Essence of Zen

Do one thing at a time. This is what one Zen Master once said to his student. This is the essence of Zen. This one thing is very applicable to golf and every facet of the game. To focus your awareness on the one thing at hand can be the greatest thing a golfer can do. It outwardly seems to be a simple task and at times it turns out to be simple. Perhaps when you play by yourself you experience the simplicity of your focus -- one thing. The shots fly where you aim and the putts drop.

As an instructor, I have heard the explanation from friends and students countless times of how they just shot their career rounds. Recently a student came to me and told me of the 67 that he shot. We both agreed about how easy it feels when you are in the experience of it. The experience is as if you're just excepting the moments and there is a harmony that exists between you and every turn of events. I don't like to label this feeling, I prefer not to call it anything, it simply is what it is. Your awareness is one thing and one thing only as it happens to you.      

My feeling stands as this: when we label our experiences and feelings we fall prey to our ego and the more material side of this world. This is the side of us all that judges and places a stigma on the poor performances and the outcome of those performances.

This stuff all matters to us, yet in the midst of playing your very best there is a very peaceful space. It is a space that even though this stuff still matters it is still peaceful. On those rare occasions when everything is clicking they matter very little compared to the enjoyment that you are experiencing. What you are experiencing on those occasions is your true self, the one thing inside us all that is the mustard seed of faith, the one that trusts in himself, the part of us that has been through hell and has grown from it. Chances are this happens after you have put in your time practicing and experiencing failure or perhaps it is more successfully finding out what does not work. This stuff is what leads you to your right to play well.          

Your awareness on just one thing is the surrender. Having done it all before with effort, focusing on the whole process, when finally you give in and just see one thing at a time. Your will is what you surrender and everything happens without any effort, it's more like a dream that you can control by not trying to control.             

Sounds a bit crazy, but ask any player that shot a real low round and they will come up with the cliche, "I was just in the zone". If you would like to learn more go to 7mythsofgolf.com.