____________
Z
A N S H I N
by
Dick Morgan
The
Evolution of Mindfulness
I
was out for a walk yesterday along a route that takes me past the
neighborhood light-rail stop. Most days a steady stream of colorful
people pass to and from its approaches. I like to think I am a keen
observer of people, and an astute judge of character based on
people's appearance, gait, demeanor, and eye contact. It is part of
my martial arts training: threat assessment, adversarial size-up,
safety zones, exit strategy. When I pass through crowds of people, I
am continuously practicing these strategic mental exercises. I have
been practicing this for fifty years; it is a completely automatic,
almost subconscious exercise. I'd like to think after all this time,
I'd be pretty good at it; I'd be wrong.
I'm
walking along, looking at people as they pass me; here's a pretty
young girl with pigtails and tattoos, a free spirit and no threat to
me. Here's a humongous giant of a man in a serapé,
size alone would make him a formidable opponent. Fortunately, he
appears to be passing by with no eye contact. Here's a beggar with
his hand out. I give him a buck. Here's a young adult black man,
leather coat, head band, raggedy shoes. Cocky, jaunty walk with his
head bobbing up and down. And now he's looking at me. What does he
want? How many steps is he from striking distance? Alert! His
hands are coming out of his pockets!
This
black guy smiles, salutes me, and says, “How you doing, Captain?”
I'm wearing my Greek fisherman's hat with my Vietnam ribbons on the
brim, and it looks a bit like the scrambled egg designs of a Navy
captain's hat. I was so taken aback by that, by the time I figured
out what he meant and turn to thank him, he was gone. I had assessed
him largely by profile, and I had been completely wrong. It was a
realization that my mental processes were stuck in a rut.
I
am sure my martial viewpoint is indelible to a certain degree, that I
will always think strategically. I will always have a defense plan.
I carry four knives, after all. But now, without martial arts
practice echoing fresh in my mind, I begin to view situations around
me without as much defensiveness. Since I have stopped going to
practice, I am beginning to realize that my consciousness is
shifting. My mindfulness is beginning to become aware of different
challenges, different goals, different ethics. I am learning that
the dichotomies automatically assumed in martial practice-- good and
bad, friend or enemy, win or lose-- are all artificial mental
constructs, and many times blind us to deeper truths. I am learning
the value of projecting peace and good will instead of toughness and
invulnerability. I am learning to quiet the mind so that I can
listen better with the heart.
I
can relate to people on a more humane level. Instead of adversarial
posturing, there is a celebration of equality and sharing. There is
a new feeling of connectedness, an almost joyous unity. I feel my
spirit expanding in a new way, not yet envisioned when I wrote
Warrior
Mind.
I am surprised by this shift in my mindful practice, and thankful at
the same time. I am looking into the future with more anticipation,
and more joy.
Merry Christmas.
One
forest, many trees.
One
tree, many branches.
One
branch, many leaves.
(--unknown)
Namasté.
