Stop waiting for magic—just play (4).

On Zen writings #4

Here are three main insights for athletes and others keen on top performance from an article "Waiting for Something to Happen" by Stephen Batchelor and published by Tricycle here on March 17, 2020.

1. "Stop Chasing Enlightenment – Just Sit"

• Story/Example: The article warns against fixating on dramatic "breakthroughs" in meditation, which disrupts the present-moment practice.
• Takeaway: Obsessing over future results (e.g., "I need to score 30 points tonight!") sabotages current performance.
• Sports Parallel: Like a golfer (Tiger Woods) overanalyzing every swing mid-tournament, or a sprinter (Usain Bolt) straining for a record instead of feeling the run.
• Actionable Drill: "4'33" Warmup": Before competition, spend 1 minute silently noticing ambient sounds (crowd, breath, shoes)—no performance thoughts allowed.

2. "Add No Legs to the Snake"

• Story/Example: Zen Master Kusan’s warning against overcomplicating practice: "Just sitting is enough."
• Takeaway: Over-tweaking technique ("I must perfect my jump shot!") often undermines natural flow.
• Sports Parallel: Like a pitcher (Greg Maddux) trusting his fastball grip instead of over-gripping, or a climber (Alex Honnold) relying on muscle memory mid-route.
• Actionable Drill: "Snake Drill": For 5 minutes, practice a core skill (dribbling, kicking) without corrections—just repeat it mindfully.

3. "Listen Like John Cage’s Piano"

• Story/Example: The composer’s silent piece "4’33”" teaches radical openness to ambient sounds—no forced focus.
• Takeaway: Hyper-focus narrows awareness; soft attention (e.g., hearing the crowd) enhances reactivity.
• Sports Parallel: Like a soccer goalie (Manuel Neuer) sensing shooter tension from their breath, or a boxer (Muhammad Ali) dodging punches by reading all body cues, not just fists.
• Actionable Drill: "Ambient Awareness": During scrimmages, periodically note 3 non-game sounds (e.g., sneaker squeaks, coach’s voice)—then return to play.

Why All This Matters: Athletes waste energy on "goal hypnosis"; Zen teaches that presence is performance.

The snake needs no legs.