Slow is smooth, smooth is fast is what is said, and it holds true in almost all aspects of life. Instructors around the world say this to drive home the fact, to build new pathways we must operate on them slowly at first so we can master the terrane. So whether you are learning how to operate a weapon, learning how to do physical drills, or starting a meditative practice you must first go slow.
When we are learning something new we tend to go all in at first trying to quickly breeze by the basics so we can get to what we perceive as the more advanced aspects of the discipline. I am sure there are a myriad of reasons why people do this and I won’t try to get into all of them. What I will say is if you don’t develop strong roots, or a strong beginners knowledge of the basics you will not last long. As an illustration of my point I will use that old parable from the middle east.
When we are learning something new we tend to go all in at first trying to quickly breeze by the basics so we can get to what we perceive as the more advanced aspects of the discipline.
A farmer is out about his field soon after tilling and fertilizing it, today is the day he will sow his seeds. So as the farmer walks down the rows of freshly tilled ground he reaches into his sack of seed and handful by handful he scatters it to the right and left as he walks. Some of the seen lands within the freshly tilled dirt, some is scattered by the wind and lands among the rocks bordering the field. Once the farmer is done spreading his seed he goes back and levels the rows of the fresh tilled and seeded ground. Then the farmer waits patiently for the coming rain. When the rain comes the seed that landed among the rocks sprouts up quickly while the seed that landed in the rows are slow to grow above the soil, instead taking advantage of the deep soil and building strong roots. When the rain stops to come daily the bigger plants that are among the rocks wither and die from the lack of water and the dry arid soil, while the ones that built deep roots in the soil are strong and survive.
So how can we maintain long term interest in things by going slow? One of the ways is to understand with great enthusiasm the basics, and to come to your practice every time you engage in it with a beginners mindset. Contently working on trying to perfect even the smallest aspects of the discipline. Once you have mastered the basics you will begin to understand it is all about the basics.
If you are interested in slowing down to speed up reach out to us @MindfulRhino.com
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