Zen and the Art of Golf as It Applies to the Golf Swing

By William Higginbotham

Zen means action with awareness, being completely in the moment. While in this state; people have described it as in a state of timelessness, complete confidence, freedom from anxiety or doubt, complete focus on just one thing. Another way athletes have described it is “being in the Zone.”

A young man had read all the books he could find about Zen.He heard about a great Zen master and requested an appointment with him to ask for teachings. When they were seated, the young man proceeded to tell the master everything he had understood from his reading, saying Zen is about this and on and on at length about his studies of Zen.

After some time the master suggested they have tea. The master began to pour tea into the student’s cup. He poured until the cup was full and kept pouring. The tea was running down the sides of the cup onto the table. The master kept pouring and the tea began to run off the table onto the floor. Finally the student couldn’t contain himself any longer and shouted “Stop! The cup is full-no more will go in!”

The master stopped pouring and said, “Just like this cup, your mind is overflowing with your own opinions and preconceptions. How can you learn anything unless you first empty your cup?”

Many golfers have read volumes about the golf swing. They have so many preconceived notions that they hear little of what the instructor has to say. This does not mean to suspend your intelligence and blindly follow the instruction. Instead, withhold judgement until after you have tried it for a while. Shanrya Roshi, a Zen Master, said “In the beginners mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.” A beginner’s mind is open, eager to learn. An open mind is a more receptive and fertile mind.

William Higginbotham publishes sports-barn.info where you can find more articles on mental golf techniques and golf vacations.

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