Zen and Target Shooting

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Steve in Vermont

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I've just started looking into something I heard about lately, using Zen in target shooting. At the range yesterday I was shooting a 14-3 at 15 yards, using 9" pie plates with a 2" red circle at center. Using the technique (the right mindset and heart, not just the right form, shoots the target) was difficult, my mind kept wondering, concentrating on form and worrying about a score caused me to miss more than I hit. Then I started looking at only the red dot, forgetting everything else, and shot after shot hit the center. And every time I stopped to "think" what I was doing the shots went off center. At one time 5 out of 6 dead center, and I don't remember even holding the gun or pulling the trigger, let alone a sight picture. I only remember saying to myself "that's where the bullets going". Has anyone else ever tried this? I know it sounds strange but the results speak for themselves. And BTW, you can Google Search this subject for more information.
 
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I've had luck with just the opposite while shooting trap. Think about anything but the target and let muscle memory take over. Works for me.
 
I guess you've heard....

I guess you've heard about Zen archers who shoot the arrow without consciously letting go of the bow string. Dustin Hoffman's sister in 'Little Big Man' taught him how to go all 'Snake eyes' and after a while he realized that you could shoot a gun without shooting it and thus began his 'Gunfighter Phase'. I used to practice these concepts (except the 'Gunfighter' part) when I went through the Oriental Philosophy Phase of my life. I've since moved on and I hardly have a brain left to train now. It would probably do me a lot of good to practice some of it again.



PS: The "Tao Te Ching" is one of the landmark books of my life.
 
A calm focused mind, along with practice, good technique, and decent equipment will allow the shooter to focus on the task at hand. I start each stage with the thought of calm, sometimes even praying. Calm and focus will improve offhand rifle scores greatly. A hard hold and calm mind. Be the bullet.
 
Steve in Vermont said:
I've just started looking into something I heard about lately, using Zen in target shooting. At the range yesterday I was shooting a 14-3 at 15 yards, using 9" pie plates with a 2" red circle at center. Using the technique (the right mindset and heart, not just the right form, shoots the target) was difficult, my mind kept wondering, concentrating on form and worrying about a score caused me to miss more than I hit. Then I started looking at only the red dot, forgetting everything else, and shot after shot hit the center. And every time I stopped to "think" what I was doing the shots went off center. At one time 5 out of 6 dead center, and I don't remember even holding the gun or pulling the trigger, let alone a sight picture. I only remember saying to myself "that's where the bullets going". Has anyone else ever tried this? I know it sounds strange but the results speak for themselves. And BTW, you can Google Search this subject for more information.
Click to expand...

Did you stay in a Holiday Inn Express the night before? Zen zat would explain it.....;)
 
Somewhere I have the book, " Zen and the Art of Archery". In it is the line that "It (the bow) shoots itself".

There is something to that. If I do my job right--sight alignment, trigger management, good letoff--without thinking much about it, and essentially "getting out of my own way"--I get good results. Sometimes to the degree that I'm almost an observer. Then the thought goes through my mind, "Dang, that was GOOD; I wonder who did that? Oh, it was me--wish I could do it all the time."

Shooting is simple--but definitely not easy. Mostly in the mind.

Maybe we need a huge taxpayer-funded grant and foundation to study this, preferably based in Hawaii.
 
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