TheDude108 wrote:
Simply put, an associate of mine once told me that when he discusses chess with employees from a local restaurant, who are all from India, they never say, "Would you like to play a game of chess?"
They say, "Would you like to share a game of chess."
I love that! 
Am uncertain if it’s the case in all traditions, but there is one key factor regarding meditation that has been emphasized over and over again, in all the books I’ve read, and all the direct teachings I’ve ever received. It’s a factor that is fundamental in Buddhism, and I would believe also essential when approaching the world of chess.
Motivation.
In the world of Buddhism, there is what is known as the Bodhisattva path, or Bodhisattva ideal. To follow this path, one’s every action of body, speech and mind must be for the benefit of others. All ego-clinging and self-cherishing is to be eradicated.
After a lifetime, or lifetimes according to Buddhist world view, of thinking of only one’s self, one must think only of benefitting others if one wants to break free of the cycle of suffering.
Most would like to think they have a good and altruistic heart. They take care of friends, family, pets. But, when looked at more closely, there’s a fine line between thinking of others because you receive something in return, and helping others simply because it’s the purest and highest thing one can do.
Dating someone? “I love her, I love her, I love her!” Technically, what most people call “love” is really just chemicals being released in the brain that are identical to the ones that heroin activates. That’s why 50% of all marriages end in divorce between 3 and 5 years. The brain builds up a tolerance to that chemical, and then all of a sudden, “She’s a monster! She doesn’t meet MY needs! I need to be with someone who’ll understand ME!”
The other 50% that stay together? The number one reason for their staying together? Read a study last year that put forth that couples who stay together do so because they claim that they are friends, and that they each put the other persons needs above their own.
This is a subject I could write pages about. And one could make a strong argument that the two primary topics of all of Lord Buddha’s discourses fell into one of two categories: 1) The true nature of reality and 2) Love, compassion, serving others, elimination of self-cherishing.
Therefore, the motivation of anyone who claims to be a Buddhist, would be that of ensuring that every action one commits, whether it be through mind, body or speech, somehow benefits others.
Now, the thing is, it’s not every day that you can pull someone from a burning building, or donate a kidney to save someone’s life. But every year is comprised of months, and weeks, and days, and hours and minutes…and moments. This moment I can’t cure cancer, but I can hold the door open for someone, give them the last piece of pizza, or simply offer a smile. Just as a vase can slowly be filled with water drop by drop, a life can be filled with good moment by moment.
And if the appropriate motivation is not there, those moments are lost. If one’s constant motivation is “Me, me, me,” one’s life becomes filled with either meaninglessness lost in fleeting sensory pleasures, or worse, the harming of others.
The very purpose of life is happiness. Everyone wants to be happy. Look at the miles of rush hour traffic in the morning or evening, and everyone is there because they believe that, either short term or long term, what they are doing will lead to happiness.
And I can guarantee you, those that are doing what they’re doing for the benefit of others will experience levels of happiness that the selfish can only dream of.
And how does this tie in with chess?
Traditionally, most rules, guidelines, vows and so forth in Buddhism were geared towards those leading a monastic life. And the playing of any type of game would be viewed as wasting moments from this precious human life.
But most of us aren’t monastics, we don’t spend hours in study, meditation and retreat. We live in the West in the 21st century, have jobs and families. Serious study and practice are key elements to the Buddhist path. But, to quote my aunt, who I’m pretty sure is a Bodhisattva in disguise, “If your cup is empty, you have nothing to give to others.”
So, as a Buddhist, playing chess does fit into my life. First, I enjoy it. And simple joys in life are needed. Second, when playing, it’s not harming anyone. Third, it helps to keep the mind nimble, which is of fundamental importance in the Buddhist tradition.
But, how does it help others? How could I possibly have a Bodhisattva motivation while playing a game originally designed on warfare in ancient India?
When I play chess, here’s how I put the Bodhisattva motivation into play. I must state, this is The Dude’s Applied Bodhisattva Principles, and isn’t coming straight from a Dharma text or teaching.
Playing chess helps me help others by:
1) Giving my mind time to defrag from the rest of the world, even if only for a few moments. A defragged mind tends to be a kinder mind.
2) I want to play chess well. I like to win. But my motivation is not to defeat my opponent, but to play better than I’ve played before. As time goes on, and I gain experience, knowledge and skill, and my current self gets better than the previous self, winning games will just happen naturally. When I first started playing last December, I was consistently crushed. By everyone. All the time. But now, I’m pretty steady at winning games with extreme rookies and others ranked under 1000. As time goes on, I’ll eventually be able to win games against higher ranked players, but I’ll only be able to do so if I played better than I did the time before. Get it? It’s not about over-coming others. It’s about overcoming Self.
3) When I’m defeated, I don’t think, “I lost, and that guys a total bastard!” I think, “I’m happy he won!” What helps with that thinking is consistently being able to truly appreciate how I was defeated. If asked ever to jam with Eric Clapton, I wouldn’t be standing there thinking, “That frakker, thinking he’s oh-so-cool, playing better than me!” I’d play what I could, but more importantly, learn what I could. And with my current 30%/70% win/loss ratio, most people I play are Eric Clapton.
4) In the world of computer chess, you don’t know who you’re really playing. There are people out there stuck in hospitals and nursing homes who play. People with physical handicaps that may prevent them from leaving home, or even interacting with others on the outside world. I used to think it rude when people wouldn’t say “Good game” at start and finish, but then a co-worker of mine pointed something out. He has a cousin who’s quadriplegic, can’t leave home, can’t type, but can play online chess.
5) On a lighter note, by engaging someone in chess, even if they’re not in dire straights, I’m still helping them take up time with something that at least minimally is not harming others. And if I can say something in the chat box that brings a smile to their face, or maybe takes some stress out of their day, then yeah…the Bodhisattva path is being walked upon.
6) The Bodhisattva motivation, at least for me, is constantly being challenged through chess, because, if I want to get better, and stick with it over the years, I’d better get used to losing. A lot. And that requires humility. Anything that teaches my mind (which is certain it’s the center of the universe, and deserves nothing but praise from every single sentient being) that pride and ego-centrism aren’t wise to maintain, is a virtuous thing.
And finally, one thing to remember, ultimately, chess is a game. It is meant to be fun. 99%of all chess players in the world will never be at the level of a Kasparov. If one's motivation in chess involves pride, anger, greed, ego, then, what's the point? If looked at purely through the lens of logic, all of those mind states will eventually bring suffering. But, if chess is seen for what it is, a game, a pass time, an intellectual challenge, and one's motivation is not only the betterment of one's self, but helping others, it will always be enjoyed, whether your ranking is 823 or 2200.
Simply put, an associate of mine once told me that when he discusses chess with employees from a local restaurant, who are all from India, they never say, "Would you like to play a game of chess?"
They say, "Would you like to share a game of chess."