Dzansin: The art of focusing attention on the legendary samurai arrow

In the 20s the German Eugen Herrigel sent to Japan and begins to learn Kyudo - Japanese archery

. His teacher was the legendary master of kyudo Awa Kenzo, convinced that before firing at real targets beginners should learn the basics and sticking with this technique to the maximum.

The first four years Herrigel allowed to shoot only in a haystack from a distance of 7 feet. When he complained about too long a learning process, Kenzo replied: "It is not necessary to measure the way to the goal. What is the significance of the week, months, years? »




When he was finally allowed to shoot at a target located at the end of the training hall, performance Herrigel failed. Arrow after arrow, he was more and more confused by the fact that they do not hit the target. Herrigel was confident that the problem lay in the fact that it is poorly takes aim.

What Kenzo replied that it was not the case, and in relation to the process that determined the outcome. And baffled Herrigel just blurted out, "Then you have to hit the target even with closed eyes»

. After a brief pause, Kenzo said, "Come in the evening»

. Shooting with eyes closed

After sunset, they went back to the yard, where the gym was located. Kenzo took his usual place for shooting, and the target has been hidden somewhere in the night. Master took the position, pulled the bowstring and released the first arrow into the darkness. Then Herrigel wrote: "For the sound, I knew that it had reached the goal»

. Immediately brought Kenzo second arrow and sent it back the same night. Eugen jumped up and ran across the yard to check. In his book "Zen in the Art of Archery" Herrigel wrote: "When I turned on the light at the counter with a target, to my surprise, I discovered that the first dart hit clearly in the bull's eye, while the other has split its tail and went through its trunk before one`s the center

target. " It's all about aiming

Great masters of archery are often taught that "all business is aiming." Result define all the details: how you set foot as keep the bow as you breathe in the moment when the release arrow

. In the case of Awa Kenzo, the master was so attentive to the process that leads to a clear hit, he could repeat exactly all the movements, even without seeing the target. This complete control of the body and spirit while driving to the goal known as dzansin (zanshin).

Dzansin term widely used throughout the world to describe the state of relaxed alertness in Japanese martial arts. Translated literally, dzansin means "attention without reserve." In other words, attention is fully focused on the action, and is fixed on the upcoming mission. Dzansin means constant control of the body, mind, environment without any stress - passive vigilance

. Although in practice, dzansina deeper meaning. In fact, this choice of a conscious life and follow a specific purpose, rather than mindless swimming downstream.

The enemy of progress

As the famous Japanese proverb: "After winning the battle, firmly tighten the straps of the helmet»

. The original phrase «katte kabuto no o o shimeyo» literally translates as "tighten belts Kabuto after a victory in the war" (Kabuto - a helmet, worn by the Japanese military)

. In other words, the battle does not end after the victory. The battle ends only when you become lazy, lose a sense of obligation and the necessary concentration. And this is another essence dzansina:. Alert life even after achieving

We can use this philosophy in many areas of life.

1. References: battle does not end when you have published a book. It ends when you decide that you are - already finished product, when you lose the vigilance needed to improve the skills

. 2. Sports: war does not end when you beat a personal record. It ends when you lose concentration and miss a workout or, on the contrary, do not want to force and overexert.

3. Business: war does not end after a big sale. It ends when you become arrogant and brash.

The enemy of progress - it's not a defeat and success. Enemy of Success - boredom, fatigue and lack of concentration. The enemy of success - is the lack of commitment to the process, because the process - this is the main

. dzansin Art in everyday life

"To all the cases and situations should be treated with the same sincerity, voltage and awareness with which you hold the bow and arrow" - Kenneth Kushner, "One arrow, one life» ( "One Arrow, One Life")
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We're obsessed with the result: as for Herrigel, for us too important to fall if an arrow at a target or not. However, if we shifted this tension, focus and sincerity to the process itself - where we put feet as we keep the boom as we breathe, when we release the stele - then hit the bull's-eye would be a secondary

. It is important not to worry if you find yourself the target or not. It is important to fall in love with boredom on the job, and enjoy every moment of the process.

It is important to grasp this point dzansina, the moment of total awareness and focus, and use it everywhere in life.

Important is not the goal, not the finish line. What is important is how we achieve. It's all about aiming. The thing dzansine.

High conversions you!