Shin

I got the first stripe on my white belt at karate today. For those of you who know anything about karate, that's about the equivalent of "I managed to walk in the front door and not fall on my face or have the door slam my ass." But, hey, a journey of a thousand miles starts with but a single step.

We practiced sparring, taking turns quickly flashing a target (a hand-held pad) while our partner tried to punch it. We also had the option of trying to strike our partner with the pad instead of offering it up for a blow. The partner never knew which would be coming - an opportunity to strike, or the need to block or duck. "If you think, you die," the instructor said.

That is, if you take the time to think about what you have to do (i.e., punch, duck or block), it will be too late -- you'll either miss the target or get hit with the pad. The response has to be totally reflexive - no mind. In this respect, then, karate is somewhat like zen. Trust your instincts, both practices teach us, don't try to analyze or rationalize your every move. Just be in the present moment, give up ego-attachment, and do what comes naturally.

Mind and body are one. The Japanese word "shin" means both mind and body - no difference, no separation. "You" are not your thoughts or your memories or your personality any more or any less than you are your reflexes, your musculature or your gall bladder.

If you look at the brain, most people's idea of the residency of the "mind," you'll see that it tapers down at the base and runs down the spine. And from the spinal column, the entire nervous system branches out throughout the rest of the body. So where does the brain actually end, and the rest of the body begin? It's an arbitrary distinction.

Where does the mind end?