Around the middle of the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig describes a pilgrimage he attempted in India. He set out for Mt. Kailas, the source of Ganga and the mythological abode of Shankar. He was in the company of a holy man and his followers.
But despite having the physical strength and intellectual motivation, he gave up after the third day and the pilgrimage went on without him.
Thinking about the reason for his failure, he makes a distinction between ego-climbing and selfless climbing.
He acknowledges that he was doing the whole thing for himself, to broaden his experience. He was using the mountain and the pilgrimage for his own purposes. In other words his view and experience of the pilgrimage was ego-centric. Ego-climbing.
The others however, saw the mountain as bigger (in metaphorical terms) than them. Their submission to its holiness made climbing an act of devotion for them. Unreal as it sounds, this gave them the strength to endure more than he could, even though he was the physically stronger one. They were not climbing for themselves but devoting their steps to something bigger than them. Selfless climbing, in one sense.
I've realized gradually that endurance activities- running, for me - are as much if not more about the mindset as about physical strength. This anecdote and the distinction between ego-and selfless running gives a good structure for developing a mindset when running. While it may be hard to think about a trail or a running path in a city as holy, it would be helpful to try selfless running by being more present and mindful of the process of running. He has described it more eloquently. A few extracts (I re-read the passage substituting running for climbing):
"To the untrained eye ego-climbing and selfless climbing may appear identical. Both kinds of climbers place one foot in front of the other. Both breathe in and out at the same rate. Both stop when tired. Both go forward when rested. But what a difference! The ego-climber is like an instrument out of adjustment. He puts his foot down an instant too soon or too late. He's likely to miss a beautiful passage of sunlight through the trees. He goes on when the sloppiness of his step shows he's tired. He rests at odd times. He looks up the trail trying to see what's ahead even when he knows what's ahead because he just looked a second before. He goes too fast or too slow for the conditions and when he talks his talk is forever about somewhere else, something else. He's here but he's not here. He rejects the here, is unhappy with it, wants to be farther up the trail but when he gets there will be just as unhappy because then it will be "here". What he's looking for, what he wants, is all around him, but he doesn't want that because it is all around him. Every step's an effort, both physically and spiritually, because he imagines his goal to be external and distant."
I wonder though if this can be put into practice when you are running in a group or with a partner.
But despite having the physical strength and intellectual motivation, he gave up after the third day and the pilgrimage went on without him.
Thinking about the reason for his failure, he makes a distinction between ego-climbing and selfless climbing.
He acknowledges that he was doing the whole thing for himself, to broaden his experience. He was using the mountain and the pilgrimage for his own purposes. In other words his view and experience of the pilgrimage was ego-centric. Ego-climbing.
The others however, saw the mountain as bigger (in metaphorical terms) than them. Their submission to its holiness made climbing an act of devotion for them. Unreal as it sounds, this gave them the strength to endure more than he could, even though he was the physically stronger one. They were not climbing for themselves but devoting their steps to something bigger than them. Selfless climbing, in one sense.
I've realized gradually that endurance activities- running, for me - are as much if not more about the mindset as about physical strength. This anecdote and the distinction between ego-and selfless running gives a good structure for developing a mindset when running. While it may be hard to think about a trail or a running path in a city as holy, it would be helpful to try selfless running by being more present and mindful of the process of running. He has described it more eloquently. A few extracts (I re-read the passage substituting running for climbing):
"To the untrained eye ego-climbing and selfless climbing may appear identical. Both kinds of climbers place one foot in front of the other. Both breathe in and out at the same rate. Both stop when tired. Both go forward when rested. But what a difference! The ego-climber is like an instrument out of adjustment. He puts his foot down an instant too soon or too late. He's likely to miss a beautiful passage of sunlight through the trees. He goes on when the sloppiness of his step shows he's tired. He rests at odd times. He looks up the trail trying to see what's ahead even when he knows what's ahead because he just looked a second before. He goes too fast or too slow for the conditions and when he talks his talk is forever about somewhere else, something else. He's here but he's not here. He rejects the here, is unhappy with it, wants to be farther up the trail but when he gets there will be just as unhappy because then it will be "here". What he's looking for, what he wants, is all around him, but he doesn't want that because it is all around him. Every step's an effort, both physically and spiritually, because he imagines his goal to be external and distant."
I wonder though if this can be put into practice when you are running in a group or with a partner.
A recent article in NYTimes poked fun at the new generation of Blackberry addicted Buddhist converts. Their ego just took a new "spiritual" color -- all the addictions are still in place. The ego is still firmly entrenched.
ReplyDeleteMost of us look down upon Indians who have blind faith and devotion -- these days I am beginning to respect them and even envy them. Blessed are the meek.
Thanks for reading. I couldn't find that article, do post the link if you have it. I'll appreciate it.
DeleteIndeed, that attitude of looking down on those with blind faith and devotion has been prevalent for a long time now. Sometimes with good reason, but I think mostly out of a sense of superiority.
There was a Marathi film that came out a few years ago 'Vitthal Vitthal', if I recall the name correctly. One of the plotlines in the movie was about a scientist whose views change from a strict atheist/rationalist viewpoint to one who becomes more open to the idea of devotion, after suffering personal tragedies. Not very well made but interesting to watch and with very good music.
Buddhists' Delight
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