climbing the mountain

As I was reading 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", I came across a part that really spoke to me (the second time through--still trying to answer the questions I missed the first time.) "Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible...The reality of your own nature should determine the speed; if you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. Climb the mountain in equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then when your no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to the end, but a unique event in itself. " One of our questions is to use the climbing of the mountain as an analogy to learning kungfu, and I really see this passage as what I've been experiencing this spring in my journey; I was stressed, and not enjoying my journey at all this spring as I was trying to prepare for testing this fall--I didnt want to practice, I almost quit. I 'was winded'; trying to go too fast in my climb. I've since decided not to test, and am so much more relaxed. I'm starting to enjoy my training again, and looking forward to ramping it up in the fall. I have experience the other end too; thus the reason for joining I Ho Chaun a couple years ago. I know sometimes I get stressed in class when we're getting the pep talks to go-go-go, and feel like maybe I'm not going hard enough or perhaps failing my instructors by going the speed I am. Having read this now, I am more sure that the speed I'm going is the what I need to do right now. I will concentrate on the step at hand, knowing I will make the top. In my own time. http://bbafflesb.blogspot.ca/