Originally Posted by Scott
In my example the sea captain with mystical understanding becomes ONE with the storm. This enables him to sense intuitively how to respond to the unpredictable circumstances provided by the storm and to move in accord with the energy of the storm. That is, to flow with the energy of the storm rather than against it. All successful sailors learn to do this, however when this ability is combined with emotional detachment responses are intuited and are therefore more successful. The captain’s state of mind increases or decreases his opportunity for survival. It would behoove him to have practiced a means for increasing his opportunity for survival. He accomplishes this through mystical studies wherein he learns to be emotionally detached under extreme circumstances thus enhancing intuitive ability and his probability of survival. If he dies he is not emotionally concerned because he views death as nothing more than a transition between states of being similar to moving to a new town and making new friends and not as an emotionally tragic event. This is the same quality of life attained by master samurai who practice Zen.
This internal quality of life is well known throughout Asian culture and is actively cultivated utilizing daily activities such as the tea ceremony, gardening, painting, marital arts, architecture, calligraphy etc. The highest skill is always attained by those with mystical insight and the quality of the products produced by these individuals has always been highly valued within Asian culture. Herein lies another operative benefit.