Went biking into DC today, it was such a beautiful day. 35 miles round trip, but more importantly, 420 vertical feet. That was the toughest part, biking up the incline on the way back.
Biking got me thinking about that book, the omnivores dilemma, and how the author talks about the 'hunters zone', where the hunter stops thinking, and essentially becomes one with nature, observing every part of nature with almost supernatural senses. In other words, one stops thinking, and becomes one with what one is doing at the moment. Thats kinda a perfect description of meditation. where concentration on a mantra is supposed to clear your mind of extraneous thoughts. Its also a description of being in 'the zone' in athletics, or of having a 'peak experience' in new age philosophy. So I think all of these items describe the same sort of experience, which most humans find beneficial, and sometimes profound and emotional.
Which brings me back to my bikeride. I find that urban bikeriding, where one is weaving in and out of people, bikes, buildings, traffic, obstacles, you name it, gives me that peak experience. I cannot afford to think of anything but what I am doing, and I concentrate so hard on not crashing that extraneous thoughts, the outside world, my bike, they all disappear, and in my mind all that exists is me controlling my path thru obstacles, staying hyperalert by guessing which of those obstacles, such as small humans, will do unpredictable things.
So perhaps I should promote urban bikeriding as a mystical experience. But really, I think the meditationists put fancy labels on an experience that is not that uncommon, if one looks for it. That experience of total concentration, of having ones ego fall away, of loosing all extraneous thought, of being one with the task, be it of saying 'OLMMMMM', of landing a plane in bad weather, of driving a car in high speed heavy traffic, of skiing down a slope two colors beyond your capability, or, well, this is a longshot, giving blood, doing something that terrifies you.
Which perhaps explains extreme sports. For them, the peak experience can only happen when there is something real at risk, such as their lives, or their limbs. That risk is a wonderful concentrator of ones mind.
For myself, Ill stick to urban bikeriding and giving blood for my peak experiences. No skydiving off of cliffs backwards for me.
Hi Brand! Nice post regarding biking in the urban setting! :) Hope your move will go well and you will be happy biking in NC! Stay in touch. :)
Posted by: Charmaine | August 22, 2006 at 01:22 PM
I enjoyed reading this piece and it has triggered some thoughts.
Risk. Mystical experience?
Concentration. Mystical experience?
Fear. Mystical experience?
Mystical, for me, implies "one with the divine". Risk, concentration, and fear are rational processes of the human being as we imagine ourselves separate from our divinity. Stillness and yielding to the rational processing are necessary components for my "mystical" experiences. Uncommon? Yes. Does that sound "fancy"?
Posted by: Karen | August 22, 2006 at 07:57 PM
Your last post interested me on many levels, as several of your posts have...
On the subject of "The Omnivores Dilemna", the reviews look good and I agree that we all should be paying very close attention to all the bio-engineering and mis-leading trends going on in the food industry. Advocates of healthy eating in my area have joined forces with local farmers and each other and created exclusive co-ops. Basically, they pay the farmers to do things the way Pollan promotes. Grass fed, free range raised, non medicated or hormone injected chickens and cows (ostriches too) as well as organically grown (non-hybrid) veggies. And even if you are not into eating meat, what's the matter with great eggs and real dairy? Afterall, these are produced from "living breathing" animals. Simple is really the best.
Moving on to your urban bike-riding experience... you are a brave man! DC traffic is crazy! I am very glad to hear that you exerting all your focus and concentration on paying attention to all the "unknown" variables involved, especially the small humans! My son is into a movement called "critical mass" and they are really into and all about urban bike-riding and the politics around it. Bike spills and injuries are just no fun in my opinion.. almost as scary as giving blood! I love your writing!
On meditation, the OLMM experience in particular, I find that the harder I try to meditate and clear my mind of extraneous thought and become one with anything, I catch myself just fascinated with the sound of my blood pulsing through my blood vessels so close to my eardrums. Still thought provoking thus mission not accomplished. Good old oxygen (the cleaner the air the better) and some quality deep breathing really works best for me. My idea of a peak experience is falling off the bed with my significant other in the middle of an intense discussion and hoping we dont break anything when we land! Ok, so it's been a long day.. schools back in session and my little town has come back to life!
But what I am really getting to here is "congratultions" on your new book deal!! I cant wait to get notification of my copy! I see that it is now in pre-order mode and I have visions of seeing your book in several of the many libraries in my little university town! Take care Brand in all that you have going on.
Posted by: LunaLoo | August 23, 2006 at 06:26 PM