Thanks to all who have participated to this thread. Wanted to throw in my two cents (also as a reader, not a moderator), and say that I've really enjoyed learning more from this thread, and am inspired to ride more harmoniously and with greater mindfulness and intention. I personally like climbing hills because I find it easier to achieve that "zen state" that Erik wrote about earlier; I'm definitely going to read some of the resources mentioned above to try and cultivate more experiences like this.
Jaden Salama Feeling grateful in rainy Eugene, OR On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 4:12:21 PM UTC-8 John Rinker wrote: > Hey Joe, Your point is well received, and I do appreciate that we all ride > in our own ways and for our own reasons. I'm delighted to have a forum like > this to learn about how others do so. > > Perhaps a better title for this post would have been: 'Breathing, > attention and other practices that enhance your ride' > > Cheers, > John > > > On Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 8:58:12 AM UTC+9 Paul Clifton wrote: > >> I don't have a lot to add, but since I think about this kind of a lot, >> I'll add my experience, but try to keep it short. I often recite/perform >> Thich Nhat Hahn's breathing poem when I ride: "In/Out, Deep/Slow, >> Calm/Ease, Smile/Release, Present Moment/Wonderful Moment". I've never been >> big on listening to teachers, so I never got into Zen or any other sort of >> formal practice, but I did take a bunch of psychedelics with friends who >> enjoyed talking about the nature of reality as much as I did, and ended up >> having some conversations with Buddhist teachers about following the path >> of the Buddha or finding one's own path. For me, many different experiences >> have led to me to where I am now, and cycling has been an important one - >> along with love and drugs. >> >> But after all of that, I find that without some sort of consistent >> practice, maintaining presence in my day-to-day life is a real struggle, >> exacerbated by the typical responsibilities of middle age. It may not >> matter how I practice, but doing it every day, one way or another, with >> intention, seems to be important. Inconsistency aside, maybe this is the >> year for a real bicycle day blowout. >> >> Paul in AR >> >> On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 11:54:02 AM UTC-6 duh...@gmail.com wrote: >> >>> I appreciate the sentiment of this topic and am now on the hunt at local >>> book shops for a couple different titles. >>> >>> The Stanford Baccalaureate speech has been replayed a handful of times >>> already, so thanks for that Erik. >>> >>> I'd also like to throw into the ring The Pocket Thich Nhat Hahn >>> <https://www.shambhala.com/the-pocket-thich-nhat-hanh-2093.html>, this >>> compact book covers the basics and fits in just about anywhere with ease, >>> including your saddlebag. >>> >>> It's covers the basics and is very palatable, 10/10 worth keeping a copy >>> around. >>> >>> Best, >>> Jared >>> >>> >>> On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 7:26:41 AM UTC-8 robkr...@gmail.com >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Erik, >>>> +1 on thanks for your thorough response. >>>> >>>> We (cyclists, not necessarily this group) don't talk nearly enough >>>> about the spiritual component of cycling, so thanks to John for starting >>>> this thread. >>>> >>>> Rob K. in MA >>>> >>>> On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 9:01:54 AM UTC-5 philipr...@gmail.com >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Before you ride off to the unexpected, I ordered Fischer's book on the >>>>> most un-Zen like Amazon as my local library apparently don't have this >>>>> title. Thanks for the recommendations. >>>>> >>>>> On Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 4:23:52 PM UTC-6 John Rinker wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> "And now that I'm completely off the topic of bikes, I'll stop before >>>>>> my posts get pulled!" >>>>>> >>>>>> Often the most enjoyable rides are the ones that take us to >>>>>> unexpected places. >>>>>> >>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>> John >>>>>> >>>>>> On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 2:35:49 AM UTC+9 Erik wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> The best equivalent to that would be the book that introduced a lot >>>>>>> of people to Soto Zen, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" a collection of >>>>>>> talks by >>>>>>> Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, the founder of the San Francisco Zen Center. The >>>>>>> book is a transcription of lectures and talks he gave at the Zen Center >>>>>>> over the years and starts with the line, "In the beginner's mind there >>>>>>> are >>>>>>> many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few." >>>>>>> >>>>>>> A few others I would recommend for their direct style and plain talk: >>>>>>> - "What is Zen" by Norman Fischer and Susan Moon. Just published a >>>>>>> few years ago, but a great introduction. And Norman Fischer is a >>>>>>> fantastic >>>>>>> writer and teacher. >>>>>>> -"No Beginning, No End" by my teacher, Kwong-roshi. He was part of >>>>>>> the original group of students at SF Zen Center. The book is a great >>>>>>> reflection of his personality. I can see him rolling his eyes at me >>>>>>> for >>>>>>> writing these lengthy responses about Zen. He frequently chides me for >>>>>>> living too much in my head. :) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> If you want to hear / watch a talk, I always like to recommend this >>>>>>> one because it was written for a lay audience and connects the >>>>>>> principles >>>>>>> of Zen with ordinary life. It's Zoketsu Norman Fischer giving the >>>>>>> graduation speech at Stanford in 2014. >>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN9p__BHHDs >>>>>>> >>>>>>> And now that I'm completely off the topic of bikes, I'll stop before >>>>>>> my posts get pulled! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 6:48:17 AM UTC-8 >>>>>>> philipr...@gmail.com wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I'm learning so much here - is there an equivalent of Grant's "Just >>>>>>>> Ride" for Zen? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 2:08:51 AM UTC-6 John Rinker wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> What a pleasure it was to read of your experience, Erik! Much of >>>>>>>>> what you wrote resonates deeply with me. Perhaps this is because we >>>>>>>>> share >>>>>>>>> something of a history with San Francisco Zen Center and a particular >>>>>>>>> approach to both Zen and riding a bike. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> My formative experiences with Zen occurred when I lived in the >>>>>>>>> City in the late 80s/early 90s and sat at the Zen center regularly >>>>>>>>> during >>>>>>>>> this time. This and S.Suzuki's 'beginner's mind' approach to Zen >>>>>>>>> flavored >>>>>>>>> my view of the practice as a way to "engage with every activity with >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> same energy as you do your sitting". I was a runner at the time, and >>>>>>>>> my >>>>>>>>> early morning runs to the Zen center from my 16th/Guerrero place and >>>>>>>>> home >>>>>>>>> again were a way to extend the practice beyond the zendo. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Your description of your ride today puts into words so clearly my >>>>>>>>> own experiences on rides that challenge me, and how I return to my >>>>>>>>> breathing as a method of focusing on the ways in which my body reacts >>>>>>>>> to a >>>>>>>>> tough hill, frozen hands, thirst, or fatigue. There always seems to >>>>>>>>> be >>>>>>>>> another pedal stroke at the bottom of that gaze. And, when the riding >>>>>>>>> is >>>>>>>>> easy, as I mentioned above, breathing is a wonderful way to bring my >>>>>>>>> attention to the moment where brendanoid's 'constant birdsong' echos >>>>>>>>> across >>>>>>>>> Phillip's 'gritty industrial streets' as my wheels spin effortlessly. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>>>> John >>>>>>>>> On Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 4:07:55 PM UTC+9 Erik wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> An interesting thread. I've been involved with Zen practice for >>>>>>>>>> a long time. I'm fortunate to live the greater Bay Area, one of the >>>>>>>>>> places >>>>>>>>>> where Soto Zen first took root in America back in the 1950s and 60s >>>>>>>>>> as the >>>>>>>>>> Beat generation started attending services at local Japanese temples >>>>>>>>>> in >>>>>>>>>> pursuit of new experiences. Between San Francisco Zen Center and >>>>>>>>>> all of >>>>>>>>>> the other temples and practices centers that branched off over the >>>>>>>>>> years >>>>>>>>>> around here, we have a lot of teachers and places to practice. I've >>>>>>>>>> been a >>>>>>>>>> student at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center for many years now and have >>>>>>>>>> spent a >>>>>>>>>> lot of time sitting on a cushion and staring at the wall inside the >>>>>>>>>> zendo. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> A fundamental concept in Zen practice is that there is no >>>>>>>>>> distinction between sitting (zazen) and other activities. Zazen is >>>>>>>>>> just one >>>>>>>>>> way to bring your attention to the present moment. A big part of >>>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>>> practice is that you approach and engage with every activity with >>>>>>>>>> the same >>>>>>>>>> energy as you do your sitting practice and that whatever you are >>>>>>>>>> doing >>>>>>>>>> should be done fully and completely. When you sit, you sit. When >>>>>>>>>> you >>>>>>>>>> walk, you walk. When you rake, you rake, When you ride a bike, you >>>>>>>>>> ride a >>>>>>>>>> bike. Even during intensive training periods, we intersperse zazen >>>>>>>>>> with >>>>>>>>>> walking meditation, work practice, cooking, cleaning, meals, and >>>>>>>>>> other >>>>>>>>>> tasks. Sitting practice is only one part of a larger whole and the >>>>>>>>>> constant is the act of paying attention to whatever is in front of >>>>>>>>>> you at >>>>>>>>>> that moment. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> But without going down a practice discussion rabbit hole, I would >>>>>>>>>> say that riding a bike--particularly when I'm alone--requires >>>>>>>>>> attention >>>>>>>>>> that is akin to zazen. It's one of the things that I have always >>>>>>>>>> loved >>>>>>>>>> about riding. Zazen can be brutal. It's just you and the cushion >>>>>>>>>> and the >>>>>>>>>> wall and your attention. Nothing to distract you, even though your >>>>>>>>>> brain >>>>>>>>>> desperately wants something to feed it. And so the focus on >>>>>>>>>> breathing, >>>>>>>>>> dropping thoughts, posture. The need for this sort of focus comes >>>>>>>>>> up a lot >>>>>>>>>> when I'm riding. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Just today I was out riding and was climbing up a decent grade >>>>>>>>>> near my house and had to keep reminding myself that the only thing I >>>>>>>>>> need >>>>>>>>>> to focus on is the motion of my body and bike in each moment, THAT >>>>>>>>>> pedal >>>>>>>>>> stroke, THAT revolution of the wheels, etc. My lungs were straining >>>>>>>>>> and I >>>>>>>>>> wanted to stop, but once I got into the rhythm of just paying >>>>>>>>>> attention to >>>>>>>>>> one moment at a time, my body settled down and I was able to keep >>>>>>>>>> climbing >>>>>>>>>> one pedal stroke at a time. It's not much different from the >>>>>>>>>> experience of >>>>>>>>>> sitting through what feels like the 100th hour of zazen on a hot >>>>>>>>>> afternoon >>>>>>>>>> when your legs and back are aching, your arms feel like they are >>>>>>>>>> going to >>>>>>>>>> drop off, your thoughts are popping off and you are convinced that >>>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>>> timekeeper died or forgot to ring the bell...just returning your >>>>>>>>>> focus to >>>>>>>>>> the present breath, over and over again and all of the discomfort, >>>>>>>>>> anxiety >>>>>>>>>> and thinking will eventually go quiet and you can settle down into >>>>>>>>>> something deeper. Nothing lasts, everything changes. It's a lot >>>>>>>>>> like >>>>>>>>>> riding in that way. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I'll end my long response now, but thanks for the opportunity to >>>>>>>>>> consider the connection between practice and biking again. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5a3b6108-4d47-4399-9107-d7f95aa1bcb5n%40googlegroups.com.
