Zanshin & Chess

Zanshin & Chess: Acheiving a Heightened Awareness & The Benefits of Neurological Conditioning

残心⁽¹⁾

Zanshin is defined as a state of expansive awareness that is attained by those either in combat or a state of meditation, a condition of heightened cognizance that allows one to perceive more of reality and as a result feel more attached to the immediate environment. In living life in a state of zanshin, well being and awareness of self can be increased.

Chess is a game of time, space and object location. Chess is a game demanding a heightened awareness that not only has been shown to refine neurological connections, strengthening the myelin sheaths through conditioning, in many ways chess can be construed therefore as therapeutic and a form of meditative practice.

 In addition, there are 64 squares on a board and 64 represents a number of cosmic unity in the realm of sacred geometry and is used for construction of a temple; the duality represented by the constantly opposing black and white pieces is synonymous with all dualities in life, if not the yin-yang, the dualism inherent within male and female, daresay the very dichotomy presented by our own mortality in life v. death, the dynamic differences in light and dark, ergo the sun and the moon, war and peace, and even the duality presented by the traditional representation of God and the Devil as well as all representations of the gods found within the Egyptian, Sumerian, and Babylonian myths upon which the ever popular Christianity derives itself from after careful study of such works as “Asimov’s Guide to the Bible,” ⁽²⁾ amongst a plethora of additional studies in the field relating to Astrological significance; as well, the Freemason Temple itself is constructed in a similar design to a chess set, another reminder of the opposing views presented by the pieces. ⁽³⁾ Where duality is present, harmony is a derivation that can be inferred or induced after proper contemplation, and it is in the experience of a game of chess that one can experience circumstances similarly presented within popular sports such as football ⁽⁴⁾ and hockey that demand a heightened awareness.

Is chess a religion- can chess be played to attain a higher state of awareness that can give one the ability to be able to live a more fulfilling life by becoming more cognizant and aware of their surroundings that can act as a metaphor- while questions such as these may seem rhetorical given the information expressed hitherto, it is through this mystical game that a thesis is thus formulated that through playing chess, one can become more aware of the dualism inherent within life, one can benefit from the neurological conditioning provided by the game, and furthermore a spiritual side can be awakened or additionally refined. The game of Chess can be used to attain a heightened awareness, be used as a therapeutic tool and also a way to sharpen the senses in waking life through conditioning.

"In life, unlike chess, the game continues after checkmate." – Isaac Asimov

Opere Citado

¹ Zanshin, Japanese for lit. “remaining mind.” Cf Wikipedia. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanshin&gt;

² cf Asimov, Isaac. Asimov’s Guide to the Bible. New Jersey: Wings Books, 1968-1969. Print.

³ cf Nozedar, Adele. The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols: The Ultimate A-Z Guide from Alchemy to the Zodiac. London: HarperElement, 2008. Print. (p. 36)

⁴ Spanish: fútbol Americano, English: “Football.”

Samuel L. Johnson

2 July 2016