Saturday ~ June 19, 1999 ~ 4:58pm 

Habit versus Spontaneity?
 

As I gaze out my window...

I was thinking about what I had read the other day regarding being spontaneous versus forming habits in our day to day lives.   One part of me feels that we humans are essentially "creatures of habit".   To be spontaneous is comparable to be creative,  but then again,  sometimes our habits can be varied slightly so as not to seem too regimental.

This Zen book I had been reading asks:

Are you caught in playing out an habitual pattern of behavior?

My answer to that?   A resounding YES!!!

I have habit patterns,  just like the next person.   Habits can be important if they benefit the person.   In my case,  being a drummer,  a good habit for me would be to practice,  practice,  practice on those drums.  One gets better "with" practice.

I guess what ZEN is implying,  is that of "staying alert and focused" within a habit,  and not put ourselves in auto-pilot...     very important!

I suppose "going through the motions" is something that a musician or entertainer must not get into,  and I see it all the time,  playing music without any spontaneity or freshness toward the approach of playing.   Anybody could tell you this,  when they see an entertainer and notice that the entetainer is totally "on it",  "in the zone",  into the ZEN of things.   That's what ZEN tries to explain concerning habits...

...one must be "AWAKE" in their everyday lives,  and not just go through the dredges and humdrum patterns, day after day.

"Going through the motions...?"

"One must be spontaneous and fresh."
 

A major event today?

     Buying propane for the gas grill.

A minor event today?

     Removing the crusts from one of my son's peanut butter & jelly sandwiches!

Something to take me out of a habit?

     Standing on my head.

Romantic event of the day?

     Getting into a shouting match with my wife and both of us ending up laughing at each other.