The Zen archer’s aim (or how to focus beyond the target)

Success lies not in hitting the target, but in letting go of the need to hit it

Hey there,

I hope your week was rewarding.

Today, I want to talk about the practice of archery and how it relates to our approach towards success and achieving our goals.

But why archery? What can shooting arrows at a target teach us about reaching our targets in life?

In today's world, we're often told that success is only about hitting certain targets and reaching set goals.

Well, what if I told you that the true art of success lies beyond just hitting the target?

Let me explain:

I've always been fascinated by Kyūdō (弓道), the Japanese martial art of archery.

In Kyūdō, the aim of the archer is not to simply hit the target with an arrow. The true aim is to focus beyond the target.

In fact, one of the fundamental teachings in Zen archery is that success does not lie in hitting the target itself. But rather in letting go of the need to hit it.

This may seem counterintuitive at first. Especially for those of us who are goal-oriented and driven to achieve. But think about it:

How many times have we become so fixated on a specific outcome that we miss out on other opportunities or fail to appreciate the process?

How often do we get caught up in the end result, losing sight of the present moment and the journey towards our goals?

How many times have we hit that target, only to realize it wasn't really what we wanted in the first place?

In Kyūdō, the archer must first master their internal state before they can even pick up a bow and arrow.

In other words:

They must cultivate a sense of clarity, focus, and calmness to achieve true success.

This is where the concept of mushin (無心) comes in – a state of no-mind or empty mind.

In this state, the archer is fully present and in the flow of the moment. They're not attached to any particular outcome. But rather surrender to the natural flow and rhythm of their actions.

This allows them to focus beyond the target. Tapping into a deeper sense of intuition and connection with their surroundings.

And when they release the arrow, it effortlessly hits its mark.

Because they weren't trying to hit it in the first place.

So ...

What if we shifted our perspective instead of just focusing on hitting a specific target or achieving a certain goal?

What if we focused on mastering our internal state first – cultivating clarity, focus, and calmness?

What if we let go of our attachments to outcomes and surrendered to the present moment?

Perhaps then, like the Zen archer, we would effortlessly hit our targets.

But more importantly, we would find a deeper sense of fulfillment and success in letting go of our need for external validation. Or validation through achievements.

So the next time you're working towards a goal or aiming for a target, remember the Zen archer's aim – focus beyond the target.

And let go of the need to hit it.

Keep practicing mushin, stay present, and trust in your inner wisdom.

Success will follow naturally.

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Weekly Reflection

What is one attachment or expectation I can let go of to stay present and cultivate a sense of mushin?

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🍵 Thank you for reading!

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you! I hope they bring you a moment of reflection and a touch of peace.

Until next time, stay present and focus beyond the target.

– Zhenya

P.S. If you're new here, it's nice to meet you! I invite you to check out the past editions to get a sense of what my Teacup is all about.

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🌊 Where can you flow next?

The Way of the Dao: This course is a structured, easy-to-follow introduction to Daoism. It's designed to help you apply its wisdom in a practical way.

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