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From: wfs@mgweed.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sport
Subject: Zen and Intuitive Response(part 6)
Message-ID: <2115@mgweed.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Jul-83 16:04:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: mgweed.2115
Posted: Wed Jul 13 16:04:33 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Jul-83 21:37:04 EDT
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                 Zen and intuitive Response(part 6)

  Any attempt to rationalize  response  to  the  koan  lesds  the
student  into  intellectual  turmoil since all logically reasoned
answers are constantly dismissed as inadequate. Pushed to a state
of  bankruptcy  and  logical impasse, the only course left to the
student was abandonement of the intellectual process. In so doing
the  student  opened  his  consciousness to inherent knowledge, a
conscious unity  of  thought  and  action  where  questioner  and
question  merge  as  one-and the answer to the koan shines bright
and clear. The purpose of the koan exercise is to  inculate  what
Zen  mystics  refered  to  as  "no  mind"  (wu-hsin).  In wu-hsin
consciousness  suspends   intellectual   inquiry   and   rational
deduction  and  is  returned  to  a  child-like  state in all its
suppleness, and receptiveness; always fresh,  alert,  intuitively
aware  and active in the present. The principle of "doing without
doing" (wu wei) or swimming with the current is an  outgrowth  of
the  passiveness  and  reflexiveness  of  wu-hsin. "Wu wei is the
supreme action, the precious suppleness, simplicity  and  freedom
that  flows  from us, or rather through us, when our private egos
and conscious efforts yields to a power not their own".  The  art
of  judo,  the  gentle way", is based on the principle of wu wei.
Yielding to an opposing force rather than meeting it  with  equal
energy, judo "brings one's opponent to the ground by unexpectedly
giving  way  with  effortless  resilience  to  his   passionately
delivered  attack,  thus  turning  his own strength against him."
When consciousness is in the supple, receptive child-like mode of
wu-hsin,  it  intuitively  senses  the flow of an opposing force.
Rather than confront it directly, it can  redirect  or  rechannel
the  energy  with  little  expenditure  of  its  own. That is why
"sittingmeditation" (zazen) is done at the begining  and  end  of
each  dojo  session. A good instructor understands the importance
of wu-hsin consciousnessm in the transmission  of  the  Arts  and
therefore  promotesit  through  meditation. One usually sits in a
seiza(legs and feet tucked underneath) or  lotus  (leds  crossed,
feet  tucked  in) position. With eyes closed, spine straight, and
hands  resting  comfortably  in   front,   the   student   begins
diaphragmic breathing- deep inner cleansing breaths designated to
clear and  open  the  lungs,  speed  oxygen  to  the  brain,  and
generally      open      the      Ki     meridians     of     the
body...........................(to be cont'd. in the next & final
part )