There are many books about Zen on the market now. When it comes to Zen, the word "no text" is mentioned, and the book Archery and Zen Heart is no exception. What attracted me to finish reading this book in one breath is that the author is actually a western philosopher. I have read some books on oriental philosophy written by westerners before, and I always feel that I am scratching my boots.
The author of this book "Archery and Zen Mind" is the German philosophy professor Ogen Helige. In order to pursue the meaning of life that can't be obtained in philosophy, he traveled across the ocean to Japan in the east to study Zen. After hitting a wall everywhere, he learned archery by learning from a teacher and realized the true meaning of Zen.
As terms such as "epiphany" and "metaphysics" that are not difficult for orientals to understand, Professor Herig said that as a European, it is difficult for him to learn Zen directly, and he had to directly enter Zen through actions with the help of external media: Zen is a living experience and does not exist in any language.
Thinking of a "master" I met a few years ago, someone asked him what Zen was, and he solemnly waved his hand: Stop it, stop it. At that time, I felt that there was nothing to say, even if it was mysterious, but the wonderful meaning behind the words was really difficult for us stubborn mortals to understand.
A scholar with the essence of western rational thought, Professor Herrigg, in his book Archery and Zen, personally and deeply discussed the intuitive wisdom of the East with a skeptical spirit and an objective attitude. Although this is his personal pursuit, it has important cultural significance, which is more real and vivid than many stories and legends and even scripture cases.
Helige clearly recorded the process of learning archery. Every stage is a dilemma for him, as if it were an unsolved case. Under the guidance of the teacher, he finally completed the most difficult action in a natural and seamless way. At that moment, he realized that Zen is a normal heart and a sincere heart at the moment.
As an oriental reader, reading this book feels very cordial. At first, I guessed that the teacher would tell the students the basic elements such as standing posture, bowing and breathing, similar to China Kung Fu. It is easy for orientals to understand that this is training solid and stable basic skills, but it is not so easy for westerners with strict philosophical thinking system. Professor Helige is often in a fog.
The first thing is to breathe. Master said that inhaling is integration and connection, and holding your breath makes everything enter a state. Exhale is relaxing and fulfilling, overcoming all restrictions. Every step begins with inhaling, then holding the air in the abdomen and finally exhaling. Holding a bow, building a sword, lifting a bow and pulling a bow are all accompanied by natural breathing and coordination, which is a relaxed and rhythmic process.
When I first learned yoga many years ago, my teacher also emphasized the importance of breathing. Indian yogis attach great importance to breathing and believe that people have a certain number of breaths in their lives. Generally, untrained people breathe very short every time, and the number of breaths will soon be consumed, and life will be over. After breathing control, the length of each breath will be prolonged, the number of breaths will take a long time and the life will be prolonged.
I didn't understand this when I first started practicing yoga, but I gradually realized it was true during my own practice of breathing control. Although most people who practice yoga at present are not only trying to prolong life, but also trying to keep fit, or a meditation lifestyle, it is very interesting and meaningful to learn to control your breathing and take care of your breathing simply at all times.
Modern people basically breathe with their shoulders. It's funny to hear the word "shoulder breathing" for the first time. Let's observe, don't people with big tempers all breathe with their shoulders? Shortness of breath, impatience, anger in haste, naturally there is no prime minister to punt, and it is strange not to lose his temper.
In the book "Archery and Zen", the author truthfully recorded his psychological state of anxiety and worry when he just learned archery and practiced breathing. Master's teaching is very simple, that is, the word "relax", and then continue to concentrate on breathing.
When Professor Herregg asked Master when to start new exercises, after all, he came to learn archery, but he practiced standing, breathing, holding a bow, casting a sword, lifting a bow and pulling a bow every day. Why not learn archery? Master answered indifferently, and we'll know when the time comes.
Professor Helige thinks this is Japanese teaching. Practice and practice, repeat and repeat. This learning method is the same in all traditional arts. Demonstration, example; Intuition, imitation
The author wrote this book at 1948. Today, we can see that this teaching method is a typical oriental teaching method, as well as in ancient China. With the cultural exchange, monks and cultural messengers who returned to Japan from China inherited many arts, and after the sublimation of goblins from generation to generation, they became a stylized art, with heart-to-heart communication, from technology to Taoism, and so on, such as flower path, tea ceremony and kendo.
Some predecessors said that playing the piano is like meditation. After years of tempering, you can understand everything at a glance, use it freely and have more than enough taste. I have been practicing the piano for a long time, and I have some feelings. Practicing the piano is like meditation. Finger technique is very important. Without an enlightened mind, we can't go far after all.
Cai Yong, a calligrapher in the Eastern Han Dynasty, said in On Pen: "A calligrapher is scattered. If you want to book, let go of your arms first, and then read. If you are forced by things, Zhongshan Rabbit is extravagant, but it is not good. " The main idea is to write calligraphy and relax. Before you start writing, you must be open-minded, let your temperament follow one's inclinations, and then write freely. If you are forced to do something, you will be in a bad mood, even with the best brush, you can't write well.
Unfortunately, Professor Helige didn't come to China. If he had come to China to study guqin or calligraphy, I'm afraid his experience was the same. Then the topics are calligraphy and Zen, Qin and Zen.
The book Archery and Zen is only about 5 1000 words, which can be read in two or three hours. Plain language is worth pondering over and over again. Personally, I think it is better than reading many similar miscellaneous books.
There is a saying in the book: Don't ask, keep practicing. Thinking of another book, every day is a good day. Teacher Morishita said: Don't ask why, just do it. These two books can be read together, and the comparative reading method improves the reading efficiency, and also causes thinking and gains more.
One is about Japanese archery and the other is about Japanese tea ceremony. Reading is also a pleasure occasionally.
Where is Zen? Can't you say? In one breath, holding a bow to make a sword, raising a bow to pull a bow, pouring water into a tea bowl, folding branches and arranging flowers, in the eyes of a mother watching her children go to school, in the eyes of her lover, in the twinkling stars in the night sky, in the warm spring breeze.
From this, Zen can be said that it is everywhere.