Zen - The Way Of The Exploding Brain!!

by **shotokan101** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:20 pm

"Surely" what Steve ? - and what's with the Chinese accent ? :lol:

by **zanderxl** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:05 am

Ah yes - "Obey" "Digress" "Separate"
The concept of learning a technique, refining a technique, then going beyond a technique.
In terms of seeing Zen as approaching each moment without preconception and assumption and seeking the "truth" of the instant, it says to me that in relation to martial arts this is the concept of "No Mind".
If you can face an opponent or situation without preconception or assumption you will only react to each instant as it happens and will flow. There will be no anticipation or expectation of what is to happen, only the reaction to what DOES happen WHEN it happens.
Easy to describe.
Not so easy to do.

by **Norm** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:10 am

Well, I've now sent off for The Unfettered Mind as recommended by Alex, and Karate-Do: A Way of Life by Funakoshi (and a pair of purple velvet trousers

).

by **fujicolt** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:29 am

purple velvet trousers - not trendy now norm - try pink!

by **Norm** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:38 pm

I think you'll find karate's not particularly trendy either Steve :wink:

Went into town on Friday and couldn't find a single book on karate - a couple of MMA and numerous 'fighting' (of the beating up sort). I'll stick to the internet for my karate shopping (Unfettered Mind has arrived - excellent timing as I've just finished Zen in the Martial Arts).

[Edit]
(Hmm, actually, I ~did~ see a rather fetching pair of fuschia spandex kecks - d'you think I'd get away with it?)

by **shotokan101** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:43 pm

Norm wrote:I think you'll find karate's not particularly trendy either Steve

Went into town on Friday and couldn't find a single book on karate - a couple of MMA and numerous 'fighting' (of the beating up sort). I'll stick to the internet for my karate shopping (Unfettered Mind has arrived - excellent timing as I've just finished Zen in the Martial Arts).

[Edit]
(Hmm, actually, I ~did~ see a rather fetching pair of fuschia spandex kecks - d'you think I'd get away with it?)

Better post a link to a piccie of you Norm and we'll let you know :twisted:

by **Norm** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:00 pm

Don't let it be said I don't rise to a challenge! This is who you've been talking to for the last couplov weeks:

(as you can see, I have a natural advantage when it comes to karate

)

(But what about those hips and fuschia?

)

by **shotokan101** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:35 pm

"It's too wee Norm" - bigger piccie needed - although that's one way to get smaller hips :twisted:

by **Norm** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:07 am

It's been a long time since I posted piccies on a board, Jim - I can't remember how to do a thumbnail. Lemme have another go...

Well, that seems to have worked. I could do with getting a more up-to-date piccy though - I've not had a short fringe for a while now.

I think I've done it as a thumbnail - if you click on it, you should get full size.

I've gone so off topic now I can't actually remember what this thread is supposed to be about.

by **Norm** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:12 am

Ah Alex! Zen!

(Sorry Alex :oops:

)

by **shotokan101** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:19 am

Much better Norm

Yeah - I'd say go for the Spandex

Jim

by **Norm** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:41 am

Shh! Jim! We're talking about Zen!

I was excitedly telling my sensei about the books I'd been reading and she said she'd never got into that side of things. I was truly surprised - I had thought the philosophy at least would have been an essential part of serious training. Then in the last chapter of Zen in the Martial Arts it was talking about MA without Zen (and Zen without MA, but I've been training in that for years anyway). It makes me even more appreciative of the internet and the availability of forums like this - without it I may never have found the link between karate and Zen.

by **Norm** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:18 am

OK, I've done it. If I end up looking like a giant marshmallow I'll blame you two! ;)

Ooh look! The CW Nicol article has come up on the front of TSW! Gonna go check it out...

by **zanderxl** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:09 am

I used to think that the philosophy aspect of martial arts was an integral part but then, when I very first started training, my first instructor was more like a military drill sergeant! Heh, I remember the cloudy look that would descend on his face when I would try and talk to him about such matters.
And the pressups that would follow... :shock:

Ah, good times!
Then I think about my Sensei today and how he is the complete opposite! Honestly, it's like training under Yoda sometimes!

by **Norm** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:49 pm

LOL, I remember talking to a Buddhist friend of mine before I was a Buddhist too - I was saying that as I watched Star Wars I kept thinking 'ooh this is yoga!' - I was sure the writer must've been a yogi slipping in some of the philosophy... my friend had a similar thought but ~he~ thought it was Buddhism! LOL

I've since recommended The Matrix to him - dunno if he'll think it's yogic, Buddhist, or Jedi - I reckoned it was a bit of everything.

I read the CW Nicol article last night. Wish I'd been around on this forum a bit sooner (and having read the book) as there are questions I would have liked to ask - maybe they'll come up in Part 2. It was great to get a glimpse of 'where is he now?'.

Zen - The Way Of The Exploding Brain!!

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