I could have also titled this post as "Clutch - the Crux of Driving a Car", however the above title seemed more eye catching - imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. Besides the "Zen" in the title is very important as there is lot about understanding of the mind, balance etc which one can learn in the art of car driving.
I am learning to drive a car in the middle of the fourth decade in my life - a pretty advanced age considering that most people of my age and income group have learnt to car driving around 10-15 years back. It is just one of the ways I feel I am an oddity.
Also I think it becomes more challenging, though not impossible to learn new things as you age older.
Nevertheless as they say - Better late than never.
My driving instructor - Pugazh, is his name, is very astute, experienced and wise. He has the teaching instinct and knows exactly when and how he has to intervene. One of the hallmarks of a good teacher is that he realizes the doubts, insecurities and fears of his pupil and knows how to address them. Pugazh is pretty good at it.
When you learn some new skill, the most important thing is getting the control and balance. Pugazh has astutely instructed me that the crux of getting control is the clutch, which is something no one before could tell me and he also showed practically how to get that control. It's like - whoooosh - all my fears went off immediately as I realized that controlling the clutch is key and I can then control the car.
Now it is not that self evident initially and it doesnt easily impress in the mind of a fearful pupil that clutch is the crux. For there are other distracting parameters. There is the brake and accelerator bunched near the clutch for one, then there is the gear handle and also the steering wheel. But Pugazh was quite emphatic - control the clutch, keeping the car engine on. Then you have all the time in the world to maneuver the steering wheel, change gears, apply brakes or even step on the accelerator.
You have to have the subtlest to subtlest feel of the clutch and slowly by slowly you should gain mastery of it - millimeter by millimeter. Be aware of precise position, when as you release the clutch, the car begins to move. If you can maintain this position, the car can keep moving, yet to retain control.
Today in just the fourth day, I was able to be completely calm as in narrow - 15-20 feet roads with bus approaching from opposite, pedestrians walking by the side and even two wheelers zipping by, I was able to keep control. It was a liberating, enthusing feeling.
Now where does the zen and mind come in here.
I feel mind is akin to clutch. If we have to gain mastery over our emotions, moods and thereby our lives, we have to operate on the clutch i.e. the mind, and not the body or anything else. And the way to apply control on the mind is through breath. Like you control the clutch by pressing or releasing it with your left foot (for right hand drive), similarly you use breath by paying attention to it, to control your mind.
We think of about keeping awareness for 5 min, 10 min etc and about 4-5-7, 4-5 etc breathe cycles, but what we should start off with is with the subtlest and smallest duration of control. We have to start our focus on awareness by doing it moment by moment. Stay with your breathe moment by moment. When your mind wanders off, as it surely will, as soon as you are aware about it, bring it back to the moment by moment awareness. Gradually over a period of time, the number of moments increases and with that lengthening our meditation should become deeper. We have to be slow and patient. There's no point speeding the car - we are always in a hurry to reach somewhere. There's no somewhere to be reached. You are where you want to be i.e. the present moment.
I am learning to drive a car in the middle of the fourth decade in my life - a pretty advanced age considering that most people of my age and income group have learnt to car driving around 10-15 years back. It is just one of the ways I feel I am an oddity.
Also I think it becomes more challenging, though not impossible to learn new things as you age older.
Nevertheless as they say - Better late than never.
My driving instructor - Pugazh, is his name, is very astute, experienced and wise. He has the teaching instinct and knows exactly when and how he has to intervene. One of the hallmarks of a good teacher is that he realizes the doubts, insecurities and fears of his pupil and knows how to address them. Pugazh is pretty good at it.
When you learn some new skill, the most important thing is getting the control and balance. Pugazh has astutely instructed me that the crux of getting control is the clutch, which is something no one before could tell me and he also showed practically how to get that control. It's like - whoooosh - all my fears went off immediately as I realized that controlling the clutch is key and I can then control the car.
Now it is not that self evident initially and it doesnt easily impress in the mind of a fearful pupil that clutch is the crux. For there are other distracting parameters. There is the brake and accelerator bunched near the clutch for one, then there is the gear handle and also the steering wheel. But Pugazh was quite emphatic - control the clutch, keeping the car engine on. Then you have all the time in the world to maneuver the steering wheel, change gears, apply brakes or even step on the accelerator.
You have to have the subtlest to subtlest feel of the clutch and slowly by slowly you should gain mastery of it - millimeter by millimeter. Be aware of precise position, when as you release the clutch, the car begins to move. If you can maintain this position, the car can keep moving, yet to retain control.
Today in just the fourth day, I was able to be completely calm as in narrow - 15-20 feet roads with bus approaching from opposite, pedestrians walking by the side and even two wheelers zipping by, I was able to keep control. It was a liberating, enthusing feeling.
Now where does the zen and mind come in here.
I feel mind is akin to clutch. If we have to gain mastery over our emotions, moods and thereby our lives, we have to operate on the clutch i.e. the mind, and not the body or anything else. And the way to apply control on the mind is through breath. Like you control the clutch by pressing or releasing it with your left foot (for right hand drive), similarly you use breath by paying attention to it, to control your mind.
We think of about keeping awareness for 5 min, 10 min etc and about 4-5-7, 4-5 etc breathe cycles, but what we should start off with is with the subtlest and smallest duration of control. We have to start our focus on awareness by doing it moment by moment. Stay with your breathe moment by moment. When your mind wanders off, as it surely will, as soon as you are aware about it, bring it back to the moment by moment awareness. Gradually over a period of time, the number of moments increases and with that lengthening our meditation should become deeper. We have to be slow and patient. There's no point speeding the car - we are always in a hurry to reach somewhere. There's no somewhere to be reached. You are where you want to be i.e. the present moment.
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