One Hand Clapping Really ??

 ‘What is the sound of one hand clapping?’ A "Zen Koan" or Puzzle can be either thoughless foolishness as the Youtube video of "Zen Koan: The Sound of One Hand Clapping" or as profoundly thought searching as the Zen teaching of the video "101 Zen Stories #21" which will help all coaches. The link to this video is at the end of the page as it is long, interesting and still on Youtube.

A similar question  of sport development for me as a coach as I suggest the "Zone" of Subconscious involvement in the delivery of a Lawn Bowl was... "Is everything  telepathically linked?" I  even had a reader on his comments on subconscious awareness;  that he had developp his delivery to now he just thinks his bowl to the position he wishes.  I guess this is approaching the idea as I no longer look up the green toward the jack or head while doing my delivery.

There is a idea of "Global Awareness which suggest that as more and more people do a difficult task it will become easlier for the new person as they attempt the task because the combined mental global thoughts and ability of thousand or millions of others doing it; will make it easlier.  In today cellphone society it seems to have meaning as I can remember in the early days of mobile devices how hard it was to figure out how to do something.

Likewise; if more lawn bowlers began doing Subconscious " In the zone" deliveries, will it become easier for those new individuals whom are attempting to understand and develop it ? For those whom think of coaching this blog and the video of 101 Zen Stories is a lesson on patience and student interaction.  To the Lawn Bowler wanting to learn a better delivery the blogs of this group is more about how you can improve yourself.  You will see in many sports the Zen "in the Zone" subconscious action being part of the athletic's advance development.  If you are not yet there, be patience little by little.

 "Masters of Zen Buddhism often give their more advanced students a Koan to contemplate. A Koan is essentially an unsolvable riddle. Its purpose is to get the student to transcend mere logical, every-day reasoning. As this video shows, the process can be fraught with mind-searching difficulty that takes the student close to the very limits of sanity."


 This kōan, unlike others in Zen, did not originate from stories of Chinese Ch'an masters, but was composed by the Japanese master uiHakn Zenji (1685-1768) and presented.. in a work entitled Yabukōji composed in 1752.

A previous student of Zen in his new interest of Huna also  replies on how he now uses this "one hand clapping" Koan  as a method of thinking  toward an idea's use in teaching Huna.  

 For instance, in third-level healing work (Huna) where we assume that everything is a dream and everything is dreaming, we say that if you change one dream you automatically change all related dreams.. In second-level healing work

where we assume that everything is telepathically linked, we say that if you begin to silently bless and forgive people with whom you are having difficulties, they will know it and they will begin to change their behavior  toward you without a word being spoken.

A tree falls in the forest, and there is not one to hear it; does it make a sound ? Did it fall ? One hand clapping is such a alumina. Does clapping need two hands or is it an idea of praise. To appreciate something some say you must first miss having it.

Good and Bad, Hot and Cold, Up and Down.. all need their partner to exist and be full. Yen and Yang.. the forces of the Universe. Hate and Love. Not knowing one, makes one wonder if we appreciate the other any less? or any more?
 The photo of the1997 novel by Australian Author Richard Flanagan is such an idea taken from Wipidepia

 So I say about Bowls,  Not having the idea that the subconscious mind can perform the ideal delivery, we do not seek the fulfillment of the possibility of self-development.

Look up at the sky which circles over us and realize how small we are.It is only because of how big it is. Lie down on the ground, look at the tall grass around you, as a mouse would see the world; and you will look into native American myth and teachings.... You feel like a giant because you have changed your prospective.
So I say to you.  As your bowls ability improve and you place new tools into your toolbox of abilities to perform your perfect draw or takeout shot; remember all knowledge is given freely and it is your to share.

Clapping with one hand is such a change in thought. See the world different and you will see yourself, feel yourself different. Maybe even see your bowl performance differently.

As a coach watching a student development over the season or over several years, this video of Youtube allows for some thought on your patience and expectation of students. See  101 Zen Stories] #21 - The Sound of One Hand". and enjoy..