Zen Of Archery
तीरंदाजी का ज़ेन- जेम्स क्लियर (१० अक्टूबर, २०१९)
1920 के दशक में, यूजेन हेरिगेल नामक एक जर्मन प्रोफेसर जापान चले गए और आवा केंजो नामक एक महान धनुर्धर के साथ तीरंदाजी की मार्शल आर्ट में प्रशिक्षण शुरू कर दिया। केंज़ो आश्वस्त थे कि शुरुआती लोगों को वास्तविक लक्ष्य पर निशाना लगाने का प्रयास करने से पहले तीरंदाजी के मूल सिद्धांतों में महारत हासिल करनी चाहिए, और वे इस पद्धति को चरम पर ले गए। उनके पहले चार वर्षों के प्रशिक्षण में, हेरिगेल को केवल सात फ़ुट दूर भूसे के एक रोल पर तीर मारने की अनुमति दी गई।
जब हेरिगेल ने अविश्वसनीय रूप से धीमी गति की शिकायत की, तो उनके शिक्षक ने जवाब दिया "लक्ष्य की राह को नहीं मापना है! सप्ताह, महीने, वर्ष क्या महत्व के हैं?”
जब उन्हें अंततः अधिक दूर के लक्ष्यों पर निशाना लगाने की अनुमति दी गई, तो हेरिगेल का निशाना निराशाजनक था। तीर निशाने से चूक गए और वह हर छूटे निशाने से और हतोत्साहित होते गए। एक विशेष रूप से दीन सत्र के दौरान, हेरिगेल ने कहा कि उनकी समस्या उनका खराब लक्ष्य साधना है ।
लेकिन, केन्जो ने अपने छात्र को देखा और जवाब दिया कि बात यह नहीं है कि आपने निशाना लगाया या नहीं, बल्कि बात यह है कि आपने उस कार्य को किस नज़रिए से देखा, जिसने परिणाम निर्धारित किया। इस उत्तर से निराश होकर, हेरिगेल ने कहा, "तब तो आपको इसे आंखों पर पट्टी बांधकर मारने में सक्षम होना चाहिए।"
उस रात, केन्ज़ो हेरिगेल को अभ्यास हॉल में ले गए, जिसमें अंधेरे में लक्ष्य छिपा था। तीर चलाने के पोस में खड़े होते हुए, केन्ज़ो ने धनुष की तार को कसा, और अंधेरे में पहला तीर छोड़ किया। निशाना ठीक लगा। उन्होंने एक और तीर चलाया । फिर निशाने पर लगा ।
लक्ष्य के संबंध में शरीर और मस्तिष्क के बारे में पूर्ण जागरूकता को 'ज़ानशिन' के रूप में जाना जाता है। शाब्दिक रूप से अनुवादित, ज़ानशिन का अर्थ है "बिना किसी शेष के मन।" दूसरे शब्दों में, मन पूरी तरह से कार्रवाई पर केंद्रित होना।
हम एक ऐसी दुनिया में रहते हैं जो परिणामों के प्रति जुनूनी है। हेरेइगेल की तरह, हममे भी इस बात पर बहुत जोर देने की प्रवृत्ति है कि क्या तीर निशाने पर लगेगा या नहीं। यदि, हालांकि, हम उस तीव्रता और ध्यान और ईमानदारी को इस प्रक्रिया में लगा देते हैं कि - हम अपने पैर कहाँ रखते हैं, हम धनुष को कैसे पकड़ते हैं, तीर को छोड़ने के दौरान हम कैसे सांस लेते हैं - तो तीर निशाने पर लगना मात्र एक साइड इफेक्ट होगा।
प्रतिबिंब के लिए बीज प्रश्न: आप परिणाम की ओर ध्यान देने की बजाय प्रक्रिया के लिए प्रतिबद्ध होने की धारणा से क्या समझते हैं? क्या आप उस समय का एक व्यक्तिगत अनुभव साझा कर सकते हैं जब आपने लक्ष्य को मापने के बजाय प्रक्रिया को खोला हो? परिणामों से विचलित होने के बजाय प्रक्रिया के लिए प्रतिबद्ध रहने में आपको किस चीज़ से मदद मिलती है?
जेम्स क्लीयर एक लेखक, व्यवसायी और फोटोग्राफर हैं। उपरोक्त अंश इस ब्लॉग(https://jamesclear.com/zanshin) से लिए गए हैं। तीरंदाजी की कला में ज़ेन में यूजीन हेरिगेल के बारे में और जानकारी इस पीडीएफ (http://www.ideologic.org/files/Eugen_Herrigel_-_Zen_in_the_Art_of_Archery.pdf) में उपलब्ध है)।
James Clear is an author, entrepreneur and photographer. Excerpt above is taken from this blog. More about Eugene Herrigel in Zen in the Art of Archery (also available as PDF).
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion of committing to the process instead of obsessing about the outcome? Can you share a personal experience of a time when you opened up to the process instead of measuring the way to the goal? What helps you not get distracted by results and instead stay committed to the process?
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10 Past Reflections
On Dec 26, 2023 Till wrote :
The brilliant teacher and virtuoso jazz pianist Kenny Werner mentioned ZITAOA in his creative composition class at the New School way back when. He has written a book on effortless practice as well and I can personally attest that acquiring any musical skill demands the ability to figuratively shoot throw-away arrows at bales of hay. All day, err'' day. Results are secondary. Micro-Improvements are the starting bonus.
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On Aug 23, 2021 Annie McIntosh wrote :
I tend to be in process, perhaps getting a little lost in it and miss "the goal "
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On Oct 9, 2019 Rajul wrote :
Yes, we are always obsessed about the outcome instead of the process. I feel when sometimes, outcome is no longer our choice or what we believe to be ourchoice and there is ' do or die' situation, when process is the only the choice we have, much like Pi in story 'Life of Pi' , when faced with such situations in life, we focus with full awareness on the process and we are surprised the outcome turns out much better than what we had anticipated because full awareness without worrying about the outcome brings better results. I experience this sometimes when faced with difficult weather situation- in middle of snowstorm, when faced with situation that seems impossible - driving through rough snowstorm telling myself , just do the best you can .. that onepointedness perhaps makes the task possible. In what seems to be impossible situation, such baby steps with fulll awareness without mind being clouded with results makes it possible and acually much better outcome than expe... [View Full Comment]
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On Oct 9, 2019 Anilkumar Pandit wrote :
I was reminded of the story when Dronacharya was testing his students in archary. Having perched a small bird on a tree, the task was to hit it from some distance away. Before allowing the student to shoot he would ask "What do you see?". The replies varied from seeing multiple things like the bird, the branch, the tree, the sky etc.. Arjun's reply was "I see only the bird" Only he was permitted to shoot and he did pass the test. There was a rejoinder to the same story, whence Karna (another notable archer) was asked: "What do you see when you try to shoot a target?" His reply was: "I do not see anything. I feel that I am the arrow and moving towards the target !"
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On Oct 8, 2019 Danny Lopez wrote :
I was a competitive triathlete for many years and enjoyed the training as well as the races. Over time though the races and my results became less important and fulfilling to me but I never lost the desire and enjoyment of just running, biking and swimming. I have not competed in a triathlon in many years but I still love going on a nice long run in the mountains, jumping into a cold pool and feeling the wind on my face during a long ride. I've learned to love the actions of these activities more and more over the years and am not really interested in how fast or far I can go anymore. The process and enjoyment of it is what interests me most. Once I detached myself from the outcomes everything became more enjoyable and meaningful.
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On Oct 7, 2019 Jigisha Shastri wrote :
This is what early childhood education all about. Duringthe early years of 3-6 age, education is all about the process and not about reaching targets/milestones/goals. What is very interesting is that programs for young children, which emphasize processes of development, reach these 'targets' and beyond. This needs to be ingrained in individuals and in education programs as childrengrow older. When one is involved in the process there is no outside pressure to perform. We do what we want and involvement in the task, in here and now is much more. Learningand interactions that occur during the 'process' are of higher order and lead to immense satisfaction
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On Oct 5, 2019 david doane wrote :
My mantra for a long time has been 'process, not outcome.' Focus on right action, as Buddhism advises, and leave outcome to forces outside your control. In interpersonal interactions, I revel in times I trust the process, that is, times that I stay present, go with what I am experiencing, and let outcome happen. What helps me trust and stay committed to process and not try to control outcome is the positive outcomes that occur when I do that. Also, I know that going with present process is within my power (I'm human) and outcome is outside my power (I'm not God). Also, I love the excitement and aliveness of commitment to the process, and don't like the dullness and deadness I feel in outcome focus. Also, I like the openness and freedom I feel in process focus and don't like being controlling and manipulative as I am when trying to control outcome.
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On Oct 4, 2019 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
Reading this passage reminds me of the advice my father used to give me when as a student I was working on my assignments. His advice was: "Focus on your work with sincerity, intensity and one-mindedness. Remain focused on the process. And the right result will come." I have followed his advice in many walks of my life as a student, as a teacher, as a counselor, and also in taking care of my health and the health of others in my family. As the Zen saying goes," The path is the goal."
I will never forget the time when I waited patiently for four long years for marrying my beloved lady Vanleela. Her father did not want her to marry me because I came from a poor family. Vanleela was raised in a very affluent family. Her father thought and felt that his daughter will be miserable going to a poor family. Vanleela out of affection, regard and concern for her father accepted to wait for four years. Both of us felt the loving presence of each other in our hearts. Both of u... [View Full Comment]
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On Oct 3, 2019 Rajesh wrote :
Very humbling passage. Bows to all the beings who cultivate with such dedication.