Reclusland

Thanks to Technoccult, I was reminded of a brief phrase in college where I was fascinated with Parkour.  I went around the internet last night, collecting all the old videos I could remember, to pull them together on the Research Site today (check it out and enjoy, a bunch of fun stuff).

And while I was doing it, I realized a sort a similarity between Parkour and what I was discussing in that last major post.  I’m seeing this stuff everywhere I turn, which must mean that it’s at least partially something I’m bringing with me, as well as something that’s just culturally “in-the-air”, as they say…

What really brought it home was the last video on the research links page, and the text alongside it.  Parkour teachers the practitioner how to stay in control, even when they make a mistake.  It’s that same idea of committing fully to the experience, and placing the emphasis on maintaining momentum irregardless of what happens along the way.

It moves the focus from making the perfect to movement to being more focused on the skillful means used to handle the information your body is collecting from the environment as you move through it, in order maximize interactive pleasure and minimize delay.  The ability to flow your body along your environment, just as our minds so easily flow through the internet.

And check this New Yorker piece for more in depth reading: No Obstacles

As it is said in the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra: “…thus the Bodhisattva lives Prajna Paramita With no hindrance in the mind. No hindrance therefore no fear. ”

And at APK, their basic tutorial on rolling begins with: “Rolling is a foundation movement; you can’t land from height properly if you don’t know how to roll, or if you are not confident in your roll.”

Same thing.  The exact same thing…

(on edit: Jan 18th: Fixed the quote from the Prajna Paramita Sutra….)