Honor your team, cook with joy, beg for challenges (3).

On Zen writings #3

Here are three main insights for athletes and others keen on top performance from an article "Whirlpools and Billiard Balls" by Malcolm Martin and published by Tricycle here on October 18, 2022.

1. "72 Labors" – The Hidden Team Behind Every Moment

• Story/Example: The Zen meal chant honors the countless contributors to a single dish—farmers, cooks, even the bowl-maker.
• Takeaway: Peak performance isn’t solo; it’s sustained by invisible support (teammates, coaches, even opponents).
• Sports Parallel: Like a quarterback’s game-winning pass relying on linemen’s blocks, or a gymnast’s routine depending on spotters’ trust.
• Actionable Drill: "Gratitude Warmup": Before practice, name one unsung contributor to your performance (e.g., "Thanks to the groundskeeper for this smooth field").

2. "Joyful Mind, Not Perfect Technique"

• Story/Example: The Zen cook’s sacred duty isn’t culinary perfection but mature mind—preserving joy amid pressure.
• Takeaway: Obsessing over flawless execution kills flow; purposeful presence elevates it.
• Sports Parallel: Like a surfer (Kelly Slater) laughing after wiping out, or a basketball player (Dirk Nowitzki) shooting free throws with a grin.
• Actionable Drill: "5% Joy Rule": Dedicate 5% of training to purely playful moves (e.g., trick shots, celebratory dances).

3. "Takuhatsu Meals – Beg for Adaptability"

• Story/Example: The chef’s idea to beg for ingredients forced creativity with whatever was offered.
• Takeaway: Constraints (injuries, bad calls) spark innovation; rigid plans break under pressure.
• Sports Parallel: Like a soccer team (Iceland’s 2016 Euro run) thriving with limited resources, or a boxer (Manny Pacquiao) adjusting mid-fight to a broken hand.
• Actionable Drill: "Alms Bowl Drill": Randomly remove one tool (e.g., non-dominant hand) during practice to simulate adversity.

Why All This Matters: Athletes burn out chasing individualism; Zen cooking teaches interdependence, adaptability, and joy as performance multipliers.

Gratitude tastes like victory.