GolfingZen.PodCast

Podcast 23 - A Playing Lesson

2006-04-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

In Zen Golf, talking about preparation, Dr. Joe Parent quotes a Jack Nicklaus question that is meaningful for all of us.

You'll find the question, and my answer, in this week's podcast, number #23 in the series.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

Podcasts: #20 - #22

2006-03-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

Podcasts over the next five weeks will be handled a little differently. Because of travel/vacation plans, and because of some minor (I hope) medical hoops I'm required to jump through, I'm going to have very limited recording opportunities.

Therefore, I'll be doing the next five podcasts over the next couple of days. They will be put up on the hosting site (Liberated Syndicationl.Com) but will only become available one every seven days. You'll see the links here, but they won't function until the appointed date.

Podcast 20: Are We Having Fun? Available as of March 12th.

The question: Are we happy? Are we having fun?

How could your life work, if it's not from a base of happiness? In Zen/Buddhist practice, not only is happiness allowed, it is a primary objective. You can only lift up others if you yourself are operating out of happiness.

It's the same on the golf course. If you're stomping around in anger, nothing is going to go well.

And so, the question: how to be happy?

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

Podcast 21: How to Fix Your Swing. Available as of March 19th.

The previous podcast charges us with being happy, on the course and in our life. It is our right to be happy, as it is our obligation. What to do, then, on those golf days where nothing goes right, where our swing deserts us and darkness descends? How do we fix our swing, so that we can be happy?

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe through iTunes, you may have to have iTunes up and running in the background.)

Podcast 22: The Yin and Yang of Golf Available as of March 26th.

We've all seen the familiar Yin/Yang symbol. But do you know what it signifies? About life? About golf?

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe through iTunes, you may have to have iTunes up and running in the background.)

Podcast 19 - The Eightfold Path (Part 3)

2006-03-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

This is the last of a three-part series on The Eightfold Path, the Zen route to ending desire or attachment which, in turn, provides the escape from suffering. As we all experience suffering in our golfing life, it's a path worth following.

And, as a bonus and as announced, this program carries a small bonus: brief clips from the sound tracks included in Tour Tempo, the instructional book reviewed this week.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe through iTunes, you may have to have iTunes up and running in the background.)

Podcast 18 - The Eightfold Path (Part 2)

2006-03-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

As in life, our golf experience is often characterized by suffering. Zen practice tells us the same about life, and that our suffering grows out of excessive desire and attachment. The Eightfold Path is the route to escape, and today's discussion focuses on the "Samadhi" steps: our inward mental controls that allow us to use our mental processes in a constructive way.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe through iTunes, you may have to have iTunes up and running in the background.)

Podcast 17 - The Eightfold Path (Part 1)

2006-02-22T11:28:00.000-08:00

This program goes to the heart of Eastern thinking (and how it may influence your golf game). The Fundamental Truth is that life is about suffering, which comes from excessive desire, attachment, or futile attempts to control (certainly true in golf). Freedom from suffering comes by following the Eightfold Path; Part #1 covers "samadhi," our outward behavior.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe through iTunes, you may have to have iTunes up and running in the background.)

Podcast 16 — Playing Better

2006-02-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

How do I go about the process of playing better? Is my handicap tied to how many range balls I hit? Perhaps, but the true question is not what score you shot but, rather, how did you play?

But, isn't that also true about life? In order to make our life better, don't we have to think about that How? question there, as well?

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe through iTunes, you may have to have iTunes up and running in the background.)

Podcast 15 — A Matter of Control

2006-02-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

Today's program returns to the heart of our stated aim: the mental side of golf and the Zen principles that can help.

The discussion centers around the Fundamental Truth: that life is about suffering, which grows out of our mis-guided and fruitless attempts to control.

In golf, what can you control, what can you not, and how do you manage that question?

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

Podcast 14 — The Physics Fundamentals

2006-02-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

Today's program marks the farthest departure we will take from the stated purpose of these programs: the mental side of golf and/or the application of Zen thoughts to the golf game.

But, the departure is necessary because, in golf, it is impossible to clear or quiet your active mind if your swing mechanics are fatally flawed.

This program is the last of the "Fundamentals" and deals with the truth that the golf ball always tells us about how it was struck.

Zen-like... if we pay attention to the message, and remind ourself that is isn't personal, then the ball tells us what we need to do to grow and improve.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

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Podcast 13 — A 'Zen' Break

2006-01-25T10:34:00.000-08:00

Recent podcasts have focused (perhaps too much?) on the physical aspects of the golf swing. Today's program is a return to our stated mission — the mental side of golf — through a review of other podcasts that carry a similar theme.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

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Podcast 12 — The Physical Fundamentals

2006-01-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

This posting is almost a mission violation. Even though this is a blog/podcast devoted to the mental side of golf, the "Zen" of golf (and of life), it is necessary that we do talk about the few true physical fundamentals... the LAWS... and this is that program. For you swing freaks... enjoy, since we'll climb back into your brain next time.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

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Podcast 11 — Why Bother?

2006-01-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

In the last podcast I listed my candidates for the mental fundamentals of golf:

A practiced routine, faithfully followed on every shot.
Visualization as part of that routine.
A non-judging "play-back" of the shot as one holds their finish and watches the flight/roll of the ball.
A continuing belief and trust in one's ability to continue to unfold toward the ultimate golfer that resides within.

If you don't have the last item, then you are, by default, accepting that you will continue as you are, with your day-to-day scores varying at random around your median score. My question: Why bother? Why not just stay home, flip a coin, and mail in your score?

But, if we do continue to trust and believe, the question is equally valid. Why do/should we continue to bother?

Today's program takes on that question.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe, you may need iTunes open in the background.)

Podcast 10 - The Fundamentals

2006-01-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

With this program I'm finally beginning to address our promised subject: the fundamentals of golf.

Previously, we've talked about those things that reside completely within the realm of your own choice, and I've also recently listed some "preferences" or "tendancies:" nothing more than good starting points.

In today's program, and in the last essay posted here, we've moved across the line into the world of laws and, true to the stated mission of the site, I've itemized three mental fundamentals. See if you agree, and tell me if you don't.

Also, in today's program you'll learn something interesting about the world of podcasts.

Go listen!

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

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Podcast 9 - How Big?

2005-12-27T12:58:00.000-08:00

This podcast - the ninth in the series - offers a side trip from the general golf/Zen subject of these programs, to the roots of my Eastern interests.

Modern Western science shows true reality to be bizarrely different than what we perceive it to be. An intriguing paradox is that the sciences of the very big and the very small both show these surprises, and also carry a direct parallel with ancient Eastern philosophy.

To myself - a reformed Eastern cynic - these surprising parallels are solid proof that we need to pay more attention to the Eastern message, and that is the prime objective of these programs.

An earlier podcast (#3B) went into the subject of the reality of the very small: quantum physics. This one goes to the other extreme, to the subject of the immense: cosmology. Don't panic! You'll learn something, and it might even be fun.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe, you may need iTunes open in the background.)

Podcast 8 - Laws and Tendencies

2005-12-21T11:47:00.000-08:00

What are the inviolable laws of the golf swing? Within the blizzard of golf instuction that assaults us, what are only personal preferences or tendencies? Today's podcast begins to answer those questions by looking at the cornerstones of conventional instruction: grip,stance, posture, and alignment.

Don't forget, I'm offering a copy (or two)of my golf novel to those that submit the best comments or suggestions on the subject of fundamentals. If you do leave a comment, you'll want to let me know how to reach you. You can do that by clicking on the book's link within the blog menu and then clicking on "Contact" to find the publishers email address. That will eventually get to me, and we can communicate from there. (I know that neither you nor I want our email address hung out in public.

Click here to listen to this program, and here to subscribe through iTunes.

(To subscribe, you may need iTunes open in the background.)

Podcast 7 - The Noise of Many Teachers

2005-12-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

In learning golf, the problem is not a lack of information. It is, instead, one of too much information. We're subjected to a literal fire-storm of information, and much of it is conflicting. Turn your hips... don't turn your hips... strong grips... weak grips... Natural Golf's palm grip... the head moves with the swing... the head is steady... the arms initiate... the arms follow... the list is endless.

This all can't be right, just as it all can't be wrong.

How much of what we hear is truly fundamental, and how much is simply the personal preference of the teacher?

What to do... what to do?

Click here to listen, and here to subscribe.

(To subscribe, you may need iTunes open in the background.)

Podcast 6 - Teaching vs. Learning

2005-12-06T13:31:00.000-08:00

In last week's podcast I talked about the mental roadblocks that inhibit our learning and growth: we're impatient; we're unwilling to perhaps first take a step back in order to eventually get better; and, sometimes, at our core we don't believe in our own ability and so we choose not to try (so that we can not fail).

Today's program makes an important distinction: the role of the teacher and the obligation of the student.

Click here to listen, and here to subscribe.

(To subscribe, you may need to have iTunes open in the background.)

Podcast 5 — Why We Forget

2005-11-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

In the last essay/podcast I talked about "enlightenment," which the Zen student might call "waking up," or "remembering" (who I really am), or "recovering from the illusion." The principle is that we're born into a delusion and the pursuit is to remember our true nature.

In that essay/podcast I suggested the same is true about golf. All the information we need is right in front of us — we already know all we need to know — and, moreover, the execution is within our grasp. All we need is to continue — on every shot — to remember.

The question I left you with is why we fail to remember. Here is my answer. What is your excuse?

Click here to listen, and here to subscribe.

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Podcast 4 - You Already Know

2005-11-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

The core objective of Eastern Spirituality is "enlightenment" which is sometimes described as "remembering" what one already knows. (Equally, it can be called "waking up" or "recovering from the illusion.")

Could golf be similar? Do we already know? Are we sleep-walking as we move around the course.

Listen by clicking here, to see if you agree.

You can subscribe to these podcasts and have them magically appear on your iPod by clicking here.

The "subscribe" link may or may not work, based on the browser you're using. If you have trouble, try a second time with iTunes already open in the background. If all else fails, you can find GolfingZen on iTunes by entering "golf" as a key word in the search box (upper right) and then choosing "podcasts" from the option bar that will appear. Good luck!

Podcast 3B - How Small?

2005-11-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

Here is the second part of this week's double-header. Hopefully you've already listened to 3A — an expansion on last week's essay: The Fundamental Truth.

This is the bonus: a brief quantum physics lesson. The purpose is to take you through my own personal experiences. Several years ago, as I read about the extremes of Western science, both in cosmology and quantum physics, I was "interested" to see how wildly different true reality is from what our common senses suggest.

But I was stunnned to see that these new views almost exactly parallel the visions of the Eastern mystic philosophers... a view that was developed almost 2500 years ago.

Here is one small example. Click here to listen.

(See the previous posting for info on how to subscribe through iTunes.)

Podcast 3A - The Fundamental Truth

2005-11-14T12:09:00.000-08:00

This week's podcast is both late and different. I'm late because of last week's travel (no excuse), and this podcast is different in that it's split in two. This first portion is the usual commentary on last week's essay; The Fundamental Truth. The second, to follow, is a brief physics lesson (don't panic).

The Fundamental Truth is that life is suffering (dukkah), which comes from excessive desire. Certainly true in life... does it also sound like your golf game?

Further... the podcasts are now appearing on iTunes and if you own/use an iPod you can subscribe there, so that these programs will magically appear on your iPod as they're published.

To listen, simply click here.

To subscribe, try clicking here

The "subscribe" link may or may not work, based on the browser you're using. If you have trouble, try a second time with iTunes already open in the background. If all else fails, you can find GolfingZen on iTunes by entering "golf" as a key word in the search box (upper right) and then choosing "podcasts" from the option bar that will appear. Good luck!

Podcast 2: Western Mind - Eastern Thought

2005-11-03T14:06:00.000-08:00

The second podcast is now up and — as advertised — it is an amplification on the first essay. (Which clears the way for posting the second essay on Sunday!)

Today's program talks through Western versus Eastern thinking, the fundamental differences in the two language structures, the (erroneous) assumptions we Westerners make as a result, and how our approach to golf can be turned inside-out when we shift our focus towards the East.

Sound difficult and heavy? It isn't: you'll learn something and you might even have some fun.

Still haven't broken the code on listing through iTunes, but I'm getting close. For now, click here to listen.

Podcast One: Teeing Off

2005-10-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

Our first podcast is now ready! For now, you can only listen in real-time from this site, but soon you'll be able to go to I-Tunes (or download the "I-Podder" software) and subscribe. That way, each new podcast will magically appear on your I-Pod and you can listen as you drive to the course! Isn't technology wonderful (except as it makes our golf courses bigger and more costly...)?

For now, click here to listen. Please leave a comment so we can continue to polish the act!