner at a Thai restaurant and some chores laundry and house cleaning. I didn't have chance to workout or do bokken practice today. Earlier, I used to be agitated if I didn't workout as planned. But now I have trained myself not to be affected if I am not able to workout as planned. It's one step towards unfettered mind. It may sound weird because most people would want to discipline themselves to workout every day, but I had to discipline myself not to be agitated if I did not workout one day. Good habits are better than bad habits, but one should not become slave of good habits either. A man should act out of pure awareness and not compelled by habits. And that's my journey towards unfettered mind, where mind is not muddied by unnecessary thoughts and pure awareness shines through ...
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Bokken practice is same as running ...
Yes, Bokken practice is same as running in terms of breathing patterns. I discovered that while my yesterday's work out. As the master was telling bokken practice is same as running is same as sitting down in meditation in Friday's class.
I was running on treadmill with an elevation level. I started following same breathing pattern as I did in the Friday's class while doing bokken practice. And what a surprise, running became as easy as that at no elevation level.
I had read something in connection with this in the book "Zen and the art of Archery" by Eugen Herrigel. Eugen Herrigel went to Japan to learn about Zen and picked up archery as the sport to learn the application of Zen. In his initial attempts, he mentions about how difficult it was to even stretch the string and put the arrow on the bow the way it is expected in the Zen art of archery. Within few shots, Herrigel would feel exhausted. His master explains to him that Herrigel has to develop the right breathing pattern. I couldn't make sense of it then but after this experience of mine, I can tell that it is 100% true.
So the master was telling ... Bokken practice is same as running is same as sitting down and meditating. Another aspect is that all should be instinctive and intuitive rather than driven out of intellect. We have learned to do everything through the intellect and it has suppressed our instinctive and intuitive behavior. Yes, it is true that we have to learn everything through the intellect, but then we have to do it so many times over and over again that it is removed from intellect or mind and becomes instinctive and intuitive. Mind you it is not mechanical or habitual. There should be an awareness behind it. The behavior has to come out only when needed and not otherwise. That's what no mind is. No conscious thought. A mind trying to become empty mind is not an empty mind because there is a thought of making mind empty.
To conclude this post, there is a Zen story. A man practiced archery for 20 years. He became master archer with 100% perfect aim. His master called him and said now give up the archery. Forget everything about it. The man followed it literally. Another twenty years passed.He forgot everything about archery even the word 'bow'. The master called on him again. Pleased with students progress, the master said, "When you go out, there will be birds in the sky. If you drop them in your mind, the birds will drop." The man went out. There were birds in the sky. He dropped them from his mind and the birds dropped ...
I was running on treadmill with an elevation level. I started following same breathing pattern as I did in the Friday's class while doing bokken practice. And what a surprise, running became as easy as that at no elevation level.
I had read something in connection with this in the book "Zen and the art of Archery" by Eugen Herrigel. Eugen Herrigel went to Japan to learn about Zen and picked up archery as the sport to learn the application of Zen. In his initial attempts, he mentions about how difficult it was to even stretch the string and put the arrow on the bow the way it is expected in the Zen art of archery. Within few shots, Herrigel would feel exhausted. His master explains to him that Herrigel has to develop the right breathing pattern. I couldn't make sense of it then but after this experience of mine, I can tell that it is 100% true.
So the master was telling ... Bokken practice is same as running is same as sitting down and meditating. Another aspect is that all should be instinctive and intuitive rather than driven out of intellect. We have learned to do everything through the intellect and it has suppressed our instinctive and intuitive behavior. Yes, it is true that we have to learn everything through the intellect, but then we have to do it so many times over and over again that it is removed from intellect or mind and becomes instinctive and intuitive. Mind you it is not mechanical or habitual. There should be an awareness behind it. The behavior has to come out only when needed and not otherwise. That's what no mind is. No conscious thought. A mind trying to become empty mind is not an empty mind because there is a thought of making mind empty.
To conclude this post, there is a Zen story. A man practiced archery for 20 years. He became master archer with 100% perfect aim. His master called him and said now give up the archery. Forget everything about it. The man followed it literally. Another twenty years passed.He forgot everything about archery even the word 'bow'. The master called on him again. Pleased with students progress, the master said, "When you go out, there will be birds in the sky. If you drop them in your mind, the birds will drop." The man went out. There were birds in the sky. He dropped them from his mind and the birds dropped ...
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sword practice and running ...
Yesterday I practiced with bokken (Japanese wooden sword used for practice instead of using Katana, the metal sword) for the first time. We did all the regular rigorous workout before and then the master said we can participate in bokken practice with others. Few of us didn't have bokkens of our own, but the master had brought some and let us use. So we stood there with bokkens in our hand, took the stance. Japanese sword is held with both the hands most of the times. The first lesson was to raise the sword above head and bring it down straight to the level of hara (navel). We were supposed to repeat this over and over again. Within few strokes, my hands started feeling heavy, my back started feeling the strain. Then I started exhaling breath with each stroke as I brought down the sword. I started exhaling with loud "shoo" sound. I got into rhythm of it and what a surprise, I stopped feeling all strain and pain. It became easy as breeze. Then master was counting loud in Japanese and at the end of each round there was a loud cry. The whole experience was sort of transcendental as I started getting the feeling of runner's high same as what I get while running. I think breathing was the key ...
The master was explaining ... how sitting in meditation is same as running is same as sword practice ... Zazen! At least I can say running is same as sword practice because I almost got the same runner's high in both the activities. I think breathing is the connecting factor ...
Other than that it was a sad day at class. We have lot of Japanese folks in our class. The earthquake and tsunamis devastated Japan. My master unfortunately lost few friends. We prayed for them and ended the class.
The master was explaining ... how sitting in meditation is same as running is same as sword practice ... Zazen! At least I can say running is same as sword practice because I almost got the same runner's high in both the activities. I think breathing is the connecting factor ...
Other than that it was a sad day at class. We have lot of Japanese folks in our class. The earthquake and tsunamis devastated Japan. My master unfortunately lost few friends. We prayed for them and ended the class.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
"The Centipede's Dilemma"
A centipede was happy quite,
Until a frog in fun
Said, "Pray, which leg comes after which?"
This raised her mind to such a pitch,
She lay distracted in the ditch
Considering how to run.
-- Anonymous
We were practising a pattern, everyone seemed to do well after doing it number of times. Then master changed the orientation of class i.e. earlier we were starting facing the mirror and he asked us to start facing the wall. And in very first attempt after changing the orientation, many of us missed. So as one can see any small thing can become a conscious thought in mind, which can throw us off. Which is exactly what above poem is saying. Until centipede was unaware of complexity of moving it's legs without interfering with each other, everything was fine but the moment a thought was introduced about how to consciously do it, everything went haywire.
In martial arts, we are supposed to learn through head and then forget, which means the technique should be so much assimilated in the body that there should be practically no need for applying brain - it should become instinctive.
Until a frog in fun
Said, "Pray, which leg comes after which?"
This raised her mind to such a pitch,
She lay distracted in the ditch
Considering how to run.
-- Anonymous
We were practising a pattern, everyone seemed to do well after doing it number of times. Then master changed the orientation of class i.e. earlier we were starting facing the mirror and he asked us to start facing the wall. And in very first attempt after changing the orientation, many of us missed. So as one can see any small thing can become a conscious thought in mind, which can throw us off. Which is exactly what above poem is saying. Until centipede was unaware of complexity of moving it's legs without interfering with each other, everything was fine but the moment a thought was introduced about how to consciously do it, everything went haywire.
In martial arts, we are supposed to learn through head and then forget, which means the technique should be so much assimilated in the body that there should be practically no need for applying brain - it should become instinctive.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Yesterday's class ...
My class starts every Friday at 7:30 PM. Yesterday's class was my third class. It sounds crazy to have a class on Friday evenings doesn't it? When most of the world is busy partying, we, bunch of crazily dedicated people gather for our martial arts class. Our class is little different than a usual martial arts class. Of course there is physical aspect but there are other aspects of BudÅ and Zen. It took years for me to find the right class ... but I found it and finally ...
Yesterday's class was like out of dream. We were practicing, there were four people practicing bokken or japanese wooden sword and we three were practicing a kata which would be foundation for sword techniques. I could hear rhythmic sounds of bokken hitting and our rhythmic kias, occasional corrective remarks from the master, sweat trickling down my back ... and for a moment the whole scene seemed to have transported to another dimension ... as if time had stopped ...
Yesterday's class was like out of dream. We were practicing, there were four people practicing bokken or japanese wooden sword and we three were practicing a kata which would be foundation for sword techniques. I could hear rhythmic sounds of bokken hitting and our rhythmic kias, occasional corrective remarks from the master, sweat trickling down my back ... and for a moment the whole scene seemed to have transported to another dimension ... as if time had stopped ...
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
No Mind ...
There was a question from my Dad about no mind and he said he would like it in question answer form rather than a lecture. I remembered couple of years back I was answering questions on no mind, so I copy pasted the conversation here ...
1/25/08 Jay
No Mind?
Ever wonder about that? How to be in that state of mind? Great Samurai Warriors were known to have achieved the skill. It is a very useful skill to develop for not only martial arts but any kind of work one would do. I have always been intrigued by it and have been looking for some clues in books on Zen, Tao, martial arts etc. Recently came across some information which is quite interesting. I would share if anybody is interested.
2/11/08 ARAVIND
on NO MIND..
that will be most interesting. Iam an AD guy (not that am good anyway) and a few of my good works were born when I really wasn't involved in conscious thought. They simply came to my mind. Shedding the process of conscious thought really helps, but how shall one arrive there?
2/11/08 Jay
No Mind is actually a Normal Mind as Yagyu Munenori describes in his book
From Book of Family Traditions - Book 1 - The Killing Sword by Yagu Munenori :
" The Normal Mind "
A monk asked an ancient worthy, "What is the Way?"
The ancient worthy replied "The normal mind is the Way."
This story contains a principle that appplies to all the arts. Asked what the Way is, the ancient worthy replied that the normal mind is the Way. This is indeed supreme. This is the state where the sicknesses ot the mind are all gone and one has become normal in mind, free from sickness even in the midst of sickness.
To apply this to worldly matters, suppose you are shooting with a bow and you think youre shooting while you are shooting; then the aim of your bow will be inconsistent and unsteady. If you areconscious of wielding your sword when wielding your sword, your offense will be unstable. If you are conscious of writing while writing, your pen will be unsteady. Even when you play the harp, the tune will be off if you are conscious of playing.
When an archer forgets consciousness of shooting and shoots in a normal frame of mind, as if unoccupied, the bow will be steady. When using a sword or riding a horse to, you do not "wield a sword" or "ride a horse". And you do not "write"; you do not "play music". When you do everything in the normal state of mind as it is totally unoccupied, then everything goes smoothly and easily
Whatever you do as your Way, if you keep it in your heart as the only thing of importance, then it is not the Way. When you have nothing in your heart, then you are on the Way. Whatever you do, if you do it with nothing in your heart, it works out easily."
To be continued ...
2/12/08 Jay
Aravind,
You are right, great work is born when there is no conscious thought. But that doesn't mean that mind has stopped working. In fact it is working most normally and that's what no mind is - mind without conscious thought. Arriving to that stage is the challenge. Practising Zen methods provide some help. First of all one should be aware of conscious thought. Zen meditations help bringing that awareness. But be aware of the fact that removal of conscious thought it self can become a conscious thought and one has to get rid of that too. It really means to perform naturally and with freedom. With respect to martial arts, the techniques have to be learnt so thoroughly that they are almost into one's body and there is no conscious thought involved while performing. If one tries to remember technique while in a match then he looses his focus from the present moment and eventually would loose. So it boils down to perfection of basic techniques and having no conscious thought. Conscious thought is not only the thought of performing better but any distraction can become a conscious thought. But avoiding distraction does not mean more concentration, because concentration is again a conscious thought of excluding everything else but what one is doing. It is really mind being aware of everything without being taken by anything.
2/13/08 ARAVIND
Jay,
Does this really boil down to 'practice makes perfect' kind of thing? or when one is so into what one does (or is extremely in love with it - to the point of obsession) that the whole process becomes an extension of oneself? So doesn't it become necessary for me to be in love with what I do, first and foremost?
2/13/08 Jay
Aravind,
It is really freedom of mind such that one can respond instantaneously and spontaneously. Mind occupied with thought will always lag - you will see a gap between an event demanding response and the response. In state of No Mind, there won't be any gap. It is not just being quick. It has much more widom than that. It is like being at the right place at the right moment. When there is a dominant thought, mind is captured by that and the moment is missed but when you are not thinking anything in particular you are able to respond appropriately and instantaneously. Sounds like no discipline? Actually it is much greater discipline. To make mind free to this level is not easy. Methods to achieve No Mind focus on freeing mind rather than controlling mind.
...
1/25/08 Jay
No Mind?
Ever wonder about that? How to be in that state of mind? Great Samurai Warriors were known to have achieved the skill. It is a very useful skill to develop for not only martial arts but any kind of work one would do. I have always been intrigued by it and have been looking for some clues in books on Zen, Tao, martial arts etc. Recently came across some information which is quite interesting. I would share if anybody is interested.
2/11/08 ARAVIND
on NO MIND..
that will be most interesting. Iam an AD guy (not that am good anyway) and a few of my good works were born when I really wasn't involved in conscious thought. They simply came to my mind. Shedding the process of conscious thought really helps, but how shall one arrive there?
2/11/08 Jay
No Mind is actually a Normal Mind as Yagyu Munenori describes in his book
From Book of Family Traditions - Book 1 - The Killing Sword by Yagu Munenori :
" The Normal Mind "
A monk asked an ancient worthy, "What is the Way?"
The ancient worthy replied "The normal mind is the Way."
This story contains a principle that appplies to all the arts. Asked what the Way is, the ancient worthy replied that the normal mind is the Way. This is indeed supreme. This is the state where the sicknesses ot the mind are all gone and one has become normal in mind, free from sickness even in the midst of sickness.
To apply this to worldly matters, suppose you are shooting with a bow and you think youre shooting while you are shooting; then the aim of your bow will be inconsistent and unsteady. If you areconscious of wielding your sword when wielding your sword, your offense will be unstable. If you are conscious of writing while writing, your pen will be unsteady. Even when you play the harp, the tune will be off if you are conscious of playing.
When an archer forgets consciousness of shooting and shoots in a normal frame of mind, as if unoccupied, the bow will be steady. When using a sword or riding a horse to, you do not "wield a sword" or "ride a horse". And you do not "write"; you do not "play music". When you do everything in the normal state of mind as it is totally unoccupied, then everything goes smoothly and easily
Whatever you do as your Way, if you keep it in your heart as the only thing of importance, then it is not the Way. When you have nothing in your heart, then you are on the Way. Whatever you do, if you do it with nothing in your heart, it works out easily."
To be continued ...
2/12/08 Jay
Aravind,
You are right, great work is born when there is no conscious thought. But that doesn't mean that mind has stopped working. In fact it is working most normally and that's what no mind is - mind without conscious thought. Arriving to that stage is the challenge. Practising Zen methods provide some help. First of all one should be aware of conscious thought. Zen meditations help bringing that awareness. But be aware of the fact that removal of conscious thought it self can become a conscious thought and one has to get rid of that too. It really means to perform naturally and with freedom. With respect to martial arts, the techniques have to be learnt so thoroughly that they are almost into one's body and there is no conscious thought involved while performing. If one tries to remember technique while in a match then he looses his focus from the present moment and eventually would loose. So it boils down to perfection of basic techniques and having no conscious thought. Conscious thought is not only the thought of performing better but any distraction can become a conscious thought. But avoiding distraction does not mean more concentration, because concentration is again a conscious thought of excluding everything else but what one is doing. It is really mind being aware of everything without being taken by anything.
2/13/08 ARAVIND
Jay,
Does this really boil down to 'practice makes perfect' kind of thing? or when one is so into what one does (or is extremely in love with it - to the point of obsession) that the whole process becomes an extension of oneself? So doesn't it become necessary for me to be in love with what I do, first and foremost?
2/13/08 Jay
Aravind,
It is really freedom of mind such that one can respond instantaneously and spontaneously. Mind occupied with thought will always lag - you will see a gap between an event demanding response and the response. In state of No Mind, there won't be any gap. It is not just being quick. It has much more widom than that. It is like being at the right place at the right moment. When there is a dominant thought, mind is captured by that and the moment is missed but when you are not thinking anything in particular you are able to respond appropriately and instantaneously. Sounds like no discipline? Actually it is much greater discipline. To make mind free to this level is not easy. Methods to achieve No Mind focus on freeing mind rather than controlling mind.
...
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