The fourth precept of Huna is: Manawa – “Now is the moment of power.“
One is introduced to this precept quite quickly when learning to master a SUP. When ones mind wanders, then a trip into the water is a reminder to stay focused!
Learning to be in the Now has it ups and downs – pardon the pun! When you are learning to ride a SUP, staying focused in the Now is pretty essential. When your mind wanders from the task at hand, the SUP and the sea soon bring you back to moment. Normally with a mouth full of water!
There is a quoted learning journey that comes to mind as I write this: Unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, unconscious competence. This quote shows the journey to mastery. Acting without having to think.
I am working my way between the conscious incompetence to conscious competence. This requires that I stay present and in the Now. Not only being aware of what is going on with the board, the water, wind and the paddle, but also of being aware of my posture, my position on the board. Where is my weight distributed. Am I leaning back on my heels or forward on my toes. Or am I standing relaxed. Balanced, with my weight evenly distributed? Is my breathing relaxed or is it tense (meaning that I am tense).
The value of being in the Now is staying on the board. Of completing a journey across the bay and back again with a trip into the water. Of feeling the board under my feet and the reacting to the waves to retain my balance.
How often do we loose the Now in our daily lives. Loose our balance and poise? Falling off to be awoken from our slumber of ‘going through the motions’? How aware are we of our breathing? Is our breath relaxed and coming from the diaphragm or is it restricted and located in the top of our lungs?
Is life flowing or is it a struggle?
Come back to the Now – for it is the moment of power!
until next time
metta
Garth
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