From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Sun Jul 17 2005 - 16:48:52 BST
Hi All,
Over the course of the years many books have been recommended to MD'ers.
Now I'd like to put in my recommendation, a work of fiction entitled, "The
Legend of Bagger Vance" by Steven Pressfield.
Some may recall a movie of the same name which, while based on the book,
failed to capture the sheer magic of the author's writing and the depth of
philosophy he expounds. In years of reading I haven't found a better book
in terms of writing skill coupled with humor and wisdom.
Ostensibly the book is about golf. It describes a fictional golf match
between legends Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, joined by a local golfer
named Junah and his mysterious caddy, Bagger Vance. But, it's not
necessary to play golf or know a great deal about the game to enjoy the
book because it delves at length into matters relevant to anyone with the
slightest interest in philosophy, especially Eastern philosophy.
I'm enthusiastic about the book for many reasons such as some of those
cited above. But, here's an excerpt that ought to perk up the ears of
anyone who is MOQ-minded: The words are spoken by an observer who, as a
young boy, witnessed the golf match and who in the middle of the match was
given by Bagger Vance a glimpse of "The Field" as it really exists but is
not ordinarily seen.
"It seemed, watching Hagen as he stood over the ball, as if the process
did not consist merely of his selecting from an infinitude of possible
swings and possible resulting shots, but that the swing and the shot, of
their own intelligence, were beckoning to him. A very specific swing and a
very specific shot.
"The best shot.
"Have you seen an eagle soar? Or watched a shark glide through the water?
Don't you sense observing them that each bank of the wing, each trim
adjustment of a fin, is its most optimum, its most excellent, the best and
finest selection from an infinitude of possibilities? Don't they, the
animals, seem closer to God than we? Don't they seem automatically tuned
to His will, guided flawlessly by instinct?
"Have you ever stood over a putt and seen the line laid out so clearly as
if it were drawn in chalk on the green? This was something like that.
"The optimum, calling to you.
"Excellence crying to be brought forth.
"This is the best description I can put on it."
I need not point out the connections here to the MOQ. I was especially
struck by the idea that we just don't respond to DQ if alert, but that DQ
"calls" to us to respond (like DQ calling to Anthony and now to Dave).
From time to time I hope to present other excerpts from the book to learn
from those more familiar than me with Eastern philosophy if the author's
portrayal of that philosophy is reasonably on target.
Best,
Platt
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