Tangram Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 (edited) I am looking for a zen like story. It concerns an archer in competition. The more money that is on line the harder time the shooter has with focus. I found and have collected a story that begins with "A young man, a boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency ...." Thanks Rick Edited November 12, 2009 by Tangram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Not sure I follow. Are you looking for a true story? If so, I have seen and been a part of several such stories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Early IPSC'er Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I am looking for a zen like story. It concerns an archer in competition. The more money that is on line the harder time the shooter has with focus. I found and have collected a story that begins with "A young man, a boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency ...."Thanks Rick I guess you found it--this from you on Shotgun World :-)--worth all of us reading: A young man, a boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull's eye on his first try, and then split that arrow with his second shot. He challenged the Zen master to face him. "There," he said to the old man, "see if you can match that!" Undisturbed, the master did not draw his bow, but rather motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain. Curious about the old fellow's intentions, the champion followed him high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a rather flimsy and shaky log. Calmly stepping out onto the middle of the unsteady and precariously hanging bridge, the old master picked a far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and fired a clean, direct hit. “Now please try”, Zen Master said as he gracefully stepped back onto the safe ground. Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and beckoning abyss, the young man could not force himself to step out onto the log, no less shoot at a target. "You have much skill with your bow," the master said, sensing his challenger's predicament, "but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangram Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 (edited) Not sure I follow. Are you looking for a true story? If so, I have seen and been a part of several such stories. Graham, I'm looking for a teaching story - one type is the master leads the student to a new understanding through the use of a story to illustrate a point. Maybe just a story to get the student to stop.. but that is another story. Someone, I believe, on this board told a story about an archery match and how thinking about the money distracted the shooter from focus on the target. I tried several different search terms but no gold. The story is likely true fiction. Edited November 13, 2009 by Tangram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangram Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Early IPSC'er I had that story, boastful archer, in a file of short stories and even shorter sayings that carry truth or whatever it should be called. I don't know who wrote it or where I found it. Change to read that this is Harry Potter's post in this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 If this helps... I sent this as a Maku mozo! - When you're betting for stones in an archery contest, you shoot with skill. When you're betting for fancy belt buckles, you worry about your aim. And when you're betting for real gold, you're a nervous wreck. Your skill is the same in all three cases - but because one prize means more to you than another, you let outside concerns weigh on your mind. He who looks too hard at the outside gets clumsy on the inside. -Chuang Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 You know the only reason this ancient wisdom is passed on in the form of "archery stories" is because blasters hadn't been invented yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) Ok here is one for you, William Tell, so what happens when it is an apple on your kids head ? Edited November 15, 2009 by Joe4d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzdizzi Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 My husband one every field archery tournament in northern California for about 2-3 years straight in the 80's when he was a junior. Does that count? Stef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Xtreme Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 My husband one every field archery tournament in northern California for about 2-3 years straight in the 80's when he was a junior. Does that count?Stef Was he the boastful champion they are looking for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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