Zen Body Being by Peter Ralston, (07) Seeking an effortless power, Notes

Post date: Jun 12, 2016 11:48:29 AM

Zen Body Being by Peter Ralston

Chapter 7. Seeking an effortless power. The truth about acquiring extraordinary power is grounded in hard work and proper understanding. Using the power may be effortless but acquiring the ability to do so, the feeling-sensitivity, takes work. Be open. Question everything. Use the exercises provided to train feeling and mind states. This will change our relationship to our body. These must be created for ourselves. Work to apply the principles to our own experience.

• • 1. Using the body effortlessly and effectively. This is the best all around goal we can have in a physical endeavor. Much experimentation must take place to discover the most effective way of doing a task. Mastery demands such a direction. Greater ease is a joyful experience. This approach keeps us constantly learning and improving. It reveals discord in our movement and limits inappropriate thinking. It all occurs naturally if we keep as our central goal obtainment of an effortless power. To not be a body but a force.

    2. Effortless power is found through two interdependent activities: alignment to the movement principles and alignment of mind and body for use of an intrinsic force inside the body. Using the whole body firmly connected to the ground. Compression allows for more power with less effort.

       1. What is intrinsic strength? The force that holds the tissues of the body together. Works somewhat like drawing a bow to shoot an arrow. The strength is already ‘present’ without any need for muscle contraction or strain to bring about its existence. As the kangaroo uses less energy the faster it moves by compressing the body into the ground to launch themselves forward, we must use our intrinsic springiness. We cannot use just the legs but the whole body acting in unison. It is using the whole body correctly to access the power of the ground through compression. By aligning our bodies perfectly for the task at hand, we allow the body to be compressed into the ground and so, in effect, let the earth carry the weight. There is no shortcut. We must experience with our bodies to find the inherent application of that binding quality. We must discover the necessary distinctions in feeling-states and action, which will allow an effortless power to emerge.

       2. A discovery of effortless power:

          1. Be in search of a relaxed power.

          2. Train relaxation.

          3. Be relaxed until…

          4. We generate effortless power by generating the appropriate mind -states and feeling states, not by using effort or leverage. From there, isolate why and how certain experiences of effortless power work. Practice and refine these until effortless power becomes an art unto itself.

          5. Effortless body use requires first and foremost that we relax and seek out effectiveness without straining. Take relaxing to a ridiculous degree. We can always relax more. Notice when we have unnecessary exertion to automatic activities. With each repetition use less and less effort. As we do this, we need to listen to the body and make adjustments in alignment, width of stance, angle of the hips, arm angle etc. Pay special attention to moving from the center, using the whole body and connecting to the ground, all while staying relaxed. Be sure all pressure is being channeled down through the feet. Grounding contact means keeping the body aligned over the feet. Connect the body’s point of contact (whatever point that is performing the task) through the center and into the ground. By using the ground and connecting the energy, less effort is required to accomplish the task. Eventually grace emerges as no forced strength is used to accomplish the task.

          6. As we move the whole body into some object, the pressure we encounter at contact should be channeled downward,allowing the tissues of the body to be compressed into the ground. Progress depends on what we feel, our level of perception and our skill in creating the feelings that can get the job done. Be patient. It takes time and a willingness to investigate. Seek to be in harmony with the forces around us rather than exerting muscular strength in opposition. Effortless power is relaxed and allows us to join with nature: omnipresence.

          7. Neither anger nor adrenaline is a reliable source of power. Through practice our consciousness of relationship grows more refined and we become sensitive to distinctions that are neither necessary nor available with the use of brute force.

       3. In the search for effortless power, we have to create a very specific relationship between the task, ourselves and our actions. This feeling sense must guide us. When we find effortless power it is as though life is the way it should be. Give away egoic control and we will find it. Clarifying and improving our perception will go a long way. Consistently train the mind to perceive more accurately.