Zen of golf
One of the classic non-golfer criticisms about golf is that it is a “good walk spoiled” by chasing around a little white ball.
People who understand the zen of golf know that the ball as outcome is absolutely what the game is not about. It’s about practicing focus and staying in the present - a challenge in any situation designed around the seduction of outcome.
So it was this morning, taking off in the dark after the required dose of sitting meditation and yoga, drinking in a pristine sun rising from cool chirps and dew, where focus and presence and non-attachment to outcome yielded seamless pars on the last 3 holes.
September 5th, 2005 14:55
in 1972 I lived next to the largest Jodo Shin Shu temple in North America. I met the priest early one morning as I was leaving to play a round of golf. he was going out his door to play a round. we started playing together often, I started Dharma training under his guidance, found a new way of seeing, believing and knocked 13 strokes off.
September 5th, 2005 15:36
Great story; so not surprising.
September 5th, 2005 20:03
When I play, I tell myself that the goal for the day is simply to apply the clubhead to the ball. Everything else after that is just icing on the cake.
September 8th, 2005 14:13
golf is a challenge to play and even more interesting to watch others who are playing with me. it’s the struggle (usually) which will show the true character of the player. to know a character well is to know how they play a round of 18. the ego goes up and down with every shot and so does the level of frustration or exhilaration. but the true character shines thru when the game (or meditation) ain’t goin’ the way it’s suppose to … it’s the level of patience and discipline to stick with it that shows well, everything.