The Goal of Training

“Zen study is basically to reach the fundamental and clarify the essence of mind. … As for what this fundamental essence is, your features may differ as you die and are born over and over again, but at all times there is an inherent awareness.” 
-Keizan

If you do not know what you must see and do to hit any target at any distance—under match pressure, failure is an option.

BE, circa 1980… The early days, training in what now is a sea of condos. Check out those proprietary “range bags.”

Every aspect of one’s training—physical and mental—is vital, and adds knowledge to your experience. Dry-firing, range time, analysis, and competition contribute equally to one’s advancement. 

Train to perform. When dry-firing or on the practice range, beware of mindless repetition.

A state ripe for learning is free of cares and goals.

The simple act of shooting while aware and goal-free is tremendously beneficial. For each string of fire, watch for something new, something you’ve never noticed. 

The goal of training is to eliminate doubt from every aspect of performance. 

Then, awareness is waiting to run the show. (Link to The Zone.)

======
Comments are welcome, and all questions will be answered.

I’ll post a new topic each Friday afternoon, in one of two categories. One will be on shooting, and the other will be on living. Or: how I learned to live from what I learned by competing.

Thanks for coming in.