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One of my favorite books is Zen and the Art of Archery, by Eugene Herrigel. In this book, Mr, Herrigel goes to Japan in search of zen enlightenment. He is guided into the practice of archery in this seeking.
The reason he is guided into archery is because, according to the people who teach zen, zen is too difficult for a westerner. Not being of the Japanese culture, it would be to difficult for him to understand the concepts. Through the practice of archery, however, he might be able to make some headway with zen concepts.
Mr. Herrigel throws himself into the practice of archery with much diligence and attention to detail. Unfortunately, though he seeks to calm himself, and understand the intricacies of the tall bow, he is reward with nothing but frustration. How, he wonders, is he going to be able to find zen if he can't even hit the target!
Ultimately, the teacher takes pity on him, and invites him over to his house to help him out. The teacher is pleasant, humorous, offers all sorts of insights, but Mr. Herrigel, in a funk, can't respond this most personal instruction. Finally, the teacher invites Mr. Herrigel out to his personal archery range in his back yard.
The teacher instructs Mr. Herrigel to light a candle between the firing line and the target which is about a hundred feet away. Mr. Herrigel lights the candle lit, and is then told to put out the lights. With only a single candle to illuminate the night, the teacher fires an arrow and extinguishes the candle.
Mr. Herrigel, standing in darkness, is astonished. Never has he seen such a magnificent display of archery, to put out a candle at fifty feet! Good Lord!
The teacher seems unimpressed by Mr. Herrigel's praise, and he merely asks that the lights be turned on and that Mr. Herrigel go get the arrow. Hastening down to the end of the range, Mr. Herrigel searches for the arrow. And he finds it...sprouting from the center of the target!
To put out a candle, using only the light of the candle, and hit a target. To plumb the depths of the soul by mastering a martial art. To find the brilliance of yourself on a darkened night is what zen is really all about, and, similarly, this is what the Martial Arts are all about.
The reason he is guided into archery is because, according to the people who teach zen, zen is too difficult for a westerner. Not being of the Japanese culture, it would be to difficult for him to understand the concepts. Through the practice of archery, however, he might be able to make some headway with zen concepts.
Mr. Herrigel throws himself into the practice of archery with much diligence and attention to detail. Unfortunately, though he seeks to calm himself, and understand the intricacies of the tall bow, he is reward with nothing but frustration. How, he wonders, is he going to be able to find zen if he can't even hit the target!
Ultimately, the teacher takes pity on him, and invites him over to his house to help him out. The teacher is pleasant, humorous, offers all sorts of insights, but Mr. Herrigel, in a funk, can't respond this most personal instruction. Finally, the teacher invites Mr. Herrigel out to his personal archery range in his back yard.
The teacher instructs Mr. Herrigel to light a candle between the firing line and the target which is about a hundred feet away. Mr. Herrigel lights the candle lit, and is then told to put out the lights. With only a single candle to illuminate the night, the teacher fires an arrow and extinguishes the candle.
Mr. Herrigel, standing in darkness, is astonished. Never has he seen such a magnificent display of archery, to put out a candle at fifty feet! Good Lord!
The teacher seems unimpressed by Mr. Herrigel's praise, and he merely asks that the lights be turned on and that Mr. Herrigel go get the arrow. Hastening down to the end of the range, Mr. Herrigel searches for the arrow. And he finds it...sprouting from the center of the target!
To put out a candle, using only the light of the candle, and hit a target. To plumb the depths of the soul by mastering a martial art. To find the brilliance of yourself on a darkened night is what zen is really all about, and, similarly, this is what the Martial Arts are all about.
About the Author:
Al Case has practiced the martial arts for over forty+ years. The founder of Matrixing Technology and Neutronics, his free book is available at Monster Martial Arts. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory
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