Striving leads to failure from "summary" of Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel
The idea of striving leading to failure is a central theme in the teachings of Zen. The author explores this concept through the art of archery, a discipline that requires precision, focus, and a deep understanding of oneself. When one strives too hard in archery, they inevitably fail to hit the target. This is because striving implies an attachment to a specific outcome, which hinders the archer's ability to flow with the natural rhythm of the bow and arrow. In Zen philosophy, the act of shooting an arrow is not about hitting the target, but rather about embodying the essence of the archer's being. It is a practice of letting g...
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