Is it possible to do both at an early stage of martial arts training? One is very goal oriented, the other is not.
Does anyone really engage in non-goal oriented martial arts practice?
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Is it possible to do both at an early stage of martial arts training? One is very goal oriented, the other is not.
Does anyone really engage in non-goal oriented martial arts practice?
123
Taoism and martial arts are an old combination, where one
supports the other. This combination is very natural since it balances
both your spiritual and physical development.
I would, however, question the reason for having a goal
in either. I think you shouldn't do either with goal oriented
approach, since that kind of attitude makes you focus more
on the goal than on the process.
Also, if you are goal oriented, you will easily start to grow
a potential difference mentally where you ARE something
but you WANTED TO BE something else. The bigger the difference
between your current state and your goal-state, the bigger
the problem you have.
Another thing is that if you think about the goal too much
is that you start to rush things through. That's not good either.
Any serious development takes a lot of time. Years. It's not
sensible to rush.
Ideals, and goals can be good things too, but you shouldn't
in my opinion cling on to them too much. Enjoy your training in
both martial arts and taoism.
As Cheng man ching said "Invest in loss". Why should there be any goals? Do you know what it is to master a martial art? If so then you know where you expect to end up. So does that mean when you get there you can retire? Tell me truthfully how can one possibly have a goal in internal arts when there is no finishing post? Maybe the only one could be do practice the art correctly, but beyond that you have nothing.
Its like that famous Zen story about the wetserner academic and the Zen master. When the academic asked for a lesson in Zen, the master poured him a cup of tea and allowed the cup to overflow and then kepy pouring the tea in. The academic says you cant get anymore in. The master smiles and says first empty your mind and then I can pour wisdom into it.
If you keep your eyes on the goals, you lost the vision of the path.
Bling !! Bling !! Great story RM ;)Quote:
Originally posted by Repulsive Monkey
Its like that famous Zen story about the wetserner academic and the Zen master. When the academic asked for a lesson in Zen, the master poured him a cup of tea and allowed the cup to overflow and then kepy pouring the tea in. The academic says you cant get anymore in. The master smiles and says first empty your mind and then I can pour wisdom into it.
It is just as impossible to not have goals as it is to not have desires. It is not that we should not have goals or desires; it is that we should not be ruled by our goals as we should not be ruled by our desires. Anytime we wish to accomplish any act we have set a goal that has grown out of a desire. It is impossible to live without goals and desires. It is delusion to think otherwise. It is attachment that we are to avoid. It is the attachment to a goal or desire that is the cause of bondage. If I allow myself to become attached to my goal then I am bound to it and it rules me. I have desires and I have goals, but I keep them in proper perspective. Goals and desires are to be used as tools, once they accomplish their purpose they are to be discarded. Their purpose has been served and they are no longer uselful to me. Doing this I do not allow them to lead me into bondage.