“To be free from the fear of death does not mean pretending to oneself, in one’s good hours, that one will not tremble in the fear of death, and that there is nothing to fear. Rather, he who masters both life and death is free from fear of any kind to the extent that he is no longer capable of experience what fear feels like. Those who do not know the power of rigorous and protracted meditation cannot judge of the self-conquests it makes possible. At Any rate the perfected Master betrays his fearlessness at every turn, not in words, but in his whole demeanor: one has only to look at him to be profoundly affected by it.”—Eugen Herrigel, “Zen in the art of archery”—
When most people watch this scene, they only see (or want to see) the “actions”—how skillful or fast the action is—few see the mindsets of the dualists, and that is very shallow observation.
Notice how these two swordsmen are going to “kill” each other, one of the most violent acts in life? Yet, they speak, though strongly but calmly, as well as their facial expressions and their dominions, quiet body quiet mind, no hate no love, nor good nor bad... While they both facing “death,” but their minds are calm and peaceful. The state of Zen/禪/空 is truly paradoxical.“He who masters both life and death is free from fear of any kind to the extent that he is no longer capable of experience what fear feels like.” No fear!
taichiskiing 寫:When most people watch this scene, they only see (or want to see) the “actions”—how skillful or fast the action is—few see the mindsets of the dualists, and that is very shallow observation.
Notice how these two swordsmen are going to “kill” each other, one of the most violent acts in life? Yet, they speak, though strongly but calmly, as well as their facial expressions and their dominions, quiet body quiet mind, no hate no love, nor good nor bad... While they both facing “death,” but their minds are calm and peaceful. The state of Zen/禪/空 is truly paradoxical.“He who masters both life and death is free from fear of any kind to the extent that he is no longer capable of experience what fear feels like.” No fear!
On the contrary, let’s take a look at a low/no class fighter, e.g. beg, his posts are full of fears and hatreds, and runs like a screaming coward on the last scene, and he thinks he is winning, funny that.
