Asian cultures have developed
a number of activities that
have a meditative strand.
For the practiser of Tai Chi, a
series of moves involves legs,
arms, hands, and even fingers.
Breathing properly is also an
‘give attention to only one thing.’
Thoughts and worries of the
day are replaced by attention
to stance, grip, swing, and the
wind. We strive for that special
sound and feel of a perfect hit.
Often, a golfer will swing again,
breathing.’ Activities that
require this kind of focus
provide a break from daily
living and its cares for those who
practise them. The mind takes a
vacation and you end up feeling
relaxed, less stressed, and more
The mind takes a vacation and you end up feeling relaxed, less
stressed, and more content.
important part of the exercise.
There is no talking, and the
exercise is done either with a
group or individually. It matters
only that mind and body focus
on one thing: the moves.
The Japanese have a form
of archery called kyūdō that is
descended from a ceremonial
or contemplative practice.
Contemplative practice teaches
kyūdō as meditation in action.
The student begins with a
rubber bow until the basic
actions are mastered and then
moves on to a real bow and
finally adds an arrow. The
belief is that shooting
correctly inevitably
will result in
hitting the desired
target. For this, the
phrase seisha hitchū,
‘true shooting, certain
hitting,’ is used to describe
this state of meditation.
In golf, our attention is
on a little white ball, so we
just trying to remember that
perfect hit and what it felt like.
All of these activities fit the
definitions of meditation:
‘focus one’s mind for a period
of time,’ ‘giving your attention
to only one thing,’ and even
‘concentration on one’s
content. So, the next time you
play a round of golf, just call it
eighteen holes of meditation. ●
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