In martial arts class, our instructors used to tell us “Don’t wipe the sweat from your brow. Just let it be and focus on your techniques.” And I would argue (in my mind) with the instructor: “But the sweat is annoying. It’s tickling my face. I don’t like getting sweat in my eyes. It stings my eyes. It hurts, and I don’t like it. Why would he ask me not to wipe sweat from my eyes?”

But I think I’ve just understood a new level here, and I think it’s about focus.

One goal of martial arts training is to train the body and mind to function together, seamlessly, without thought. If I am attacked, and I have to think first and then act, it may be too late. But when I train my mind to relax, and asses the situation with a calm, focused mind – I can react with a much better outcome. It takes a LOT of practice.

One goal of meditation is to give the mind a rest. A break from all of the incessant involvement in thought. A step back from conditioning, and a focus on – well – nothing.. er – uh – emptiness. Or no-thing-ness….  Anyway, I’m still new at it, but it seems that the parallel may be that if I disengage from the constant mental noise, I will develop an inner peace that is not cluttered up with excessive and unnecessary thinking. If I let the itch be, and let the thought float by without becoming engaged with it, I can be fully present and deal with what IS, instead of what my busy little monkey brain is doing.

It’s obvious then that this method can apply to exercise, work, fun, relationships – everything! When my focus is not on me,me,me – I can really be immersed in what I’m doing – even if that is nothing at all.

So this is my practice for this week. Don’t let my brain pull me away from what I am focused on. If something comes up, I’ll jus try to let the desire to be distracted float in, and float right back out of my mind.