Zen Horses

A Facebook friend recently posted “10 Thoughts on Zen.”  It struck a chord deep inside of me and I printed them out for future contemplation.  As with most things I print, I tucked it behind my computer and quickly forgot about it.  Thank goodness for desk cleaning!  A quick re-read revealed why I liked it so much.  It wasn’t about Zen at all.  It was a study of horses!  So without further ado…

1. Zen is not about eliminating thoughts but illuminating them. – Gerald May

Riding is not about eliminating thoughts but illuminating them.  We should not seek to destroy the horse’s spirit and instincts, but teach them to use those gifts for mutual enjoyment.

2. Zen is not some kind of excitement but concentration on our usual everyday routine. – Shanryu Suzuki

Riding is not some kind of excitement but concentration on our usual everyday routine.  This sets amazing riders apart from average riders.  Concentrating on doing the simple everyday things exceptionally makes winning an everyday possibility.

3. The ultimate standpoint of Zen is that…the peace we are seeking so eagerly has been there all the time. – D.T. Suzuki

The ultimate standpoint of riding is that…the peace we are seeking so eagerly has been there all the time.  Quit fidgeting and fixing and messing and just ride.  You cannot create peace with activity.

4. The beauty of Zen is found in simplicity and tranquility, in a sense of the all – embracing harmony of things. – Thich Thien-An

The beauty of horses is found in simplicity and tranquility, in a sense of the all – embracing the harmony of things.  If you ask any horse person where they find calm in the hubbub of their hectic life, many will say, “in the barn, when the horses are tucked in and munching on their hay.”  In that humble, tranquil setting life is as it should be.

5. The whole point of Zen is to suspend the rules we have superimposed on things and to see the world as it is. – Alan Watts

The whole point of time with horses is to suspend the rules we have superimposed on things and to see the world as it is.  They show us how the world should be, not what it is.  They are the ideal.  Forgiving, fair, centered.

6. Before enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water.  After enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water. – Zen Buddhism

So this one can be read as is.  Whether you’re at the beginning of your equestrian pursuits or a pro, you’re going to do a lot of stall cleaning and carrying water or posting trot with no stirrups.

7. Zen: If you try to aim for it, you are turning away from it. – Anonymous

Horses, if you are trying to catch them, they will turn tail and walk away.  Okay, maybe that’s not what they meant.  You’ve heard the saying about sand slipping through your fingers if you try and hold it too tight.  With horses you have to be a bit fluid.  Set goals.  Make plans, but don’t hold to them to tightly or you’ll lose them completely.

8. Zen is not thinking about God while peeling potatoes.  Zen is just about peeling the potatoes. – Modern Saying

Riding is not thinking about riding.  Riding is just riding.  If you get too caught up in the theory and thinking you can paralyze your ability to react to the moment.

9. The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there. – Robert M. Pirsig

The only success you’ll find in riding is the success you earn by doing it correctly every day.

10. There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. – Shunryu Suzuki

I’ll admit it.  I didn’t get this at first.  I’m an academic.  I want to understand everything, but then I realized that some things are beyond understanding.  Take for example the idea of infinity.  We know what it is but we have very little understanding of it.  You don’t have to know everything about horses to enjoy all they have to offer.

There you have it.  A Fresh Equine Perspective on The Ten Thoughts on Zen.  I can make anything about horses, just ask my husband.

“10 Thoughts on Zen” originally appeared at Mind Fuel Daily.com.

“10 Thoughts on Zen.” Mind Fuel Daily. 1 Nov. 2013 http://www.mindfueldaily.com/. 

Dance Baby!

“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; One cannot fly into flying.”

-          Friedrich Nietzsche

Fresh Perspective Farm just grew a bit.  Actually, we more than doubled our size in one fell swoop!  We weren’t planning on putting out a large chunk of change for the land on our northern border, but it was suddenly up for sale and we simply couldn’t resist.  The acquisition means more pasture, insulation from neighbors, and a whole lot of work.  There is old fence to be ripped out and new fence to be built.  It puts all our other projects and dreams on the backburner, but there is no complaining.  We are very, very blessed to be able to expand.

A lack of space might be a farm owner’s biggest fear.  When you have to limit your dreams to the square acreage you are sitting on, it can be difficult to see future dreams become reality.  Now we have the space to dream a bit. 

Planning comes next.  How can we best utilize this space to achieve our dreams?  What must we bite off now?  What can we chew on later?  For dreams to come true, plans have to be implemented step-by-step.

Seems like I’m doing a lot of foundation laying right now.  We’re working on building fence and Nutmeg and I are working on building muscle.  Like a water drip that slowly builds a stalagmite, each post we pound and each transition I ride slowly carries us toward our ultimate goals.  It’s difficult to see an efficient, safe and beautiful horse farm when you look at the wild thicket we are starting with.  Just as it’s hard to imagine Nutmeg successfully competing in the upper levels when we’re spending the winter doing simple walk-trot-walk-halt-walk transitions.  Before you can dance, you have to sweat a lot learning to walk and run.

This is the Month of Thankfulness and while I’d like to say I’m thankful each and every day, I don’t always express it well.  So, thank you for reading.  Thank you to each person who has helped us along our path.  Building the barn and house and now expanding has been such an overwhelming undertaking.  We couldn’t even stand when we started.  Now we are so close to flying.  The same goes to all of you that have supported my equestrian pursuits over the years.  We’ve come a long way from a pony on the back porch with an upside down saddle to where we are now.  Flying is so close, but our dance steps still need some work.  Thank you for the daily Fresh Perspectives that keep us growing.  Thank you for showing us the steps.