Mountain-top Zen
monkly wisdom for winning your dreams- wise words finale
“The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.”
- Robert M. Pirsig, American writer and philosopher
From the moment I laid eyes on this mountain I wanted to climb it. Taranaki Maunga, in the southwest corner of the North Island of Aotearoa-New Zealand, is a sacred, symmetrical, dormant stratovolcano over 8,000ft/2,500m tall, sprouting up just 15miles/25kms from the sea, making his shape and amplitude inspiring to all who lay eyes on him.
The climb is one of the most physically challenging feats I have ever undertaken. The climb is only 4 miles one-way, but includes at least 1000 feet of vertical gain every mile, often requiring bouldering up sections with ≥60º grade. There is a long section of grueling scree/scoria field that is frustrating going up, but dangerous coming down—as coming down is more akin to downhill skiing in your boots than anything resembling hiking. The weather can deteriorate rapidly, potentially creating white-out conditions, leaving you blind trying to navigate your way down between trail markers. All that said, it was a really fun time!
The search for something greater
We often set out on quests to reach metaphorical peaks in our life: graduation, the promotion, the relationship, the new place, an adventure, putting our feet somewhere we’ve always dreamed. This is our human nature, and nothing is inherently wrong with these pursuits. As a coach and student of human flourishing, I find those pursuits to be central to discovering and cementing who we are; and they can be filled with great meaning, can elevate relationships, and can generate senses of deep fulfillment.
The dangers and pitfalls, however, are expecting these pursuits to work transactionally. “Once I reach the mountaintop, there I will find my peace, and bring it down to a changed life.”
We know in our hearts and minds that this is not true, and yet often we believe it anyways.
My story
In my mountain climbing experience, and in many “mountain tops” of my life, the achievement has actually not brought me zen or peace at all, but increase anxiety, stress, or unease. At times it has brought depressing emotions and an emptiness that cries, “this is it?!”
In the case of Taranaki Maunga, the mountaintop was beautiful and lovely—we had gorgeous weather, a clear day, and insane visibility that allowed us to see the peaks of Tongariro National Park (home of Lord of the Rings’ Mount Doom)—but the real test was actually getting back to the car in one piece. The top of the mountain is only the half-way point, and any wise climber knows, most injuries occur on the way down.
If I was looking for Zen between the volcanic rocks, I would never find it.
This concept is a reminder of the old AA/Recovery adage: wherever you go, there you are.
If I don’t have peace, contentment, and “zen” when I’m sitting on my back porch, I’m unlikely to find it on the streets of Paris or at the yoga retreat. At best, a “summit” experience can help me learn something about myself, grow, and get new perspective, but I will need to do the inner work to integrate whatever I learned into a lasting state of being. Zen will be found on the mountain only if I carry it with me.
What is a “mountain” you are hoping to climb this year?
What would you hope to find at the top?
How can you cultivate some of that at your current elevation?
This is the final installment of my 12 part Wise Words series. There are many more quotes I could share, and perhaps I will. Stay tuned for a summary of all 12 in case you missed one!
Hello, I'm Nathan- I facilitate leaders through experiences that help them cultivate safety, trust, creativity, collaboration, and mutual benefit across systems.
If you have a group you’d like to invest in this year, I’m happy to serve.