Mind No Mind

Mushin no shin (無心の心) is the removal of all that is unnecessary. Mind no mind — readiness; openness without distraction. During times of life and death decisions, the mental state of mushin makes the difference. The study of a martial art is the continued striving for this mind state. In neuroscience, it is known as "flow" or the "zone." Michael Jordan is often referenced for this ability. It is why he is considered a once in a lifetime player. There have been better athletes, but none with his game winning ability to transcend.

With no training or background, some of us have had glimpses of mushin. During a pivotal game, when a life was threatened, when there was a need, we were almost superhuman. It may have been unintentional; there was urgency and rather than panicking, we went beyond capacity. But in the other parts of our day, we panic, even during activities of no consequence. Without the immediacy of death, we no longer have a barometer to compare all other events to. Looking for a purpose to serve, fight or flight kicks in regardless of the situation. In the absence of danger, everything becomes life or death. Death, no longer literal but metaphoric — "If I don't finish this, I'm dead!" — subjectively used and inappropriately felt in nearly all circumstances.

As a student, you add; as a master, you subtract. Subtract the meaningless to add more value to your life. Master what is important. We only have time for a few things, and even then the time given is not sufficient. We must act accordingly.

Minimalism and Clutter

The Eastern arts take complex information and creatively prioritizes them for the best outcome. Decluttering and minimalism allows room for movement. A cluttered house has no room for play, no room to lie on the floor. Creating space to move about and sit on the ground can be called "feng shui," but in an Eastern home, this is seen as a matter of practicality.

In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Marie Kondo writes: