How to achieve a sense of ease in action? The key lies not in the intellect but in being present. You don't think about being relaxed or try to be relaxed. You embody it.
A good place to begin is to observe your breathing. Note its distinctive qualities: light or heavy, delicate or course, smooth or rough, short and staggered, steady and gentle? What are its special colors, its special sound?
Take a minute to listen.
Think for a second about what you are learning. Just now! What has happened to your breathing as you reflect on this question? Do you see how the breath changes? Many people literally stop breathing they become so locked into their Thought Tower. In negotiations this can prove a serious error, in combat a fatal one.
Japanese historians provide the following account of the famous duel between the great sword masters Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi had shown up intentionally late for their scheduled encounter and with only a wooden sword. What impudence!
"Are you so frightened of me that you have broken your promise to be here by eight?" Sasaki shouted.
Musashi ignored the query. They were on a beach at Ganryu Island. Wavelets lapped at Musashi's feet as he silently approached his adversary. Sasaki drew his sword and tossed it carelessly onto the beach. Musashi stopped. Staring at Sasaki in disbelief he said:
"Sasaki, you have just sealed your doom."
"Me? Defeated? Impossible!"
"What master swordsman on earth would ever abandon his sheath to the sea?"
Sasaki paused, somewhat puzzled by this strange inquiry.
At that moment Musashi's sword struck and great Sasaki fell.
The first principle: stay conscious of your breathing and be aware of the breathing pulse of the other players. It is a clue to their integrity that they cannot easily disguise.
See the Training tips.
© Copyright 1999, Logos Networks Corporation, All Rights Reserved