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The Sweet Spot
If you have ever committed yourself to any sport, hobby
or activity that requires you to practice consistently for improvement,
then you may have experienced the “sweet spot:” those
wonderful moments of maximum output with optimized effort. Perhaps
it’s that moment when you finally hear that sweet smack on
the golf club that sends the ball flying down the fairway after
weeks of splicing into forests, sand and water. It may be in a dance
performance when technique, talent and expression all meld into
perfection. Or it may be in meditation when the mind finally calms
and the body begins to hum with the power of the universe. Whenever
it occurs, being in the sweet spot is an amazing experience; and
once you’ve tasted it, it often becomes the ultimate goal.
The thing about the sweet spot is that once you experience
it, it is soon gone. It is a peak experience, and life is usually
not lived at its peak--it’s made up of many experiences in
between those peaks. We have moments of brilliance when we surpass
even our greatest expectations; we have moments of struggle when
everything requires monumental effort; we have endless days when
life plods along with no relief in sight. Yet, if we are to improve,
we continue our practice as we explore our edges and challenge our
abilities, and we look toward experiencing that sweet moment of
perfect synergy again.
What if we were able to be in that place of vibrant
stillness as a regular part of living? What if all of our moments
were infused with that absolute clarity and focus of mind and efficiency
and ease of physical effort? If we look at the qualities of being
in the “sweet spot,” we can see that many of those attributes
can be experienced in our day-to-day life.
Perhaps the most important aspect of experiencing the
“sweet spot” is truly being in the moment with total
awareness. Mind and body work together with no concern of past or
future. This union of mind and body in perfect awareness of the
present moment is described by the Japanese zen term known as satori—“the
place where our senses remain consciously apart from their corresponding
sensory objects in order to perceive them, while being in immediate
participation with the foundation of all realities.” Therefore,
the key to living in the “sweet spot,” or in satori,
is to be aware of the mind and to know its true nature. By understanding
the mind’s nature, one can begin to be aware of how thoughts
distort our perception of reality and how thoughts influence our
reaction to it. Once we are conscious of these habitual reactions,
we can therefore begin to consciously choose our actions. From this
knowing and choosing, one can then experience true freedom. It is
expressed perfectly in a beautiful koan saying--To study the way
is to study the self / To study the self is to forget the self /
To forget the self is to awaken to all things.
This leads us to another important aspect of satori--living
in harmony within and with the world around us. When conscious thoughts
do not disturb the focus on the moment, the mind and body work together
in perfect union. There is no residual muscle or emotional memory
that disrupts the flow of the moment. Unconscious memories of seemingly
contradictory perceptions are instead understood to be complementary.
The entire body functions perfectly right down to the cellular level.
One achieves maximum output with what seems to be minimal effort.
As with anything involving regular practice, we experience successes
and failures as we move toward this place of satori. Yet as we continue
to progress in our efforts, we move closer and closer to this sweet
state of existence. Regardless the pursuit, in order to develop
our ability to allow ourselves to exist completely in this place,
we must practice being in the moment. We can best cultivate this
through our yoga and meditation practice. We begin to observe our
thoughts arise and slowly, with practice and acceptance, find more
stillness in them. (See last month’s article “Mind the
Gap” for more on quieting the mind.) As the mind becomes more
calm and focused, even in the most challenging yoga pose, we begin
to see how there can be stillness in the effort. We explore our
physical and mental boundaries and know what it is like to explore
our edges with gentleness instead of force and pushing.
When both mind and body are completely engaged, amazing
things can happen. Effort produces a much greater result when it
is put forth with looseness instead of tension. Creative ideas begin
to flow, and energy is used much more efficiently. Then, just as
things begin to flow when one is moving out of stillness, things
open up in life, and it too begins to flow. Obstacles that have
long blocked our path are suddenly removed, and doors begin to open
with ease. There is much practice required in getting to this state
of satori. But through understanding the difference between pushing
and forcing, and moving with intention without attachment, we recognize
that being in the “sweet spot” is attainable in every
moment of our life.
Heather Antonissen, May 2003
You can write to Heather at heather@yogaisyouth.com
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