From: MarshaV (marshalz@charter.net)
Date: Sun Jul 31 2005 - 18:12:28 BST
Greetings Khaleb,
Your examples do demonstrate individuals experiencing Dynamic Quality. But
wouldn't it be better if individuals could experience that type of dynamics
in their life as a whole. I think the Zen processes of meditation,
mindfulness and nonattachment, and has much to offer.
If I might speak of my own experience. In the 80s I was taught how to
meditate with some instructions on handle the flow of my thoughts. I
meditated regularly for approximately 3 years. It changed my life. Now
I'm not talking about thoughts focused on a problem, but just the second by
second flow of thoughts. I learned thoughts were too often random nonsense
to which I quickly attached.
Another example. Not too long ago I was talking to my son about a name for
his expected son. He made a suggestion. Without even thinking, I made a
disparaging remark based on nationality. Because of my exposure to
meditation and the way thoughts surface, I was later able to analyze what
I had said. My statement was based on opinions from long, long
ago. Ridiculous opinions given to me by my parents. I explained and
apologized to my son. I believe I have released that particular harmful
knot of static quality thinking. But I have learned to be on guard. The
mind holds the good, the bad, and the ugly. And as the songs goes 'you
have to be taught to hate and fear'.
Another example of what I learned was about breathing. Breathing can calm
emotions, or exacerbate them. If one learns to work with the
breath/emotions, there is a better chance for clear thinking. This was
taught to me, and I actually experience it. Well, sometimes.
Mindfulness is a new concept for me based on my reading about Zen. I am
working on bringing my awareness back to the moment, the NOW. In doing so,
and working on nonattachment, I have released quite a bit of erroneous
thinking that lingers in my mind. It has also made me thoughtful to what
might be in other minds. Back to that song, 'you've got to be taught to
hate and fear'. To me the NOW holds a key to exposure to Dynamic Quality.
So I don't think you have to wait for the experience of Dynamic Quality,
but with the knowledge of Zen techniques one can help themselves along. I
like Zen best because it is without religiosity. I'm no expert, but think
if I can become one less person with hate in my head and heart and hand, I
have made an improvement.
A clear head makes for higher quality decisions and broader understanding.
Knowledge? Knowledge of, and practice with some good techniques can make a
difference.
MarshaV
At 07:53 AM 7/30/2005 -0700, khaled wrote:
>Hello Marsha
>
>That's the beauty about Pirsing. He was able to tackle your question
>early on in the book. And I bring it up again. Pirsig was able to
>illustrate early on in ZMM when he was offering to fix John's handlebars
>with a shim made from a beer can.
>John had nothing to do with because:
>1. It did not come from the Shop.
>2. It did not have the motorcycle's manufacturer approval/stamp/name on
>it
>3. it was not installed by a professional
>
>Right there and then he was in the High Country. That point is lost on
>some.
>
>You don't have to read music in order to enjoy it. And to lots old time
>blues and jazz players, reading music was not required. They just played.
>
>A baseball pitcher may know nothing calculus, yet every pitch is millions
>of calculations.
>
>Remember in the movie good will hunting when the newly discovered math
>wizard confronts the math professor. He said to him this is easy for, I
>am sorry it does not come so easy for you.
>
>Zen. You feel it. you don't know it.
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