XPost: alt.animals.ethics.vegetarian, alt.zen, alt.buddha.short.fat.guy   
   XPost: alt.philosophy.zen   
   From: niunian@ymail.com   
      
   On Sun, 30 May 2010 00:46:21 -0700, "Dutch"  wrote:   
      
   >   
   >"niunian"  wrote in message   
   >news:kk3406t9oc2i5uqi71qbfo0ltror1g54p2@4ax.com...   
   >> On Sat, 29 May 2010 15:21:51 -0700, "Dutch"  wrote:   
   >>   
   >>>   
   >>>"niunian"  wrote in message   
   >>>news:78u2065f83u6lapojarei7sckh1b68ef18@4ax.com...   
   >>>> On Sat, 29 May 2010 13:27:57 -0700, "Dutch"  wrote:   
   >>>>   
   >>>>>"niunian"  wrote   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>>> What you says sounds very good, but is it really true? To me, the best   
   >>>>>> way to play golf is to forget everything including yourself so that   
   >>>>>> there is nothing but that tiny golf ball and the next place it's going   
   >>>>>> to land. There is no "being". There is no "moment". The world ceases   
   >>>>>> to exist until the game is finished. That is what I call a blissful   
   >>>>>> experience.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>>I think that is quite well said, and totally consistent with my previous   
   >>>>>description of the ideal golf/sports mind. One is simply part of a   
   >>>>>process,   
   >>>>>no "doing", no you, no ball, no golf course as separate entities, no   
   >>>>>duality, just a whole flowing process of which you are an integral part.   
   >>>>>It   
   >>>>>also works for life in general. Without the duality of  "me vs other   
   >>>>>idiot   
   >>>>>drivers", "being" in traffic can be quite a fun, relaxing experience. A   
   >>>>>think that great musicians enter this state as well.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Actually, I think there is a little bit difference between us. Do you   
   >>>> realize what I recommended is something that would cost you a great   
   >>>> deal of mental and physical energy? It's not something I would   
   >>>> recommend as an example of everyday living. It's only meant for doing   
   >>>> something you love. If you drive a car with that kind of mental state,   
   >>>> you put yourself in grave danger.   
   >>>   
   >>>You're right then, we are not talking about the same thing at all, I'm not   
   >>>sure what you're talking about. The common term for what I'm talking about   
   >>>is "the zone" and it is effortless, no energy is wasted "trying".   
   >>>Typically   
   >>>after playing a game of golf or tennis while "in the zone" a person feels   
   >>>totally invigorated. Contrary to the state you describe, being in the zone   
   >>>is a form of meditation, it conserves, focuses and generates energy, it   
   >>>doesn't expend it. Translating that to driving in traffic, a person is   
   >>>acutely aware of what is important, completely in the process of driving,   
   >>>they do not become distracted by thoughts about a place they would rather   
   >>>be   
   >>>or emotions like anger at the driver who cut in front or frustrated   
   >>>thinking   
   >>>about the appointment they're late for. So, they drive more safely. I   
   >>>can't   
   >>>understand why you think being a part of calm focused energy is a   
   >>>dangerous   
   >>>state in which to drive.   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >> Perhaps that is the difference between you are me. You are describing   
   >> a supposed idealized mental state in which you imagine yourself living   
   >> like a saint who solves everything effortlessly. I don't believe in   
   >> such illusion. What I'm describing is just a practical winning state   
   >> of mind for something particular like a golf game or whatever. It will   
   >> guarantee you playing the best golf game you can ever play, but it   
   >> also requires you to invest your best effort and concentration in   
   >> order to win. I think what I'm describing is practical and realistic,   
   >> and what you are describing is just an imagination or fantasy.   
   >   
   >What I am describing is practical and real. It is taught by sports   
   >psychologists and is the basis for most spiritual practices such as Yoga,   
   >meditation or Tai Chi. It centres around being aware/present in the moment,   
   >the here and now, being IN the process, not in the thinking mind, distracted   
   >worrying about the mechanics of the swing, the rough or miss-hitting or what   
   >your score is going to be or what others are thinking about you, etc.. As   
   >such it is a freeing experience, it the struggle of the ego/mind that drains   
   >your energy. The same applies in the rest of life. When I have been lucky   
   >enough to play golf or tennis or pool in this state I have always performed   
   >at the top of my abilities and ended up feeling refreshed and clear headed.   
   >   
   >Describe what you're talking about, so far you've been vague.   
   >   
   >And by the way, I love "everyday living" as much as any part of life.   
      
   I think the difference between you and me is, while you are talking   
   about how to "practice" Tai Chi, I'm talking about how to "fight" as a   
   Tai Chi master. In everyday practice, what you say sounds good enough,   
   but in actual combat, it's entirely another story. The problem I'm   
   trying to raise here is, you can't fight effortlessly in an actual   
   combat. In actual combat, there is no "flow", there is no "zone", and   
   there is no time to worry about "being". There is only the battle and   
   the best strategy of winning the battle. If you keep trying to get the   
   right "feeling" during a game, it's likely you are going to lose the   
   game anyway.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)