In Japan, warriors are taught vigilance and awareness. This is the basis of learning, everything else is secondary. The art of fencing, the art of archery are just ways to develop alertness.
It is said about the great Master Rinzai that he was not always successful in archery. His arrows often missed their target. And he was known as one of the greatest archers. When asked: “Why is he considered a great archer?”, his students answered:
- This is not the end goal, this is the beginning. We are not related to the arrow reaching its goal, we are related to the arrow beginning its journey.
Among Rinzai's students was a famous archer. Every day he learned to shoot with a bow, and all his arrows hit the target. Rinzai told him:
- No, it's a failure. Technically the arrow comes out correctly, but you're not all there. You lose your vigilance in your sleep.
One day, Rinzai was informed that an unknown Master had come to them, demonstrating the greatest art of archery. Rinzai went to look. And indeed, the man amazed with his skill.
When he took aim and pulled the bowstring, a cup of water was placed on his elbow and he began to shoot. When the first arrow hit the target, the second was already in the string, and it was immediately followed by the third. He himself didn’t even move.
The master, looking at this, said:
“Your shooting technique is good, but it’s just technique.” You only look like a statue from the outside. Let's go now to a high mountain, stand on a rock protruding over the abyss, and then you will shoot.
They climbed the mountain. Standing on a rock jutting out over an abyss a thousand meters deep, the Master stepped back until one third of his feet hung over the abyss. Then he suggested that the archer stand next to him and shoot. He approached, looked down, his legs trembled, his face turned pale.
The master, continuing to stand over the abyss, said:
“A perfect man rises above the blue sky, dives into a yellow spring, or wanders through all eight limits of the world, and there is no sign of change in his soul. But you were deceived by the signs of trembling, your eyes dazed. And you hope to hit the Target?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru