Thinking with our eyes
Yesterday, I went to see the film The Karate Kid. I don’t generally do movie reviews, and won’t do an extensive synopsis here. I will say it’s a beautiful movie, and I recommend it. You will know the story: Kid gets bullied, kid learns Kung Fu, kid gains self-esteem. Every cliché from every martial arts film is in this one (and I’ve seen most of them) and there are some situations that are not quite believable. But, you knew that going in, didn’t you? The title character is stunning, and while a couple of scenes seemed unlikely at his age, his quirkiness and dedication kept me engaged. Jackie Chan gives the performance of a lifetime. There were gorgeous scenes incorporating the Forbidden City and The Great Wall of China.
But that’s not what this post is about. I found, as I watched, I wanted to take the training that the “kid” had. I’m probably slightly less agile *cough* than the kid, but, you know, I could work up to it! 🙂
At one point the kid is trying to ward off blows from behind a sheet. He wants to know how he could possibly do such a thing, since he can’t see where the punches are coming from. His instructor tells him he’s “thinking with his eyes”. I won’t give away any more of the plot, but this particular phrase struck me.
We’re a visually based society. Although I’m listening to a flute concerto as I type this, most of my attention goes to the computer monitor. I read; I type; I search the shelves to find my bread; I walk; I look; I dream. Even dreams are mostly visually remembered.
There are many stories of blind martial artists; this site has some, as well as a book to train the other senses. I haven’t learned Kung Fu, but I do some Tai Chi, and it’s a totally different experience doing the moves with eyes closed than with them open. As long as I have a safe space, and know I have enough room, I can do this.
When my eyes are closed, I can visualize how I want my body to be. When my eyes are closed, I reflect on the moment, without extraneous input, even from my own room, which I try to keep simple. When my eyes are closed, my awareness expands. There are no boundaries and anything is possible.
A wise man once told me: The Universe is Finite, but Unbounded.
MusEditions 
That’s the amazing thing about us inventive humans, everytime something fails, something else takes over, right?
Virgilius Sade
June 26, 2010
This reminds me of something I experienced at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. There was some kind of sound machine with two stereophonic speakers; the challenge was to slide a slider so that the sounds (different) in each ear were equal in volume. The bizarre thing is, once I had been playing with it for awhile and achieved that perfect balance, suddenly I could hear EVERYTHING: I could hear the smallest whisper in the farthest corner of the room. I could hear the rustle of a kid’s sleeve as his arm swept past his jeans. And I could picture them all exactly in three-dimensional space.
It really was the weirdest and most wonderful thing. If I’d had karate skills and aggro, I could have dropped them all blindfolded.
raincoaster
June 26, 2010
Indeed. Look who popped out of the Alternate Symphony; Virgilius Sade! Saw what you did to your blog, too. A welcome resurgence. 🙂
The Exploratorium is fantastic, isn’t it raincoaster? I’ve played with those sliders as well, although I don’t think I got it quite as balanced as you did. Really changes perceptual parameters. Yes, you could have…did you leave your aggro at home that day? 😀
MusEditions
June 26, 2010
Kids don’t have any money, so what would have been the point?
raincoaster
June 26, 2010
Of course! What was I thinking? Ever practical, rain. 🙂
MusEditions
June 27, 2010
Just imagine if we all can’t close our eyes. How could we meditate deeply then? 😀
pochp
September 10, 2010
Slightly scary thought there, poch! 😉 Hope I don’t have to find out, but I’ve heard there are ways…
MusEditions
September 23, 2010