Why we love climbing - Mystery Solved

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Rocky5000

Trad climber

Falls Church, VA

Apr 19, 2008 - 09:08pm PT

Yeah, that's pretty much it - read Jiddu Krishnamurti, Lao Tzu, Chuang tzu etc., but don't, for the love of Vishnu, sit cross-legged concentrating until you need an atomic mental enema; instead go out and relax in the world, let it all in; maybe the 'now' will drench you, and time relax its grip on your mind. Or maybe not. Unclench your fist, let your brain play. Climbing does that for some people, but by no means all. I kind of doubt that it works in a gym, though. Something about the sky and the light.

Soften the glare.

cintune

climber

the Moon and Antarctica

Apr 19, 2008 - 10:25pm PT

The satori part is all about the movement. Even in a gym if the route setters have a clue.

TGT

Social climber

So Cal

Apr 19, 2008 - 10:31pm PT

It produces pleasurable neurochemistry.

The rest of this discussion is the philosophical quasi-religious equivalent of masturbation.

Karl Baba

Trad climber

Yosemite, Ca

Apr 19, 2008 - 10:54pm PT

"The rest of this discussion is the philosophical quasi-religious equivalent of masturbation."

Probably still beats work

No pun intended on the "beats"

nutjob

Stoked OW climber

San Jose, CA

Apr 20, 2008 - 03:55pm PT

I think Karl and Khanom are hitting closest to the mark so far.

In my experience, I've had to do a lot of demon-releasing to clear up the voices that clutter a quiet mind and living in the present. I have known very few people who were willing to discuss or acknowledge that kind of stuff, let alone making the effort to confront it head on and deal with it... this to Khanom's point.

It is an ongoing thing, not a one-time enlightenment. I used to feel angst about my failures to live in the moment more often, living a spiritual ideal. I now chalk it up to part of our human experience on this roller-coaster of life, and I don't beat myself up about it. I accept the times of living in imbalance and the stress associated with chasing material wealth or dealing with family conflicts as part of life. If our spirits required perfection, they wouldn't come down for a field trip to earth.

I think some people in pursuit of spiritual perfection isolate and insulate themselves from the things in life that can bring stress. To me, this is the spiritual equivalent of going to see a movie with no plot, humor, or action. Or like going on a climbing trip with bolts every 4 feet. It's less scary, less uncomfortable, but do you look on the time as memorable and well spent? I guess I'm starting to blow smoke now... if you can look back on what and how you did it and be happy, then your spirit got it's money's worth.

One closing thought: just keeping that metaphor alive in me, that our spirits are down here on earth having a grand field trip because it gets boring up in the cosmos, does a lot to give me comfort during times of earthly stress and discomfort. It makes it easier for me to accept stuff with grace and humor when there's not much else to do.

Knave

climber

Bayarrhea

Apr 20, 2008 - 08:02pm PT

Now does not pass if you ride it like an unbreaking wave.

Lost Arrow

Trad climber

The North Ridge of the San Fernando

Apr 20, 2008 - 08:15pm PT

In Masturbation is not one in the Now?

In REALITY if one is focused such as Lead Climbing you are not in the now. To be in the now you have to be observing, not acting. Climbing is a lie.

To evolve you need to Meditate.

Juan