A couple of days ago, I sat with these inquisitive, bright eyed, noisy group of under-graduate students. I asked them to choose the theme for our discussion so our conversation could be productive and they chose ‘Peak-performance’. This is an approximate excerpt from the conversation I had with them.
Student: Why do you think there is so much talk on Peak-Performance these days?
Peak performance is more relevant today than ever, since we have entered a civilization that cannot tolerate or accommodate ordinariness. Our current civilization can only assimilate and embrace people endowed with exceptional intelligence. In the 1970s, if someone graduated from a university it was pretty much assured that he or she would land a job and life of security there after. Are not the times different now? It is necessary that you come to terms with the fact that the going is only going to get tougher. The world you are a part of, has room only for those who can offer peak-performance. This is from a survival perspective.
However from a consciousness perspective, what you call Peak-performance we call Total Presence. When you bring your total presence to any experience whether it is in an arena of sports or your classroom or to the banter of a friend, that very experience of total presence offers your brain, your body and your consciousness great nourishment. It is pure fulfillment.
Student: But how does Peak Performance happen? How can I make it happen to me?
Let us look at it this way. When we are in a state of emotional low, it is evident to all of us that we perform badly. This is because our conflict is draining us and is sapping our intelligence. Therefore conventional approach would be to push you into an emotional high to get you past your boundaries of comfort. Let us say you visited ‘Soul Cycle’, the DJ, the thumping and exciting music, the voice of the instructor all are pushing you into a state of emotional high and getting you to push your limits. This is fine for a few moments, but the down side of running your life on an emotional high is that a high is quite often accompanied by inner emptiness.
However there is a revolutionary and unconventional path to Peak performance. Let us call it The inner yoga for Absolute Performance. Here you enter the realm of Total Presence. A state of brilliance and joy from which you work wonders and this is the result of the coming together of Liberative Insights and Beautiful State Meditations.
Student: What is this experience of total presence? Is it some kind of meditation experience?
There are many terms with which this total presence is known. Some call it Peak Performance; some call it the Zone. This is not merely an experience you have in meditation; it can happen anywhere.
Let me give you an example. Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary cricketer from India in an interview spoke of his state during peak performance this way. He explained that in such a state all that exists to him is the ball that is hurling at him in the present. There is no past ball- whether it was well-played or badly played. There fore there is no previous ball he has to live up to nor a bad ball he has to compensate for. His mind also does not project a future ball. In that intensity of observation, there are no spectators, no stadium, no bowler, no family that is anxious for his success. It is just that ball as it comes at him. And when he bats in that state, his game is a feast for the gods!
In that state of total presence there is absolutely no pre-occupation with the self. There is no fear, nor an anxiety to please any one. It is undivided attention to what ever is there. It is a state where there is a 360 degree perspective of a situation. Life moves in slow motion, where there is an incredible amount of information accessible to you. Inwardly your sense of time is unhurried. You feel like you have ample amount of time to process a situation.
You give incredible responses. Wise responses. Stunning responses. It is more than peak performance. It is absolute performance.
With the practice of the beautiful state meditations and the liberative wisdom offered at One World Academy, you can consciously move into it any time at will.