Nature violence
The
marvellous quality of nature-violence, unlike ego-violence, is that it does
not spring from intolerance and self-hatred.
So there is no anger in the rainstorm that carries everything before it,
or in the fish that devour their young in obedience to natural laws we know
not,
or body cells when they destroy each other in the interest of a higher good.
When nature destroys, it is not from ambition or greed or
self-aggrandizement,
but in obedience to mysterious laws that seek the good of the whole universe
above the survival and wellbeing of the parts.
(Anthony De Mello)
Animals in the
wild
Humans are violent because other people conflict with their desires.
Sometimes they are simply bored.
This is very different to 'nature violence'.
In nature, violence is not the consequence of boredom or petulance.
Survival prompts the violence, rather than
thought.
Reptile brain
The human
survival mechanism is referred to as 'the reptile brain'.
It is the primitive part of our brain that deals with instinctive
requirements rather than thoughts and desires.
When attacked, a human being experiences the 'fight or flight' response. You
either defend yourself or you run away.
Our
classes do not want people to freeze, run or become aggressive.
There is an alternative.
The aim is to become
composed and
detached.
Self-consciousness ceases.
The mind becomes quiet and you are absorbed into the
immediate.
Fight or flight?
'Fight or flight' is the term used to describe our instinctive response to
serious danger.
Unfortunately, many people imbue situations with inappropriate import, and
they are perpetually in a fight or flight condition.
There are very few situations in everyday life that are literally a matter
of life and death.
Letting your animal nature rule you is not a good thing - it puts the body
under stress and creates anxiety.
In our school we train to be detached from violence, to
remain calm and
friendly.
By keeping a cool head and letting our body naturally do the work, we can
work more effectively in the face of threat.
The reptile brain may move our bodies into action but it is not allowed to
corrupt our temperament with
aggression.
Animals in the martial arts
Some martial arts have developed from the observation of animals.
Often the
style may adopt similar strategies or body language to the animal.
In tai chi, the focus is upon the nature of the animal
rather than just the physicality.
Consider: how does a snake attack?
It is not aggressive or anticipatory, it simply moves - spontaneously.
The attack is sudden and continues for as long as necessary.
We learn to adopt the same instantaneous approach.
Preparing your body
It is not enough to simply copy how an animal attacks.
Nor is speed the answer.
Both
body and
mind must behave differently.
Neigong trains the body to move in a
tai chi way; with connected,
soft musculature and sensitivity.
Relaxation is imperative.
Unless your body is incredibly relaxed and
balanced, it cannot move spontaneously in any direction.
Similarly, the mind must become quiet and alert.
Emotion must subside and
awareness must grow considerably.
Mind, body and emotion are joined in every action - this joining is called
shen.
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Page created 16 July 2003