How does one define self-control? Are we controlling action or thought or both? Which occurs first? Understanding the complexity of how the mind works continues to baffle scientists. Understanding the conscious reactive mind vs. the subconscious instinctive mind is certainly a source of confusion for many of us. As a Martial Artist, my concern has always been focused on training my mind to react logically rather than emotionally. This can take a lifetime – trust me on this! Confronting someone who is verbally or physically threatening can evoke all sorts of emotion and remaining calm enough to respond appropriately requires a composure that many would find difficult to endure. So, where does meditation fit in?
Think of all the thoughts that bombard your brain at any given moment. Without some attempt at constraint, it can cause confusion, fatigue, distraction, and even madness. Without consciously knowing it, we constantly struggle to filter and clarify important, meaningful thoughts from random meanderings. We often seek activities that help us filter and restrict the number of thoughts we are receiving. Most of these activities are focused on solitude, i.e. hiking, fishing, gardening, reading, and…meditating. We are just trying to get the mind to rest. When all else fails, we hope that sleep will do the job.
Meditation is simply an attempt at reducing thought. It is nearly impossible to eliminate thought completely (although some may take issue with my assessment based on their own interactions with people), since even thinking about nothing is thinking about something. Find time to quietly, consciously reduce thought. Ten minutes three to four days a week is a good starting point. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply and think only of that. Do not expect to get immediate results. I like to use this example: imagine you were exercising and out of breathe – it will take time to control your heart rate and panting breath – so it is with meditation. Repeat your attempt to quite the mind often enough and slowly you will recognize a reduction of the intensity of thinking activity.
Mr. Weber is the chief instructor at the Aikido Academy of Self-Defense located at 16134 N. Oracle Rd., in Catalina. He has more than 45 years of experience in the Martial Arts and has achieved skills in a variety of disciplines. He also teaches Tai-Chi on Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m.
Please call (520) 825-8500 for information regarding these and other programs. If you wish, check out the website at www.AikidoAcademyOfArizona.com.