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when for the first time someone was on the moon, a sudden feeling of a center must have come. That is why danger has appeal. You are driving a car and you go on to more and more speed, and then the speed becomes dangerous. Then you cannot think; thoughts cease. Then you cannot dream. Then you cannot imagine. Then the present becomes solid. In that dangerous moment, when any instant death is possible, you are suddenly aware of a center in yourself. Danger has appeal only because in danger you sometimes feel centered.
Nietzsche somewhere says that war must continue because only in war is a Self sometimes felt -- a center is felt -- because war is danger. And when death becomes a reality, life becomes intense. When death is just near, life becomes intense and you are centered. But in any moment when you become aware of yourself. there is a centering. But if it is situational, then when the situation is over it will disappear.
It must not be just situational. It must be inner. So try to be aware in every ordinary activity. When sitting on your chair, try it: be aware of the sitter. Not only of the chair, not only of the room, of the surrounding atmosphere, be aware of the sitter. Close your eyes and feel yourself; dig deep and feel yourself.
Herrigel was learning with a Zen Master. He was learning archery for three years continuously. And the Master would always say, "It is good. Whatsoever you are doing is good, but not enough." Herrigel himself became a master archer. His aims became one hundred percent perfect, and still the Master would say, "You are doing well, but it is not enough."
"With one hundred percent perfect aims!" said Herrigel. "Then what is your expectation? How can I now go further? With one hundred percent accuracy, how can you expect any more?"
The Zen Master is reported to have said, "I am not concerned with your archery or your aims. I am concerned with you. You have become a perfect technician. But when your arrow leaves the bow you are not aware of yourself, so it is futile! I am not concerned with the arrow reaching the aim. I am concerned with YOU! When the arrow in the bow is arrowed, inside also your consciousness
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