[Notice: The series are a personal effort in understanding the brain/mind and how it will apply to my life and practice of the fighting/marital arts. Any errors or omissions are mine alone and do not reflect on the sources from which I draw my thoughts and understanding. If you find any please allow me the human condition of making errors and provide me the information I need to learn, grow, and prosper.]
In my study of the Kenpo Gokui I have been taken to many sources of information that I hope will expand my knowledge and proficiency in my life. Since Bushi Tatsuo Sensei was greatly influenced by his beliefs I also find the teachings of such as Buddhism inspiring in practice and life. In the Buddhist belief there is something they tell us of the "feeling tone" which is produced by the amygdala.
This tone is broadcast by the amygdala widely through out the brain/mind/body. It tells the brain as a whole what to do each moment whether it is to approach food as a pleasant experience, to avoid a place or person because of unpleasant intuition, or to move away from a snake curled up on the ground. Simplistic explanation but you get the point of the feeling tone.
You already have a brief idea how the feeling tone works from the last post. But to recap, during the first moment of any encounter your sight will transmit an image to the occipital cortex which handles the visual information which the cortex processes into some meaning. The cortex sends this information two directions, one is the hipppocampus for evaluation of a potential threat or an opportunity. The other area is the PFC where more sophisticated analysis is done. The hippo compares the image to files and then determines immediate action, i.e. jump away from danger. This high priority alert is sent to the amygdala which says "Watch Out!" and tells the flight or fight neural and hormonal system to do what they need to do. Example: you see a shape, you jump back in alarm.
The PFC was pulling information from your long term files to figure out what the shape is and then provides concrete information, provided you have it or the knowledge of it, which says continue to run, fight or relax.
As you can see mind/brain training is a complex issue and requires a lot of academic and practical experiences to achieve levels and actions appropriate to today's world of self defense, fighting arts and martial arts, etc. [Remember: there is a clear separation between these major practices.]
In the spirit of the gokui and the Buddhist view of, "Buddhism encourages to take nothing on faith alone and does not require a belief in God." This means that we must pursue knowledge and truth so that it can assist us in reaching a higher plane of life as referenced in Buddhism's three pillars, i.e. virtue, mindfulness, and wisdom.
Bibliography:
Hanson, Rick and Mendius, Richard. The Practical Neuroscience of Buddha's Brain: Happiness, Love & Wisdom. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment