Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Perception and the Archer’s Eye In archery, perception is the quiet act of interpretation. It is not the target itself, nor the arrow’s flight, nor even the feeling in the body. Perception is the meaning the mind assigns to those th... Skandhas Zen in Archery May 8, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Sensation and the Archer Before thought forms, before analysis begins, there is feeling. The pressure of the grip against the hand. The tension building through the back. The string against the face. The weight of anticipatio... Skandhas Zen in Archery May 1, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Your Form Form is often treated as a set of positions to master. Feet placed a certain way, shoulders aligned, anchor fixed. While that approach is useful for building consistency, it only touches the surface o... Skandhas Zen in Archery Apr 24, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Ikkyu’s Tree. Archer’s Arrow There is a story of Ikkyū Sōjun who presented a crooked tree and offered a simple challenge. Anyone who could see the tree as straight would be rewarded. People gathered around it and tried to underst... Zen in Archery Apr 17, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Joy in Practice Joy is often misunderstood in archery. Many believe it comes from a perfect score, a tight group, or a personal best. While those moments can bring satisfaction, they are not the source of true joy. T... Four Immeasurables Zen in Archery Apr 10, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Compassion Between Arrows Compassion in archery begins with honesty. Not the harsh kind that criticizes every missed shot, but the kind that sees clearly without turning away. It is the willingness to meet each arrow exactly a... Four Immeasurables Zen in Archery Apr 6, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Kindness on the Line Kindness is the quiet discipline of meeting your practice with goodwill. It is not softness or lack of standards. It is the ability to remain steady, honest, and constructive in how you relate to your... Four Immeasurables Zen in Archery Mar 27, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Equanimity Through Archery Equanimity is this moment. There is a moment in every shot where nothing extra can be added. The stance is set, the bow is raised, the string is drawn, and the aim settles into stillness. In that mome... Four Immeasurables Zen in Archery Mar 21, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary The Five Aggregates at Full Draw Archery offers more than a test of skill. It reveals the structure of human experience. Every arrow carries within it five interrelated aspects often described as the aggregates: form, sensation, perc... Skandhas Zen in Archery Mar 6, 2026
Archer's Path, Michael Cleary Zen Mind. Archer's Mind There is a teaching from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind that has profound relevance for archery. In it, Shunryu Suzuki writes that in the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, while in the expert’s... Zen in Archery Feb 27, 2026