ZEN FOCUS

The the Art of being One with Your Target

Life is a hapless shooting, for the most part, at vague images somewhere 'out there' beyond the confines of our reality, when in truth the target is closer than you might think...Nahu

When we shoot for a target the resulting effort implies that a distance exists between our selves and the intended goal. That is, between the target and the archer.

To reduce the element of uncertainty of time and space in which the complete movement must take place, the entire drawing of the arrow, placement in the bow and release, must be achieved with one quick, smooth movement. To attain the high level of focus and proficiency required by this task takes diligent practice. Thus, perfection of this technique aims at maximum focus or the absolute reduction of uncertainty through speed, coordination and concentration.

Seen from a deeper level, the art of Zen Focusing requires the kind of unusual perceptual acuity that involves more then simply aiming with your eye, hand, or the smooth coordination of your body to succeed in hitting your target of choice; whatever that goal may be, it also takes a high degree of spiritual awareness. This smooth focus and release must attain an unconscious depth of body/mind unity. Like all higher spiritual practices, to do so requires that both the object and subject become united, as completely as possible.

Try to visualize the process like this: See your target and your self as One. When you release your arrow, let go of your desires and the uncertainty of achieving them. Think of what you seek out there to accomplish in the world (your target), is already one with you. Remember: though the target and the archer appear to be separate entities, they are fragments of an unknown, yet implicate state of ONENESS.

Therefore, true focus necessitates reunion of your inner and outer Self into a new awareness of ONENESS. The true aim of Zen Archery than is: Returning to a state of No Separations Between Self and World.

Eugen Herrigel (1953), describes Zen in archery as follows: 'The archer ceases to be conscious of himself as the one who is engaged in hitting the bull's-eye which confronts him. This state of unconscious is realized only when, completely empty and rid of the self, he becomes one with the perfecting of his technical skill, though there is in it something of a quite different order which cannot be attained by any progressive study of the art..."

Note: When you have hit your focused target of ONENESS, newly discovered within you, the quest for its location somewhere out there in the world will be over.

Namaste' Nahu