The Path of the Cart

On the golf course is my favourite place to practice. Both my golf game and mind game. Today, as seems to be the ‘usual’ Plan, I was able to play the front nine by myself. For whatever reason, to me, being on the golf course is a perfect setting for practicing ‘seeing’ or two-way attention. That is, observing all the wonderful sights, sounds and sensations of the environment as well as this action figure named Robert –as he pretends to pull off miraculous golf shots – while not losing sight of the Seer or, Myself as being expressed through the finite mind as it spray-paints the moment to moment apparent happenings. The wide open space of the golf course with its expansive green fairways is perfect for noticing the expansiveness Within. As well as the complicated execution of the golf swing as one strikes the ball (apparently). And the satisfaction of watching the outcome of the shot as the ball appears to travel through the air and land somewhere near the ‘intended’ target. Or along the ground as it rolls toward the flag, and little smiles of playful joy as it drops to its final resting place…the little 4 ½  inch hole in the green. Although the weather today was sunny and mild (shorts and t-shirt) there has been a lot of rain over the past few weeks that hasn’t dried up, so the fairways tend to be quite soggy and even muddy in places. Because of the wet conditions the golf course instigates what it calls the “cart path rule.” Basically for golfers who are riding a golf cart, have to stay on the path and walk diagonally to their ball in the fairway to play their next shot. So, rather than play the usual game of hitting the ball down the centre of the fairway, it was decided to aim for the cart path the runs along the edge of the coarse… even though I was walking. The reasoning of course is to stay as dry as possible and not have to walk through the puddles or have the ball get covered with mud etc. This turned out to be a delightful challenge!   About half way through the round I began contemplating what K calls “a pathless path.” And as I said earlier, I seem to do a lot of practice during a round of golf, so the thought came…”Hey, instead of the path of the Heart, this is like the “Path of the Cart!”  Followed by a lot of laughter!