Zanshin: the art of focusing attention from the legendary samurai gunslinger. Consciousness

In the 20s, the German Eugen Herrigel went to Japan and began to study kyudo - japanese art archery.

His teacher was the legendary kyudo master Awa Kenzo, convinced that beginners should learn the basics before starting shooting at real targets, and adhering to this technique to the maximum. For the first four years, Herrigel was only allowed to shoot at a haystack from a distance of 7 feet. When he complained about the learning process being too long, Kenzo responded, “Don't measure the path to the goal. What is the significance of weeks, months, years?

When he was finally allowed to shoot at a target at the very back of the training hall, Herrigel's performance failed. Arrow after arrow, he was more and more confused by the fact that they did not hit the target. Herrigel was sure the problem was that he didn't aim well. To which Kenzo replied that this was not the point, but in relation to the process, which determined the outcome. And the bewildered Herrigel simply burst out: “Then you should hit the target even with your eyes closed.”

After a short pause, Kenzo replied: "Come in the evening."

Shooting with closed eyes

After sunset, they returned to the courtyard where the training room was located. Kenzo took his usual place for shooting, and the target was hidden somewhere in the night. The master took a pose, pulled the string and fired the first arrow into the darkness. Herrigel would then write, "I knew from the sound of it that she had achieved her goal."

Immediately, Kenzo aimed a second arrow and sent it there into the 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 target stand, to my surprise, I found that the first arrow hit the bullseye, while the second one split its tang and went through her barrel before digging into the center of the target."

It's all about aiming

Great archery masters often teach that "it's all about aiming." The result is determined by all the little things: how you place your feet, how you hold the bow, how you breathe at the moment when you release the arrow.

In the case of Ava Kenzo, the master was so attentive to the process leading to a clear hit that he could exactly repeat all the movements without even seeing the target. This complete control of the body and mind while moving towards the goal is known as zanshin.

The term zanshin is widely used throughout the world to describe the state of relaxed alertness in Japanese martial arts. Literally translated, zanshin means "attention without reserve." In other words, attention is completely focused on the action and fixed on the upcoming task. Zanshin means constant control of the body, mind, environment without the slightest stress - passive vigilance.

Although in practice zanshin has more deep meaning. In essence, this is a choice of conscious living and following a certain goal, rather than mindlessly swimming with the flow.

Enemy of progress

As the well-known Japanese proverb: "After winning the battle, tighten the helmet straps."

The original phrase "katte kabuto no o o shimeyo" literally translates to "tighten the kabuto straps after winning the war" (kabuto is a helmet worn by the Japanese military).

In other words, the battle does not end after victory. The battle only ends when you become lazy, lose the sense of commitment and the necessary focus. And this is another essence of zanshin: a vigilant life even after reaching the goal.

We can use this philosophy in many areas of life.

1. Literature: The battle doesn't end when you publish a book. It ends when you decide that you are already a finished product, when you lose the vigilance needed to improve skills.
2. Sports: The battle doesn't end when you beat your personal record. It ends when you lose concentration and skip workouts or, on the contrary, do not calculate your strength and overexert yourself.
3. Business: The battle doesn't end after the big sale. It ends when you become self-confident and sassy.

The enemy of progress is neither defeat nor success. The enemy of success is boredom, fatigue and lack of concentration. The enemy of success is the lack of commitment to the process, because the process is the main thing.

The Art of Zanshin in Daily Life

“All matters and situations should be treated with the same sincerity, tension and awareness with which you hold a bow and arrows.” - Kenneth Kushner, “One Arrow, One Life” (“One Arrow, One Life”).

We are obsessed with the result: like Herrigel, it is too important for us whether the arrow hits the target or not. However, if we shifted this tension, focus and sincerity to the process itself - where we put our feet, how we hold the arrow, how we breathe when we release the stele - then hitting the bull's-eye would become secondary.

It is important not to worry whether you will hit the target or not. It is important to fall in love with the boredom of doing work and enjoy every moment of the process. It is important to capture this moment of zanshin, the moment of total awareness and focus, and use it throughout your life.

It's not the goal, not the finish line that matters. What matters is how we achieve it. It's all about aiming. It's all about zanshin.

The whole point is that you learn to direct your attention to the chosen subject, be it food, daily activities, business, negative emotions or a block and the pain lurking there. When you direct your attention to the object you have chosen and in this process there is no denial, limiting thoughts and evaluations, you directly come into contact with the object, become one with it. Then he begins to reveal to you his true essence. You and this object meet, it gives you its knowledge of itself, and with it you have consciousness, consciousness.

Consciousness can only come to you when you are open to the world, this subject, topic, problem, situation, what worries you. Otherwise, there is no consciousness in you, only a dream, an illusion. Because consciousness is co-knowledge, and co-knowledge requires another side.

When co-knowledge appears, the knower and the known merge into one. That is, neither you nor the other side. This has happened to every person in life - for example, when you fell in love, the first moments.

Consciousness is devoid of thoughts, evaluations. This is a kind of flow that connects you with the world or with this subject. However, I will disorient you, this is not a flow. What can be the flow in confluence and unity?

Let's do the following exercise. Take, for example, a pencil. If you start thinking about him that he is bad, he will start to move away from you and become a stranger. Feel it. If you think that he is good, he will begin to approach and become familiar. It is also easy to see and feel.

If you immediately liked the shape and appearance this pencil, you may not notice that instead of soft pencil you were given a hard one. So our thoughts and assessments fool us, clouding our consciousness and hiding true knowledge about the subject.

As long as you have even the slightest thoughts and assessments, you will never come into contact with the subject of interest to you and will not receive the necessary information about it. Your thoughts and assessments will stand between you and the subject. And you, in fact, will deal with them, and not with the subject. Now think and answer the following questions:

As you go through life, meeting many things along the way, solving all sorts of problems, you have learned a lot. Do you really know what you know?

You have learned a lot from other people. Do they really know what they know? And you?

you have read many smart books. Do you really know what you know?

Consciousness is neither material nor immaterial. If it were material, it would have a smell, a taste, a color, a shape. Consciousness is not immaterial. If it were non-material, it, like thought forms, would have a transient nature, it would arise and disappear like them, it would cling, it would carry evaluations, it would have boundaries and could be reflected outside, that is, it would have a material reflection, as it happens with thought forms. Since it does not apply to material world, nor to the non-material, therefore, it is located between them, in the middle. The path of consciousness is the famous Middle Way.

Consciousness is devoid of opposites in itself. It has no outside, no inside, no top, no bottom, no left, no right. If it had all this, it would not be co-knowledge. Contradictions appear when thoughts arise about the subject that we are in this moment consider. Consequently, consciousness in this case is in the middle, in the center. Therefore, consciousness is Golden mean. Remember the system of equations that we gave at the beginning. Consciousness is God.

When it comes to finding a life partner, it's all about your compatibility. Sure, you can meet the sweetest and smartest man, but if your core traits, habits, and values ​​don't match, the relationship won't last. The stars will tell you who will be the best couple for you:

1. Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)

Scorpions are the most devoted people that can only be found. They stand as a mountain for their territory and loved ones, it is this quality that makes them best friends and spouses. Scorpio will do anything for the people they love.

1. Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Cancers are known as the "relationship people" of all zodiac signs. They are warm, funny, loving and willing to have a home and commitment. Crayfish - best husbands and wives, they want to settle down and feel safe with the family they love.

1. Libra (September 23 - October 22)

Libravas are the most romantic of all the zodiac signs, but their flirtatiousness, indecisiveness, and commitment to perfection can lead people to assume they won't make a long-term partner. But this opinion is true while Libra is in search of an ideal partner for himself. Once they find him, they will be loyal to him forever.

1. Pisces (February 19 - March 20)

Besides the fact that Pisces are everyone's favorites, they also make wonderful partners. Their softness and non-conflict prevents many scandals, and their idealistic views make them super romantic. Pisces thrive in relationships. They need security and stability. Pisces is a life partner that you can always rely on and believe that he will be there no matter what.

1. Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

Gemini are amazing in relationships. When they give their heart to someone, they are devoted to him forever, their love knows no boundaries, logic or reason. Sure, Geminis are known for holding on to toxic relationships, but in general, they are trustworthy, interested, fun, and interesting. They love their partners like they love themselves (and yes, that says a lot).

1. Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

Tauruses are known for getting carried away quickly but also losing interest easily. However, when they finally find their man, they can be reliable and kind partners. However, they are restless perfectionists and sometimes their partner may not like it, but they will try their best in a relationship.

1. Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)

Capricorns make wonderful life partners because they are organized, committed to tradition, and strive for stable, monogamous relationships. In relationships, Capricorns tend to be supportive of their partner. They will give you a strong shoulder and encourage you when you need it. However, they easily let the relationship overshadow everything else that matters to them, so they need to keep an eye on it.

1. Virgo (August 23 - September 22)

Virgos can make excellent partners, but the process of their improvement is long and tedious. They are so prone to overanalyzing and obsessing over every little detail that they end up sabotaging any romantic connection. However, once they get into a relationship, they will find a way to get through the ups and downs that life throws at them. They are romantic in nature and will be happy to dedicate their lives to the right person if they ever find one.

1. Leo (July 23 - August 22)

Leos make wonderful partners because they are fiercely protective of those they love. Often people misperceive their aggressive self-centeredness, but in fact they treat everyone they love with the same protection and adoration as they treat themselves. Leos will do anything to protect their partners, children, friends or family, and they will protect your relationship as it is their own reputation.

1. Aries (March 21 - April 19)

Aries are worthy companions; however, they are too logical and have an innate desire to explore and be always right. Undoubtedly they devoted friends and partners, but may occasionally hesitate. They will need to put in more effort so that they can stay in a long-term relationship.

1. Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)

Aquarians are not people of relationships, but they can become one when the right person appears nearby. It's incredible how quickly they change their behavior for " the right person' as soon as it is found. Aquarians are so weird and have so many different whimsical ideas that it can be difficult for them to form relationships with people. Happiness in the life of an Aquarius comes not from a relationship, but from creating some kind of serious, fundamental change in the world. Thus, their priorities will naturally lean towards the latter.

1. Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)

Sagittarians are explorers, wanderers, thinkers and adventurers. They thrive when they learn new information, meet new people and live "on the edge". If Sagittarius finds someone with whom he wants to spend his life, he will quickly converge with this person. Otherwise, Sagittarius is very difficult to tame. He does not want to maintain a long-term relationship. This doesn't mean that you CAN'T have a healthy, long-term relationship with a Sagittarius, it means that they are less romantic and more committed than other people.