Sometimes in life coincidences seem so purposeful and meaningful. We go from a perplexed state to complete clarity. Like a Zen monk Jay says everything is here. We are born and all we need of the material, spiritual and intellectual is here. It is a matter of awareness, do you see it or not? Jay is not a Zen monk and as far as I know is probably not a practicing Buddhist, but you don’t have to be to appreciate the wisdom that some humans from all belief systems had come to realize throughout mankind’s existence. As he instructs us through the movements of Capoeira, he pieces together life’s puzzle. Modest, small observations and concepts that carry the meaning of life, you have to listen carefully and you have to be ready for it. Capoeira is a martial art, dance, philosophy and a way of life. As we follow his lead we hesitate, stop and get frustrated. There is a lot to remember and the difficulty of the movements challenges even the most physically fit. The idea is to try and try until it becomes second nature. In life we don’t always have the privilege of stopping and it usually causes missed opportunities. In capoeira you are in continuous motion and usually avoid the opponents attack; Jay explains; it does not make any sense to try to block a guy three times your size, no matter how strong you are, save your energy for your movements. Whether you choose to avoid or block or attack, you do it fast or you are in big trouble. How many of us try to take on the big guy in life? Why try to block what we have no chance of hindering, when we can just step aside and avoid the attack? then we wonder why life keeps knocking us down.
The continuous motion challenges me. My body fails me and my mind resists. I have gotten used to sitting around waiting for things to show up at my door, instead of assertively pursuing my goals. Just when I think I have nothing more to give, there is a sudden rush of energy and an overwhelming sense of tranquility as I shift the paradigm. Purging old ideas implanted from my past, weighing me down and trapping me still like stagnant water. Jay becomes one more source of refinement, one more cause of improvement.
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