Contemplate the Teacherless Knowledge

When training and competing over a period of years reaching pinnacles either in winning or enlightenment will happen less often without an acute focus to “seeing beyond” what you have already learned.  If you are just starting to train and learning a new sport, the same is true, however, it’s truer right up front, as you have not built the foundation of your learning. To maintain and learn new enlightenment for any sport or teaching takes contemplation and always building on foundation.

This was particularly true for me after some years where I did not keep a foundation and training going.  I was taking care of my mother until she passed. Shortly after, my sister passed and then my father within days after that.  At that time, I was out of balance, my energy was drained, I was not focused the right way and needless to say, doing business was particularly hard.  So, I went “to the mountains.”  All my life, the mountains have been where I cultivate my spirit and where I do all my exercise and meditation – (never in a gym or studio if I don’t have to).  It was a time to re-cultivate and bring back the foundation.  When you go into nature and take the time for contemplation over a period of time is where you will find the “Teacherless Knowledge.”  It’s an alchemy you can cultivate if you “listen.”  For me it happens in the mountains – when I went back I started hiking every day – for almost three years I did this – no mind, no contrived exercise – just building a new foundation – I entered “the Heart of Trees” – (Zhan Zhuang).

As Zen Master Takuan (1573 – 1645) taught, “penetrate the place where heaven and earth have not divided and yin yang do not reach, this is where the experience will attain success.  It’s the teacherless learning.  Whether walking, sitting, speaking – keep up the relentless effort to seeing directly.  Reverse the light!  Then over the years it will be as if you found a lamp in the night, attaining teacherless knowledge and exercising uncontrived action.  At this time you transcend the ordinary without leaving the ordinary.  This is called the Tai-A, the peerless sword that has no equal.  The Tai-A sword is inherent in everyone – complete and perfect.  It refers to the mind. The mind is not born at birth and does not die at death, so it is called the original face.”

Keeping up unremitting effort, constantly focusing on finding out, “seeing directly” means that you always return to yourself and focus intently, investigating the principle. To attain the teacherless knowledge means to realize the fundamental knowledge that even a teacher cannot convey.  It is the first hand experiential knowledge that is not learned or acquired, but rather is uncovered and activated.