One of the big insights for me of late has been about neurology in relation to contemplative practice.
I think I first heard Shinzen talk about this many years ago, but it took a while for it to really feel like a meaningful frame for my own practice.
Physiologically, we have sensory circuits and motor circuits.
At least, that’s how I understand it.
I’m no expert.
This maps on to what Soryu would talk about, Perception and Behavior.
I realized that most of the contemplative practice I’ve done has been about perception, the sensory circuits.
Most—meaning, the disproportionate amount of years of meditation training and monastic practice.
I did a lot of that.
Following the breath. Body scans. Noting. Listening to sounds.
Cultivated mindfulness: sensory clarity, concentration power, and equanimity, as Shinzen would say.
But most of that was in the sensory circuits.
And sure, I did a lot of training in behavior, too.
Culitvated ethics and virtue.
Learned leadership skills of all kinds.
Did independent studies of productivity, strategy. Other rabbit holes.
But there are contemplative practices that work directly on the motor circuits.
Things like Tai Chi, for example.
Or clowning, which directly cultivates spontaneity, as well as fluidity of self.
Or, more recently, playing music. Especially piano.
I think it’s time to focus on the motor circuits.