Post by loverofall on Aug 7, 2010 13:36:10 GMT -5
I have played tennis weekly for a few years now and its always been a great place to practice awareness techniques. Watching reactions of others and my own internal reactions are so valuable. I play best when there is no me. True true true. There is just hitting and running. The physical and quiet nature is key to using it as a meditation.
There are strong personalities that like to win and of course they want to tell others how to do everything. I have noticed the pattern of the more a partner did bad, the more they tell others what could be done better. Its a great practice to take this advice and be thankful without returning any comments because that is the opposite of what feeling arises. The thought arises "you just hit four bad shots and your telling me I am in wrong position" but instead of voicing it, its let go. Thinking its not real and I am them. Focus on breathing, laugh, stretch, listen to the birds, look at the clouds, watch insects but avoiding fueling the mind.
The other side is caring about me winning and losing or playing well or bad. I've become hyper-aware of these feelings of desire to win and fear of doing bad and as they have been dismissed, over time my game has improved and its been interesting to hear the comments "he has a different processor than the rest of us in his head". Of course the ego wants to step in and identify with being a good tennis player which is another awareness opportunity.
Well I got invited to play with a better group of players and I had to deal with all the same issues again with these strangers that had stronger ego's. The more I see the illusion of them and me, the quicker those feelings and thoughts were dismissed. Its all in our minds. It also taught me how you could coast by not engaging life and that mixing it up forces you to deal with the fear patterns that are clouding freedom.
Engagement is better than escapism at some point. One teacher I read meditated for years in retreats and didn't have the final understanding until he got married and started a business.
There are strong personalities that like to win and of course they want to tell others how to do everything. I have noticed the pattern of the more a partner did bad, the more they tell others what could be done better. Its a great practice to take this advice and be thankful without returning any comments because that is the opposite of what feeling arises. The thought arises "you just hit four bad shots and your telling me I am in wrong position" but instead of voicing it, its let go. Thinking its not real and I am them. Focus on breathing, laugh, stretch, listen to the birds, look at the clouds, watch insects but avoiding fueling the mind.
The other side is caring about me winning and losing or playing well or bad. I've become hyper-aware of these feelings of desire to win and fear of doing bad and as they have been dismissed, over time my game has improved and its been interesting to hear the comments "he has a different processor than the rest of us in his head". Of course the ego wants to step in and identify with being a good tennis player which is another awareness opportunity.
Well I got invited to play with a better group of players and I had to deal with all the same issues again with these strangers that had stronger ego's. The more I see the illusion of them and me, the quicker those feelings and thoughts were dismissed. Its all in our minds. It also taught me how you could coast by not engaging life and that mixing it up forces you to deal with the fear patterns that are clouding freedom.
Engagement is better than escapism at some point. One teacher I read meditated for years in retreats and didn't have the final understanding until he got married and started a business.
