(Continuation of “Foundation”)

The Zen master Hakuin wrote, “observing knowledge is accomplished by successful practice; it is in the realm of cultivation and realization, of attainment by study.  This is called knowledge involving effort.”

For this reason, the practice of all the arts is to clear away what is on your mind.  You are detached from your learning, and yet you do not deviate from your learning.  Your action is free whatever you do.  At this time, there’s no telling where your mind is – no one can spy into your heart.  The learning is for the purpose of reaching this state.  Once you have learned this successfully, learning disappears.

The skydiving competition I competed in (Style –gymnastics at 200 mph with only 26 seconds of airtime) took extreme concentration with a single pointed focus.  Movement at these extreme speeds can only be automatic – there is no time to look around and “think about it.” Each turn and back loop within the Style set became “about the move” however, each movement had to be practiced until there was “no thought.”  Things can go wrong very fast and the seconds you have go very quickly.  I trained to have a focus that became very concentrated wherein eventually through many training jumps, “no mind” begins to develop within the focus – each move is “about the move.”  It had to be automatic – and in those precious seconds of free fall time you perform perfect movement.  There is no room for mistakes – - you train not to make mistakes.

By learning to train your internal energy along with proper practice over a long period of time, you will arrive at “no thought.”  You cannot be “thinking” and perform the ultimate of anything.

When you practice methodically with right technique and right mind you will start to develop “flow” – I remember the day I experienced “flow” – I became flow itself.  Essentially, I was “managing” my energy – making it coherent.  Moving efficiently as possible.  After you reach this stage, you can start building more “power” into movement.  But, once you start thinking about power, you are setting yourself up to loose it.

I believe the ultimate goal in any exercise is the ability to manage your Qi.  The alchemy comes from turning the adrenaline into Qi then refining the process into Shen. Work to cultivate and refine your muse – this will create more energy – the power will come when your mind settles and you can keep up with the movement.

Think through your exercise and learn to condense the Qi internally – practice your art by letting your training consist of combining thought with internal body energy – then after you have learned over a period of years – - forget all that you learned.  Now drop the thinking – - – -

My Best,
Maria Camille