自然な反応とは何か。それは反射なのか，反応なのか。あるいは，学習された反応と自然な反応とは異なるのか。異なるとすればどう異なるのか。
我々は，熱いものに触れたとき，とっさに手を引っ込める。これは「反射」である。非意識的，非意図的，自動的動作である。熱いと意識して，意図して手を動かしていては間に合わず，火傷をしてしまう。あるいは武術の心得のない者が，接近する物体や他者の攻撃をとっさに手で払って避けるとする。これらはいずれも反射，すなわち，学習されたものではない生得的な動作である。
一方，例えば武術の心得のある者が敵と対しているとき，相手の突きが来ることを意識的に察知し，意図してそれを素早く受けるとする。ここではこれを狭い意味での「反応」とする。稽古によって学習された，意識的，意図的，統制的動作である。突きが来たと意識して，意図して手を動かし，なんとか間に合って受けることができるとする。結果的には問題ない。
一方，例えば武術の心得のある者が敵と対しているとき，相手の突きが来ることを意識的に察知し，意図してそれを素早く受けるとする。ここではこれを狭い意味での「反応」とする。稽古によって学習された，意識的，意図的，統制的動作である。突きが来たと意識して，意図して手を動かし，なんとか間に合って受けることができるとする。結果的には問題ない。
しかし，仮に相手の突きが極めて速い場合だとか，あるいは不意に突かれた場合だとかに，そうして意識的に察知して意図的に動かしていては間に合わない。問題である。そこで武術家が，非意識的非意図的自動的ににその突きを見事に裁いたとすれば，それは，反射のようでもあり（学習された）反応ともいえる。つまり，学習に基づいた＜自然な反応＞，ということになる。ただ，この場合，どこまでが反射でどこからが（学習された）反応かは，区別できない。両者を分離することは不可能である。武術家は，日々の弛まぬ稽古により，こうした＜自然な反応＞を体得することを目指している。
なお，これは瞬間的な動作についてであるが，一方で，ある程度の時間的な幅のある中での連続した動作の場合はどうだろう。例えば，まるで反射のように，非意図的自動的にあらゆる動作が繰り出され続けるような状態があるとする。それがいわゆる「フロー」だとすれば，そこには意識，つまり，アウェアネスはない。あっという間に時が経ち，はっと気がついたら終わっている。
一方，「マインドフルネス」な状態とは，まるで反射のように自然に動作するけれども，その状態にありありと気がついている，つまりクリアに意識的である。ただ，アウェアしているからといって，意図的統制的ではない。コントロールをしようと意図して動作しているわけではない。あくまで身体のままに動作する。意識はしているけれども，意図せず自動的である。
フローはおそらく，クリアに意識的になると維持できない。フローを続けたければ，気がついてはいけない。その流れの中にことごとくどっぷりと身を任せ，流され，その陶酔感，恍惚感に浸る。マインドフルネスも同じように流れに身を任せるけれども，そのことにははっきりと気づいている。つまり，覚めた自動性，意識的非意図性である。そこに陶酔感，恍惚感はない。
ただいずれの場合でも，このように流れとともに自然にある，という意味では，その動作（action）は，re-actionではなくて，co-actionといえよう。何かに対して「反」するのではなく，何かと「和」する。それが極意である。
What is natural reaction? Is that a reflex or a reaction? Or, is there a difference between learned reaction and natural reaction? If so, what differences they have?
When we humans touch something extremely hot, we quickly pull our hand back from it. This is a "reflex," which is an unconscious, unintentional, and automatic action. If you get conscious of how hot it is and then intend to move your hand, it would be too late to get scalded. Or, here is another case that a person, who has no experience of practicing martial arts, could brush away an approaching material or an opponent's attack by hands in an unconscious and quick manner. These are all reflexes, that is, unlearned innate actions.
On the other hand, for example, here is another case that, when a person, who has experience of practicing martial arts, encounter an enemy, he/she could consciously see the enemy's punch approaching to him/her and intentionally block it in a quick way. Here, this is defined as a "reaction" in a narrow sense. It is a conscious, intentional, and controlled action, which is learned through the practice. He or she can block the attack just in time, after becoming conscious of the enemy's coming punch and moving his or her hands intentionally. Just as a result, this is non-problematic.
But, if the enemy's punch is extremely rapid or unexpectedly approaching, such conscious knowing and intentional moving doesn't work in time. This is problematic. In this case, if a martial artist beautifully escape the punch in an unconscious, unintentional, automatic way, the action can be said to seem like a (learned) reaction as well as a reflex. That is to say, it is a "natural reaction" based on learning. However, in this case, we can not see where the reflex ends and the (learned) reaction begins. It is impossible to separate both completely. Martial artists aim to learn these "natural reactions" through everyday consistent practice.
This understanding is about a momentary action, on the other hand, how about sequential actions during a certain amount of time width? For example, imagine that there is a state in which a martial artist continues to make every action, like a reflex, in an unintentional and automatic manner. If it was a so-called "flow," there would be no consciousness, or awareness there. In that case, the time passes in an blink of an eye, and the incident ends before he/she knows.
On the other hand, a "mindful" state means that he/she makes actions naturally as if each of them was a reflex, while he/she is vividly aware of the state, or clearly conscious of it. However, just because he/she is aware does not means that he/she make actions in an intentional or regulative way. It is not that he/she moves in an effort of controlling his/her actions. He/she consistently moves as his/her body moves. He/she is aware, though, not intentional but automatic.
Probably the flow (experience or state) might not be maintained with clear consciousness. If you want to remain being in the flow, do not be aware of it. You need to fall into the stream deeply and entirely, be flowed, and immerse yourself in the feeling of euphoria or ecstasy. On the other hand, in a state of mindfulness, you also allow yourself to the current stream, but you are clearly aware of it. Thus, the state is said awakened automaticity, or conscious unintentionality. There is no feeling of euphoria or ecstasy.
However, in any case, being naturally with the stream like this means the action can be said to be not "re-action" but "co-action." It is not against something, but along with it. That's the secret.
What is natural reaction? Is that a reflex or a reaction? Or, is there a difference between learned reaction and natural reaction? If so, what differences they have?
When we humans touch something extremely hot, we quickly pull our hand back from it. This is a "reflex," which is an unconscious, unintentional, and automatic action. If you get conscious of how hot it is and then intend to move your hand, it would be too late to get scalded. Or, here is another case that a person, who has no experience of practicing martial arts, could brush away an approaching material or an opponent's attack by hands in an unconscious and quick manner. These are all reflexes, that is, unlearned innate actions.
On the other hand, for example, here is another case that, when a person, who has experience of practicing martial arts, encounter an enemy, he/she could consciously see the enemy's punch approaching to him/her and intentionally block it in a quick way. Here, this is defined as a "reaction" in a narrow sense. It is a conscious, intentional, and controlled action, which is learned through the practice. He or she can block the attack just in time, after becoming conscious of the enemy's coming punch and moving his or her hands intentionally. Just as a result, this is non-problematic.
But, if the enemy's punch is extremely rapid or unexpectedly approaching, such conscious knowing and intentional moving doesn't work in time. This is problematic. In this case, if a martial artist beautifully escape the punch in an unconscious, unintentional, automatic way, the action can be said to seem like a (learned) reaction as well as a reflex. That is to say, it is a "natural reaction" based on learning. However, in this case, we can not see where the reflex ends and the (learned) reaction begins. It is impossible to separate both completely. Martial artists aim to learn these "natural reactions" through everyday consistent practice.
This understanding is about a momentary action, on the other hand, how about sequential actions during a certain amount of time width? For example, imagine that there is a state in which a martial artist continues to make every action, like a reflex, in an unintentional and automatic manner. If it was a so-called "flow," there would be no consciousness, or awareness there. In that case, the time passes in an blink of an eye, and the incident ends before he/she knows.
On the other hand, a "mindful" state means that he/she makes actions naturally as if each of them was a reflex, while he/she is vividly aware of the state, or clearly conscious of it. However, just because he/she is aware does not means that he/she make actions in an intentional or regulative way. It is not that he/she moves in an effort of controlling his/her actions. He/she consistently moves as his/her body moves. He/she is aware, though, not intentional but automatic.
Probably the flow (experience or state) might not be maintained with clear consciousness. If you want to remain being in the flow, do not be aware of it. You need to fall into the stream deeply and entirely, be flowed, and immerse yourself in the feeling of euphoria or ecstasy. On the other hand, in a state of mindfulness, you also allow yourself to the current stream, but you are clearly aware of it. Thus, the state is said awakened automaticity, or conscious unintentionality. There is no feeling of euphoria or ecstasy.
However, in any case, being naturally with the stream like this means the action can be said to be not "re-action" but "co-action." It is not against something, but along with it. That's the secret.
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