One of my favorite books is Zen and the Art of Archery, by Eugene Herrigel. In this book, Mr, Herrigel goes to Japan in search of zen enlightenment. He is guided into the practice of archery in this seeking.

The reason he is guided into archery is because, according to the people who teach zen, zen is too difficult for a westerner. Not being of the Japanese culture, it would be to difficult for him to understand the concepts. Through the practice of archery, however, he might be able to make some headway with zen concepts.

Mr. Herrigel throws himself into the practice of archery with much diligence and attention to detail. Unfortunately, though he seeks to calm himself, and understand the intricacies of the tall bow, he is reward with nothing but frustration. How, he wonders, is he going to be able to find zen if he can’t even hit the target!

Fortunately for him, the sensei appreciates his diligence, and invites him over to his house for some personal instruction. The teacher is humorous, pleasant, and a veritable font of zen and wisdom, but Mr. Herrigel, still doesn’t understand. Finally, the sensei takes Mr. Herrigel out to his back yard to shoot on his personal archery range.

They stand on a range that is about a hundred feet, and the teacher instructs Mr. Herrigel to light a candle between the firing line and the target. The candle lit, Mr. Herrigel is instructed to turn off the lights. In the deep darkness, with only a single candle glowing fifty feet away, the teacher fires an arrow and puts out the candle.

Mr. Herrigel is totally and utterly astonished. Such a shot, fifty feet, and the candle was out! Absolutely amazing!

The teacher merely says to turn on the lights, and then has Mr. Herrigel retrieve his arrow. Mr. Herrigel runs down to the end of the range to look for the arrow. He finds it…in the center of the target.

Using only the light of the candle to put out that candle…and to hit the target. To discern the depths of one’s soul through mastering a martial art. To understand the brilliance of yourself on a darkened night–this is what zen…and the martial arts…are really all about.

Tags: Self Defence