Slowing Down Time

"Slowing Down Time" is a chapter from the book, The Art of Learning by Waitzkin. The book is more of an anecdotal account of how a child chess prodigy turned national champion learns how to be a world champion tai chi master. The book is about his thoughts on learning and taking on a new endeavor. It's not at all statistical or research-based.

Slowing down time means processing more information in less time by encountering similar situations or problems in the past. He relates this idea to chess. A higher level player can process the same chess board (information) with less effort than that of a lower level player. He uses a similar concept to relate to tai chi. An experienced fighter will need to move less because he can read his opponents movements. 

In chess, Waitzkin learns starting from the endgame. He starts with 2 kings and a pawn. Then he adds more pawns. Then he plays with 2 kings a pawn and a rook, etc. He first learns how each piece moves and then adds complexity in order to build experience or intuition. Waitzkin believes that players who memorize openings and certain lines do not have the same level of understanding of how pieces form a board. He likes to create complex board states and force his opponents to crumble under pressure.

Plato's Cave

A good friend of mine introduced me to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. In the story, men are chained inside a cave and are only able to see shadows of puppets. To these men, shadows are reality. They know of nothing else in the world. One day, they are released from their chains and they see the fire and the puppet master. They discover fire but also realize that someone was creating the moving shadows they had previously thought was reality. And soon after, they leave the cave and are able to experience all that nature has to offer.

I think this story is phenomenal. It makes me think of my cave and my puppet masters. My parents and my environment are my puppet masters and have created my reality. I have learned in my childhood that an education, a job and family are all of extremely high importance. And if I have these things, I should be happy. Society in middle class America has also taught me that the self is very important, success is the goal, money buys everything, sex is great, popularity helps and an athletic body is attractive.

But what is reality? What is created by the puppet master and what is real? Yes, it is human nature to place value on societal values because we are social creatures and we should abide by social rules. But, some people get to a point of being neurotic. There exist people who place enormous value on certain things: appearances, success, name brands, masculinity, boyfriend/girlfriend, family, jobs, education, winning, being better than peers, etc.  Some people get obsessed over appearances and go to the gym 4 hours a day or spend all of their free time shopping for clothes. People get obsessed over what others think about them. People get extremely stressed over test performance or jobs. Students have committed suicide over these issues. These are just illusions created some experiences that these people have had. Does the rest of the world care about the things you care about? Do you actually need XYZ in order to be happy? And if it's something that only a small percentage of the population has, then it's probably unnecessary.

Take a step back and see the puppet masters in your life. What are the shadows and what is nature? What do you believe that other people may not believe? What are illusions and what is reality?

Impermanence

Recently, there has been talk of a "polar vortex." It has snowed almost 60 total inches in Philadelphia this winter and I have been exercising in below zero temperatures all month. But, we all know in just a few more weeks, spring will arrive and we will all be able to enjoy the sunny days outside with nature. Just as all seasons come and go, so will this cold winter.  But just as all seasons come and go, so will stages of our lives.

Just six years ago, I was getting ready for college. Nervous and excited, I daydreamed about class, new friends and thought about all the opportunities.  And during college, I had an absolute blast.  I met so many people and made so many new friends.  I learned how to bachata and performed on a step team. I stressed the f*** out over tests and recruiting. I interned in LA.  I played more Mario Kart than anyone should in a lifetime and participated in a Microsoft Puzzle Challenge. I had too many experiences to list and I'm grateful for all of them.

But more time has passed and I am now in a new part of my life. I have a job now.  And I'm making new friends in a new city.  I'm trying new hobbies and discovering new passions again.

But just as college came and went, so will my 20's.  And just as my 20's will come and go so will my 30's. And my 40's.  And my youth and my metabolism and my healthy complexion and my hair and my health and later my older relatives and my parents and ultimately... my life. Everything will come and go; nothing in this world will linger.  We know that the seasons come and go, and we accept it.  But how many of us linger in the past or reminisce about the good old days? How many of us fear old age or death?

If we can't accept that our past is in the past, we will not be free.  If we can't accept that our childhood or college is over, we will not be free.  If we can't accept that a past relationship is over, we will not be free.  And if we can't accept that our lives are temporary, we will not be free. We will not be free from either cognitive dissonance or constant fear.

Since impermanence is part of our reality, we should learn to accept it and embrace its fleeting nature.