Salon Backstage Talk 072: Why the 'Practice of Not Seeking' Works for Tennis Too

Pleasure is merely the 'difference' after suffering has healed, and pure pleasure does not exist—when you look at the 'Practice of Not Seeking' from that Buddhist perspective, the title of this book makes perfect sense. Whether it's income or a hot spring, once you get used to it, it soon returns to suffering. Therefore, 'not seeking' is a technique to protect yourself. Tennis is the same; the more you seek, the more distracting thoughts increase. If you don't seek, your focus deepens, and it becomes a story where you think, 'Things that seemed like nothing were actually happiness'.

▶ A book called 'The Practice of Not Seeking'

This book introduction article hits the mark (I should mention in advance that I haven't read the book).

is what it says (Diamond Inc. Book Editorial Department).

The only thing it overlooks is, when viewed in light of 'all existence is suffering,' the perspective that pleasure is an 'illusion' (related article: 'The premise that 'suffering is normal' saves us').

▶ 'Feeling good' is just the difference after suffering has healed

Precisely because pleasure does not exist, it is difficult to be conscious of it.

Following the 'Practice of Not Seeking,' it is one-tenth compared to pain.

Or rather, in the first place, it does not exist.

We 'mistake' the difference after suffering has healed for pleasure, but pure pleasure does not exist anywhere in this world, no matter how much you search for it; all that exists is the naked fact of 'only suffering,' such as pain, cold, heat, itchiness, or lack.

You might think it would feel good to become rich, but that is an illusion caused by the difference after the suffering of being poor has healed.

Let me give an example.

▶ Not satisfied even if income increases

Suppose a monthly salary of 100,000 yen becomes 200,000 yen.

Humans (desire) are such that they are happy at first, but eventually get used to it (get bored), and 200,000 yen is no longer enough to satisfy them.

Furthermore, if it is then reduced to 150,000 yen, even though it is more than the original 100,000 yen, you will feel great 'suffering'.

'What a waste!', 'I lost money...', 'Why?'

Even though when it increased, you didn't doubt it for even a millimeter, asking 'Why?' (laughs).

▶ The 'True Nature of Suffering' Is Not Just About Money

It is not just about money.

You feel good when you soak in a hot spring.

That is because the suffering of freezing cold exists as a prerequisite.

As proof, try soaking for an hour or two just because it feels good.

You will surely feel great suffering instead.

There is only suffering.

There is only the illusion that you feel good from the difference of being healed.

▶ Not Seeking Is Not 'Endurance,' But a Way to Protect Yourself

That is why the title 'The Practice of Not Seeking' is excellent.

If you 'seek' pleasure, you attract the suffering that lies behind it because they are two sides of the same coin, so if you seek, you ultimately 'suffer' (related article: "Federer is Light, Ichiro is Shadow—The Theory That 'Two Sides of the Same Coin' Makes People Stronger").

Previously mentioned same as the words of Takashi Yanase, the author of 'Anpanman'.

In other words, to feel happiness, there is the naked reality that 'you must first become unhappy' (oh my).

The title 'Practice' is also good.

Because unless you practice, even if you try hard not to seek, you will not be able to do it.

▶ The 'Only Two Things' to Improve at Tennis

'The Practice of Not Seeking,' if you look closely, it says this on the obi.

Coincidentally, it proposes a thesis similar to that of Mr. Yanase.

I personally believe that there is no meaning to life, but if I had to force it, playing tennis as mentioned here is also for the sake of character improvement.

However, improving one's character does not mean one will get better at tennis.

To get better at tennis, you just need to eliminate the gap between your image and reality, and then focus on the ball—fulfilling just these two things is enough.

Even so, since there is no meaning to life, it is an "experiment" to see what happens if you just strive to improve your character (related article: "Experiments through the body are interesting").

Of course, if you ask what is interesting about going out of your way to strive for character improvement, it is obviously because my current character is low.