The
prayer of the monk is not perfect until he no longer recognizes himself or
the fact that he is praying.
(St
Anthony)
Absorption
Mushin is a zen expression meaning 'mind of no mind'. It entails being
total absorbed in the event itself.
This is not to be confused with
concentration.
Concentration is a substitution process where one focus is highlighted at the
exclusion of all else.
Mushin is not focus. It is
presence.
By being here and now, with no discursive thoughts, a person is free to move
with what is happening.
Chop wood
Zen stories and
mondos often feature statements encouraging the
student to chop wood, wash the dishes and so on.
These
everyday mundane activities are ready
opportunities for you to achieve a condition of mushin.
Self-consciousness
Self-consciousness ruins mushin.
To understand mushin you must lose your sense of self and be with the now.
Be absorbed in the moment.
Self defence
The mind is not fixed on anything. No planning, no anticipation, no fear.
No aggression. No ego.
You are composed and calm. Detached and aware. Receptive and flexible.
There is no doubt or hesitation. You are free and spontaneous.
Instead of preparing, you feel. Instead of techniques, you respond.
You adapt, change and improvise relative to the demands of the moment.
The student is one with every action.
Cultivating mushin
All of the partner work exercises in our syllabus cultivate mushin.
It is not just the drill themselves. It is the way in which we explore the
material. The how.
The mind is present at all times.
It flows without stagnancy. We find stability in movement, not in holding to
things.
The subconscious mind is encouraged to become dominant.
That way, conscious thought/chattering does not interfere with spontaneity and
immediacy.
Shen
The tai chi quality of
shen requires the student to imbue their
actions with spirit.
This assumes the presence of mushin.
Sung
Sung also assumes mushin.
Many people think that 'sung' means relax, but it is far more than this.
True sung involves a condition whereby the body is no longer felt.
You simply move, and you are with the energy of the movement rather than in the
mechanics of the body.
Finding mushin
If you can cultivate mushin, then your heightened awareness can extend to
all aspects of your life.
There is no division between combat and leisure. Your state of mind remains
exactly the same.
Narratives concerning self defence, tea ceremony, wabi sabi or Japanese tattoos
merge together and you recognise messages and themes inherent in all things.
In order to find mushin you simply need to be here and now. Nowhere else.
At any given time, nothing else in the universe matters more than what you are
doing right now.
The cars outside, the neighbours, the music, the humming of the computer, the
smell of food are all part of the moment, and you are nowhere but here.
It is all
happening at once and you are totally immersed
in it.
Page created 14 July 2001