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The Dharma of Motorcycling
Hi! motorcyclists
A previous thread by speedin' angel 'The Essence of Sport Riding - What I/We believe and practice', where he has reproduced an article on sport riding by Jeff Hughes has prompted me to share this with you all.
I have been doing a series of articles linking concepts from the Indian philosophy and metaphysics to something as approachable and everyday-like as motorcycling. The one that follows deals with the Dharma of Motorcycling.
The meaning of Dharma is usually confused with religious merit. Dharma is duty. Duty towards whatever is right and needed. And this judgment about what is right and needed is not dependent on any law, constitution, or culture. Neither is it a result of our own conscience. Dharma exists in the pre-conscious. It is the leading edge of our awareness. A clear, calm and receptive mind becomes aware of its dharma by itself. Dharma combines ritual and freedom without conflict. Arjun must wage battle against his respected elders. With a mind bound by preconceptions about his ritualistic duties towards them, he looses awareness of his duty towards what is right and needed at that moment. He does not let the leading edge of his awareness lead him. Not until Krishna becomes this leading edge of awareness for him. Then the decisions come by themselves.
All learning from what others have experienced is reducible to being a continuum of rituals. Real learning, which arises from one's own leading edge of awareness, comes only when one is free from all these rituals. To free ourselves of such static awareness patterns that rituals really are, we cannot fight them or drive them away from our consciousness. To get beyond them, we must master them with such proficiency that they become an unconscious part of our nature. We need to get so used to them that we completely forget them. Then they are gone from our awareness. In motorcycling, learning how to accelerate, brake and shift gears are rituals of learning. All must perform them to be a part of the motorcyclist's world. Mastering them to the point where they become our second nature opens up a new world of speed, adventure and control. Our leading edge of awareness is no longer restricted to these ritualistic limits of braking, accelerating and gear shifting. It now stretches beyond into the world of speed, of unlimited distances and a freedom never possible while being on foot or in any other vehicle. One's entire way of looking at the world changes. Roads that were featureless and tiring in a bus become exhilarating and adventurous to ride on. Places that were once distant and exhausting to reach become fun to visit. Fear takes a back seat, remaining at the edges, disguised as caution, but is never overpowering.
While riding, the dharma of a rider is apparent to him all the time. When and how much to accelerate or brake or lean over are ever flowing continuous dharmic decisions that come without conscious effort. The leading edge of one's experience and awareness makes clearly visible whatever is needed and best for the moment. What is right and what is needed comes naturally to a practiced rider. The Krishna within him is wide awake and guiding him. His awareness is entirely focused on his dharma as a rider, which is to be safe and fast. Achieving it brings happiness and contentment. We also call it peace of mind.
Tomorrow is another day. Be there!
Text: Sundep Goswami[ Old Fox]
The Dharma of Motorcycling
Hi! motorcyclists
A previous thread by speedin' angel 'The Essence of Sport Riding - What I/We believe and practice', where he has reproduced an article on sport riding by Jeff Hughes has prompted me to share this with you all.
I have been doing a series of articles linking concepts from the Indian philosophy and metaphysics to something as approachable and everyday-like as motorcycling. The one that follows deals with the Dharma of Motorcycling.
The meaning of Dharma is usually confused with religious merit. Dharma is duty. Duty towards whatever is right and needed. And this judgment about what is right and needed is not dependent on any law, constitution, or culture. Neither is it a result of our own conscience. Dharma exists in the pre-conscious. It is the leading edge of our awareness. A clear, calm and receptive mind becomes aware of its dharma by itself. Dharma combines ritual and freedom without conflict. Arjun must wage battle against his respected elders. With a mind bound by preconceptions about his ritualistic duties towards them, he looses awareness of his duty towards what is right and needed at that moment. He does not let the leading edge of his awareness lead him. Not until Krishna becomes this leading edge of awareness for him. Then the decisions come by themselves.
All learning from what others have experienced is reducible to being a continuum of rituals. Real learning, which arises from one's own leading edge of awareness, comes only when one is free from all these rituals. To free ourselves of such static awareness patterns that rituals really are, we cannot fight them or drive them away from our consciousness. To get beyond them, we must master them with such proficiency that they become an unconscious part of our nature. We need to get so used to them that we completely forget them. Then they are gone from our awareness. In motorcycling, learning how to accelerate, brake and shift gears are rituals of learning. All must perform them to be a part of the motorcyclist's world. Mastering them to the point where they become our second nature opens up a new world of speed, adventure and control. Our leading edge of awareness is no longer restricted to these ritualistic limits of braking, accelerating and gear shifting. It now stretches beyond into the world of speed, of unlimited distances and a freedom never possible while being on foot or in any other vehicle. One's entire way of looking at the world changes. Roads that were featureless and tiring in a bus become exhilarating and adventurous to ride on. Places that were once distant and exhausting to reach become fun to visit. Fear takes a back seat, remaining at the edges, disguised as caution, but is never overpowering.
While riding, the dharma of a rider is apparent to him all the time. When and how much to accelerate or brake or lean over are ever flowing continuous dharmic decisions that come without conscious effort. The leading edge of one's experience and awareness makes clearly visible whatever is needed and best for the moment. What is right and what is needed comes naturally to a practiced rider. The Krishna within him is wide awake and guiding him. His awareness is entirely focused on his dharma as a rider, which is to be safe and fast. Achieving it brings happiness and contentment. We also call it peace of mind.
Tomorrow is another day. Be there!
Text: Sundep Goswami[ Old Fox]
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