From a martial arts perspective (I've trained in martial arts since I was 9, and I'm now 48
):
When I trained in traditional karate-do, and when I still do my katas, or practice the "basics", the "Zen" aspect (if you will) of it involved attention and constant mindfulness of your training form. No flow state was needed (or WANTED for that matter). However, when "kumite" (sparring) was involved, it was a different matter. My sensei wanted us to enter "mushin" (no-mind) and to "fight without fighting" and to "think without thinking" (his words). This was obviously a deep "flow" state that was required in order to achieve what my sensei wanted. But this "mushin" was only attained through practicing in a very controlled, VERY mindful way when not "doing" kumite. We were never encouraged to enter mushin/flow as a constant of life.
If anything, what was expected out of traditional Karate-do practice was to attain a "Big F" flow state such as what Jundo so wisely and eruditely pointed out. One BIG F that embraced the constant mindfulness of the basics with the "flow" of kumite.
):When I trained in traditional karate-do, and when I still do my katas, or practice the "basics", the "Zen" aspect (if you will) of it involved attention and constant mindfulness of your training form. No flow state was needed (or WANTED for that matter). However, when "kumite" (sparring) was involved, it was a different matter. My sensei wanted us to enter "mushin" (no-mind) and to "fight without fighting" and to "think without thinking" (his words). This was obviously a deep "flow" state that was required in order to achieve what my sensei wanted. But this "mushin" was only attained through practicing in a very controlled, VERY mindful way when not "doing" kumite. We were never encouraged to enter mushin/flow as a constant of life.
If anything, what was expected out of traditional Karate-do practice was to attain a "Big F" flow state such as what Jundo so wisely and eruditely pointed out. One BIG F that embraced the constant mindfulness of the basics with the "flow" of kumite.
As I say, "eruditely" or not
, there are certainly times for "mushin" or "in the Zone" flow states in many arts, sports and life in general ... such as you describe, or in Kanji calligraphy, or just dancing ...But there are also many (most?) times of life when it is just not necessary to be in a flow state, and we probably could not function well for most daily activities if always in a flow state. I say for those times to "flow" in life both with being AND not being in a "flow state." It sounds strange to some, but one can "flow" with the fact that sometimes life ain't flowing, and is sometimes anything but "flowing" in feeling (e.g., when having an "off day," flow with being "off.")
I think people only get confused when they think that the point of Zen is to attain the ability to be in constant "flow state." Rather, it is to attain the Wisdom to be flowing with the fact of sometimes flowing and sometimes not (as I describe, the moon as a symbol of enlightenment is always shining and full, somewhere, seen or unseen, whether during the daytime or on the stormiest night. We don't always need to be seeing and constantly aware of the full moon for that to be so, and can learn to sense the moons bright fullness even in the dark.)
Gassho, J
SatTodayLAH
)
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Thanks.
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