The article discusses Eugen Herrigel's journey into understanding Zen Buddhism through archery. After moving to Japan, Herrigel was instructed to learn kyūdō to discover Zen truths. His rigorous training, which lasted five years, taught him that mastery in archery—and consequently in life—comes from letting go rather than forcing outcomes. Herrigel's experiences illustrate that overcoming resistance and embracing change lead to personal growth, offering readers insights into self-improvement without needing to undergo extensive training.
drawing the bow caused my hands to start trembling...the shot will only go smoothly when it takes the archer himself by surprise.
the secret to archery—and the approach to life—is to know when to stop resisting change and simply let it occur.
Collection
[
|
...
]