Buddhism recognizes that body and mind are tightly linked. Emptying the mind is not as important as being mindful of what the mind is doing.
[Often FA/MA practitioners as well as those who practice "koryu" which is classic styles of the Japanese martial systems that emptying the mind is a requirement to achieve a level of expertise in those forms of combat when in reality this is slightly off the center. What is actually achieved is present moment mindfulness where nothing from the past or future intrudes for those moments of combat.
We can not achieve this type of mental concentration every moment of the day and we should avoid trying to do this as it is counter productive. We need to train to achieve this exacting present moment mindfulness when that moment deems it necessary. This could be combat, self defense, achieving goals, etc. or just that meditative time to still the mind and achieve positive results for you health.
We FA/MA practitioners get caught up in the thrill of the stories that cause us to look at things a bit askew vs. realistically. We all want to be the hero and yet we are influenced into that false belief that it is as depicted in movies, books, etc. when it ain't.
Present moment mindfulness is also a vehicle to dig into ourselves to see the real you vs. what you tell yourself, i.e. your story, which can be more fictional than real. This particular quote can be a reminder that we have to see beyond the story and be truthful with ourselves to achieve enlightenment. Then again, if that ain't your bag then it doesn't matter.]
Deep breaths; the mind is wild, agitated, or distracted, reestablish mindfulness with a few deep breaths. Pull air in strongly and let it out the same way. Make a strong act of will and apply some force to your attention. Reestablish mindfulness, strengthen concentration.
[There is good reason why so many forms of self improvement, i.e. FA/MA practice, meditation, etc., use breathing techniques as a focal point in practice. Breathe controls and affects many parts of the spirit, mind, brain, and body which are all connected. Breathing gives life not only to the body but through the many systems within the body and mind. ]
My personal "Interpretive" Lens!
"One thing has always been true: That book ... or ... that person who can give me an idea or a new slant on an old idea is my friend." - Louis L'Amour
"Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider..." - Francis Bacon
"What is true today may be reevaluated as false not long after. Judgements are frequently based upon a set of "temporary" circumstances surrounding them. Conflicting ideologies can exist simultaneously. Antagonistic dualities are complementary aspects of a unified whole: are seen as mutually dependent mirror images of each other." - Nahum Stiskin
Warning, Caveat and Note: The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books.
Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.
Kenpo Gokui
A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while the blood circulating is similar to the Sun and Moon yet the manner of drinking and spitting is either soft or hard while a person's unbalance is the same as a weight and the body should be able to change direction at any time as the time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself and both the eyes must see all sides as the ears must listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactile, olfactory and gustation data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction
All Bottles are Truly Good
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