*SPOILERS* - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Writing Assignment

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert Pirsig

Candidate writing assignment - Malinda Ferris

1. What is Zen?

I feel that zen is a state of mind.  A calmness or oneness with whatever you are doing and just being within that moment.  A feeling of content with where you are and what you are doing.

2. Explain and comment: The truth knocks on the door and you say, “Go away, I’m looking for the truth” and so it goes away.

I think this quote has a couple different meanings.  

For one, I think we tend to overthink or overanalyze…making things more complicated than they need to be.  So even if the truth is simple, we are unable to realize it’s simplicity.  

I also think we tend to look for answers (truths) that suit our own narrative.  We can often become ignorant of the real truth, or even unwilling to listen to other possibilities, because we want our thoughts and beliefs to be the “right” ones.  So we often end up waiting for that validation until it’s too late.

3. What is a Chautauqua?

From what I can find by looking it up (which I did when I first came across it in the book because I had never heard the term before) Chautauqua was originally a travelling movement in the US with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, etc, that shared their teachings/knowledge/expertise with the communities they travelled through.

I believe that the author is using this as a way to describe the journey he is taking.  As he makes the journey, travelling place to place, he takes us with him, telling us his story and what he has learned.

4. Who is Phaedrus? (historically and in the book)

Historically speaking, Phaedrus was a student of Socrates, featured in Plato’s dialogue “Phaedrus”, where they discuss themes of love, rhetoric and the nature of the human soul.  In the book, Phaedrus is actually a pseudonym for Pirsig, his alter ego before he suffers a mental breakdown.  Or maybe it’s more accurate to say that “Phaedrus” caused his mental breakdown because of his obsession with defining quality.

5. What does Pirsig have to say about:

Dedication

Pirsig says that dedication isn’t necessary if you are truly confident in something.  

“You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, it's always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt.”

Kant

Pirsig discusses Immanuel Kant’s ideas about how we perceive reality. Kant separated the “thing-in-itself” (reality as it is) from how our minds structure and interpret it.
Pirsig builds on this, showing how our understanding of the world is partly constructed — which is why “Quality” exists before analysis.

Gumption

Gumption is the “enthusiasm, courage and initiative that make us want to start and complete a task or undertaking”.  If we lose our gumption, we lose motivation to keep going.  He warns against “gumption traps”, which are things like frustration, anxiety, impatience, or ego that drain our motivation and cause us to quit.

Perception

Perception isn’t just seeing; it’s interpreting what we see (or hear, smell, etc). We don’t perceive the world directly or truly— we see it through passive or immersive engagement which will change our perception of similar events. We are creators of our own perceptions and, from that, will create our own realities. 

Blockages 

Blockages occur when we let fear, impatience, or ego interrupt the natural flow of work.
For example, a mechanic (or martial artist) who’s frustrated stops listening to the machine (or the body).  Calm, mindful attention removes blockages.

6. What is the real University?

The “Real University” is a state of mind where rational thought, true learning, curiosity and integrity are what is important and not a physical building or teachers.

7. What is a priori?

A priori means “from before” and refers to truths known through logic rather than personal observation or experience.  For example, math rules are a priori — we don’t have to test them; we just learn and understand them. Pirsig questions whether “Quality” is something along these same lines.  Something we recognize instinctively before any analysis.

8. What is the difference between classical and romantic understanding?

Classical understanding focuses on structure, logic, and underlying systems (how things work).

Romantic understanding focuses on aesthetics, emotion, and immediate experience (how things feel).



Pirsig argues both are necessary for a full understanding of life.
In Kung Fu, classical is your technique and form; romantic is your flow and spirit.

9. What is the real purpose of the scientific method?

It’s not about collecting data; it’s about caring and paying close attention to reality to find truth.
 "Science is a disciplined form of curiosity".

10. What is “The Church of Reason”?

Pirsig uses this phrase to describe the formal, institutional world of academics, where reason is worshipped as absolute truth.  He criticizes it for losing touch with Quality — the human, moral, and intuitive side of learning.

11. What is Quality?

Quality is the main concept of the book.  It’s what makes something “good” before we can explain why.  It’s more of a feeling or a perception.  It often can’t even be defined.  You just know.  Phaedras’ decline in his mental health came from his obsession with defining quality.

12. Climbing a mountain as an analogy to learning Kung Fu

There are so many mountain analogies that can relate to Kung Fu!  One that I like, and that wasn’t the first to come to mind, is how from afar, before you start climbing, it’s just a mountain.  (JUST a mountain..lol).  You can make out the overall shape, colours of snow, forest…the more obvious details.  But once you start to climb, and the further you venture, the more amazing things you find.  It’s completely different than you first thought it would be.  In a good way.  Plants, animals, life.  Sights, sounds, smells.  From a distance you definitely don’t see these and if you’re just climbing to get to the top, you will likely miss them. The best way to approach climbing a mountain, and thus Kung Fu, is, yes, to work hard to get to the top.  But also to slow down and take your time. Even the smallest critter will have a lot to offer.

13. What is the difference between an ego climber and a selfless climber?

An ego climber is obsessed with reaching the goal.  Their focus is only on the final achievement.  They are driven by external praise and need everyone around them to see how far and fast they are climbing.  They are also easily frustrated by obstacles, challenges or setbacks.  I also think that often they do not care how they get to the top (whether it’s done purely or honestly) and only that they do.  I see them as making the climb alone, simply because they do not want to share the spotlight.  These kinds of people always feel a need to prove themselves.

The selfless climber enjoys the process, pays attention to the smallest details, and finds meaning in each step.  They are motivated by internal pride and satisfaction.  They happily climb with others and often assist others in gaining ground, pushing them ahead of themselves. They will cheer those on that might pass them along the way.  I like to think a selfless climber often takes breaks in the climb, simply to enjoy where they are for a time.

I think I have been both at times.

14. What is the difference between a good mechanic and a bad mechanic? 

A good mechanic cares about their work, listens to the machine, pays attention to detail, and works calmly.  A bad mechanic rushes, gets frustrated, and treats the work mechanically rather than mindfully.

15. What effect does “peace of mind” have on outcomes?

Peace of mind produces better results because it allows clarity, patience, and intuition to guide your actions.

16. What is the best way to teach Kung Fu?

Teach through leadership and experience, while also encouraging students to experiment, ask questions, and find other ways.  

Sharing wisdom and knowledge, but being humble in knowing that we never know it all and are always learning, even in teaching.

17. What is the best way to change the world?

Changing the world always starts with changing the individual.  If we start with improving ourselves, the change will ripple out. 

Some extra comments

I have to admit that in many places throughout this book, I found myself thinking...."Wait..what?  I'm lost."  So I don't claim to have "gotten" it in full.  Funny story actually....the copy I had was preowned.  The previous owner(s) did lots of hi-lighting of certain sections...none of which resonated with me at all.  I found lots of things throughout that I made note of, but it was funny how me, and this mystery reader, seemed to have completely different takes on the same book.  I'm also really happy I did this assignment.  The questions above helped me to think deeper into certain things that I may not have otherwise.

Good Sore

I haven't yet been successful at getting to 20 full pushups (from toes).  It's a number that I've always set in my mind that I want to reach as a base line. When I start to reach that number, I generally end up hurting myself (shoulders) and launch myself back to square one in trying to build that number up again.

At Saturday's class, when challenged with doing as many as we could...I didn't want to end up back at that point.  Not right at the start of the new year!!  So during these reps, I kept myself VERY mindful of only doing true full proper pushups.  I didn't want to sacrifice hurting myself for the sake of squeaking out a couple more with bad form.  When I speak of "true full proper" pushups I mean; a straight body, fully up and down, not rushing, even distribution on both sides, etc.  I ended up being able to do 13 of these.

What surprised me, the next day, was how sore I was!!  My shoulders, upper back and triceps were aching...after just one set of 13!!!  BUT....what I was also surprised, and pleased with, was that this was NOT injury.  This was soreness from hard work.  It was good positive feedback and an indicator that I was successful in maintaining proper form.  I stayed true to a "perfect" pushup and worked the right parts of my body...what a pushup is intended to work, rather than ending up with yet another injury through ego of trying to achieve a certain number.

To date, the majority of my pushup numbers are modifications.  I don't see this changing.  But what I AM going to change is my view of what a full pushup is, and stay true to that.  I will worry less about the number I am doing from my toes, and more about perfecting my form.  For instance, I could feel in that last rep on Saturday that I was starting to curve my body on lifting.  When I attempted to correct that, that's when I hit my max and dropped.  I could have continued with a few more, if I had sacrificed that form...but again, I knew what was in store if I did.  It's not just about being on my toes.  There's alot more to it. 

I know this all seems obvious.  But as with many things, a slight shift in perspective is all it takes to make a huge difference.

Kao Shi

Tomorrow morning will mark the first ever Kao Shi class.  I'm excited and curious to see how this will look.  I know from a distant vantage point that it will likely look pretty much the same.  

A group of like minded individuals pursuing mastery.

A set list of requirements intended to help get us there.

But I'm also excited for the different opportunities that a smaller group might allow.  I see alot of potential and I think there are many things we can do a little bit different as a smaller group.

I'll end this entry, and start my year, by publicy sharing with you my personal requirements.

• Hand Form - Da Mu Hsing
• Weapon Form - Stick (personal form)
• Weapon fight choreography with Toudai Vogt.
• Repetition log for all forms (mostly school forms but also a couple of mine that I find valuable.  Marked with asterisk).  The intent is to ensure everything is, at a bare minimum, being maintained.  Min 1 per week, each.
• Lao Gar
• 18 Temple Motions
• Long
• Hung
• Stick
• Broadsword
• Butterfly Swords
• Spear
• Kwan Dao*
• Dou Ti* (hand form)
• Fan*
• Awakening the Dragon
• Once a month baking/cooking with Emma and Nathan.
• Meditation - Min 5 times per week
• Stretching - yoga body hip opening stretching.  Min 5 times per week

Back To Tai Chi

With the changes to class structure and times in the new Kao Shi Intensive program,  I am able to accommodate getting back to the Tai Chi class.  Wooooo!!!

This week was my first class back and I was a little worried that I had left too much fall off my radar.  I was still practicing, but not the full long form, and not with consistency.  Overall I was really pleased how it all came (mostly) back.  I had to clarify a couple things...mostly with my left hand....but if I'm honest,  that left is always a problem in my Tai Chi....just a limp, wet noodle at times.  🙄

I had to laugh when half way in I was starting to sweat.  I have obviously not been working all those tiny little muscles enough.  And I felt really good dedicating that nice long session to energy work and really feeling the movements.  By the end of class my hands were vibrating.  In a good way!

So much good comes from the mingling of Tai Chi and our core classes.  And I'm so excited to be back.

"Basic" Slide-Stepping

Something I’ve been working on recently is maintaining my centre and staying grounded, specifically during transitions. The focus was initially within my forms, but thanks to Toudai Vogt, I eventually shifted my focus to slide-stepping.

At first, I didn’t think basic slide-stepping was something I needed to work on, because I didn’t believe I had any issues with it. Eventually, her persistence made me question whether I might be missing something—or at the very least, it inspired me to do some re-evaluating (which doesn’t hurt to do every now and again, even with the most “basic” things). And so I was pulled into this by Toudai Vogt, and I’m grateful for it.

Working on something as “simple” as slide-stepping in a bow stance has offered a lot of insight. During our training, I was challenged to focus on initiating the step with my back foot. Once I did that—and did it properly—I realized a whole bunch of things.

I’m first going to attempt to describe how I was slide-stepping versus the adjusted version. Bear with me, as feelings are very difficult to describe and convey in writing.

Previous method - My forward movement was being determined by my front leg. I’d describe it as having my front leg act as an anchor point while pulling everything forward (maybe even launching my weight forward as well), then stabilizing everything over that front leg, maintaining my centre there, and finally stepping forward.

Adjusted method - In this method, the movement is initiated by my back foot. I release my heel and push forward, with everything immediately shifting forward together over the front foot. Then I step forward.

I had to chuckle while writing this, because even the descriptions suit the methods themselves. The first is still a little confusing and unsure, while the adjusted version is simpler and smoother. Sorry for the tangent—I just thought that was funny.

Anyhow… moving on.

Once I felt the second way, I realized a few things:

• Although it was a very brief moment—a millisecond, really—I was definitely coming out of my centre. I was re-grounding very quickly and was fine again, but it was there. I didn’t even realize it existed until I experienced the movement without it.
• I wasn’t using my whole body to shift and transition. My back leg was basically dead weight, doing nothing. No wonder I needed a bit of a launch.
• That shift from the back is so important in maintaining my centre. The transition now feels smooth, and I feel grounded the entire way through.
• I’m pretty certain that before I was reaching forward with my toes, whereas now I’m stepping much more assuredly with my heel. The distance I’m traveling seems to be the same. I’m not saying heel versus toe is right or wrong, because I honestly don’t know—but in this case, stepping with my heel just feels more assured.
• I’ve applied this to my horse stance slide-stepping as well, and it seems to be making the same positive difference.
• I’m trying to apply this to my kicks, and so far I’m seeing a positive influence.

This isn’t mine quite yet. I still have to think about it while practicing, and I have to take my time. But it will be mine eventually. Like I said, I’m seeing so many other places where I can apply this and continue to progress with it.

Sifu Brinker has also challenged me to take it one step further and apply it to my hip. I haven’t quite figured that out yet—but the seed has been planted.

Just Not Sure

I was promoted on Monday for my 2nd Degree Brown.

It's been some time since I've had an official evaluation like that.  And it was good to have Sifu give me some really personal feedback.

The biggest of which comes down to intensity.  I think.  I've got the technical part of things figured out.  But I'm missing that piece of the puzzle that gives it real substance.  If someone were to watch me, right now, do my forms, kicks, whatever....their thought might be "that looks really good".  But what I want them to say is "Holy shit...I wouldn't want to get in her way".  This is something that's been described to me as meanness with control.  The "who's your daddy" concept.

I'm not sure how to tap into this within myself nor am I convinced it's something I have.  I want to have it.  But I'm not truly sure what "it" is or what "it" feels like.  

Having said that, I do have a plan of sorts.  I have a goal and a coach.  I just need to formulate the plan and then start taking acton.  I will define this better in the coming days/weeks.

On another note, I realized that today was my first, and only Brown Belt Class.  No class next weekend (long weekend) and no class on the 21st (banquet).  After that, it turns into the new Kao Shi (sp?) class.

#s

 

Don't Wait

It's been a rough go for me sticking to a regular schedule over the last bit.  Things just keep popping up, causing me to have to reschedule.  Just seems like one thing after another.

I even tried revamping my schedule altogether...and bam...another wrench.

Late Monday evening....with still some time before class...I found myself pondering not going.  The day had been a gong show.  I was tired.  Mentally exhausted.  But I made myself go.  I recognized that it wasn't that I couldn't go...I was just feeling tired and didn't want to go.  But I knew....I just knew...that if I chose not to go...come time for next class...something real would come up and I'd be missing again.

This is similar to that feeling of sudden motivation and drive when I CAN'T train.  Not training, not training...then suddenly an injury...and NOW I have this incredible desire.  And really, it's regret.  Regret that I didn't train when I was able.  Regret that I didn't get to class when I could have.

I don't want regret.  Not that I will ever eliminate it altogether.  But I think I'm pretty self aware.  I know when I can vs when I don't want to.  But if the choice is doing something today, even if I don't want to....or regretting not doing it, when one day I really can't...the choice is pretty clear.

So if I can, I will.

Numbers

 

Intentional Rest

This time off has been really beneficial.  It wasn't so much time needed for my body...but more for my mind.  My mind is always going.  I'm a planner.  And like to be organized.  So my mind is typically sorting  (and re-sorting as things change) everything from kids, to activities, to meals, to teaching, to the school...and everything else in between.  

So during this time off I sort of gave myself permission to just turn my brain off and take some time to rest.

That doesn't mean I just sat here staring at a wall.  I was still "active" but just in different ways than normal.  I did alot of puzzles, built alot of Lego (finished my Gringott's!!), played alot of games, and did alot of sitting by the fire with a tea....all with Dan and the kids.  And even though I had allowed myself the "time off" I still found myself thinking about my Kung Fu; worked in a couple trips to the Kwoon, some reps here and there, along with a few pushups and situps.  Not at all what our daily numbers require, but I also didn't wake up today thinking..."Holy Crap....I've done NOTHING in the last 2 weeks and didn't even realize it!"  

For me this was going to be a rest time where I intentionally removed any commitments, schedules or deadlines.  But even with that intention...my Kung Fu was still present and I still felt a desire to incorporate some training.  Not because I felt I had to...but because I wanted to.  And that makes me kinda happy.  

Just Numbers

 

Still Stuck...But Maybe Not As Bad

Awe man.

Well...a rough start to the weekend so far.  I was moving some bales and one happened to be frozen.  I fought with it quite a bit and WON!!!!  Buuuuuuut...hurt my back in the process.  I was laid up for the remainder of the day pretty much....and found myself feeling really anxious with all the little things that need to be done this time of the year.  

I'm feeling better today...but still tender.  And very gun shy.  So any training today has been pretty slim.  Having said that....the reps I've done of Da Mu Hsing....although low intensity, have been high in the energy work.  When not focusing on a bunch of other things...and when forced to slow things down...I can really feel my energy.  Especially in the transitions and in how it flows from my core to my hands.  Very "tai chi-esque".  And honestly....a nice change up.  I've been feeling kinda stuck in some monotony.  Realistically, it should be easy to switch things up.  But when you're stuck....you're stuck...and sadly, knowing the answer isn't always the solution....as backwards as that may seem.

So although this little back tweak didn't do any wonders for numbers (or getting chores done for that matter) it did force a small change for [hopefully] the better.

An Illusion

So something really interesting came out of this past Thursday's class that has made me feel alot better about my spear form.

All year I've been trying to speed up my articulations.  To no avail. It feels painfully slow and looks the same when I would watch myself in the mirror.  In speaking with Sihing Lindstrom, he asked "Well how much faster do you want to be?  Because you look pretty fast already."  I was shocked at this statement....because Sihing Lindstrom has some pretty high standards of us.  He asked that I do my articulation and watch myself in the mirror. Which I've done plenty before so I wasn't expecting anything miraculous to happen. But when I started, he said "no...watch yourself from a side view."  And from the side, my spear was MOVING.  I finally saw the speed that I see others producing.  And I realized that the perspective I have in doing, is not the same as what people see.  I also discovered that, in the form, all of the articulations are positioned so the audience has the side view....which was by design...I just didn't realize it until now.  Lol.