The Tao of the Ride: Motorcycles... | Buy

Summary

Author Garri Garripoli examines movement through life, which he terms "the Ride," with a capital R. The Tao of the Ride is Garripoli's deft interpretation of the two worlds of motorcycling and Eastern spirituality, and the relationship between them. In his view, readers can best understand the Ride as it refers to the motorcycle: the need for balance, the confronting of one's own mortality, accelerating, braking, refueling, tuning-up, accepting passengers, being in accidents, and on and on. To that end, the motorcycle becomes the metaphor for freedom - whatever it is that returns us to our natural selves. This metaphor then serves to illustrate principles of Eastern spirituality, including such timeless Chinese philosophies and concepts as Tao and Qi, to name but a few. Tao entails living in a natural way, accepting nature and following its rhythms - in short, Tao is balance and acceptance. Qi is the life force, the cosmic energy that flows through every human being. The metaphor of motorcycling, which requires balance, acceptance and evenly flowing energy, illustrates these principles effectively and concisely. The Tao of the Ride, with its unique and down-to-earth metaphor, illuminates with crystal clarity and offbeat humor heretofore elusive Eastern philosophical precepts. Its division into concise, easy-to-read chapters, presented with humor, joy and wisdom, render it accessible and especially inviting. Whether they hail from the beat generation or generation X, whether they drive Fatboys or minivans, all readers who enjoy Eastern philosophy and crave a better, more down-to-earth understanding of it will love this book. The Tao of the Ride, a handbook for the Ride of life, will take readers beyond motorcycles and into the mechanics of the soul. It is destined to become a must-read, New Age classic.

Introduction

vii

Balance

(26)

Fear

(8)

Karma

(12)

Nature

(16)

Senses

(8)

Illusion

(8)

Freedom

(12)

Thoughts from the Road

(50)

Permissions (continued)

141

Supplemental Materials

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Excerpts

DonÆt you cry, dry your eyes . . . on the wind. Robert HunterEvery time I sit on my bike and IÆm ready to turn the key, I think how wild it is that IÆm going for a ride on a vehicle with only two wheels. Sure I understand the physics (as much as our human minds are capable of doing so) of the gyroscopic effect of a fast spinning wheel and the power of centrifugal force. But I still donÆt take it for granted for some reason; itÆs too bizarre. I can go back thirty-five years or so when my neighbor Karen, a big, ten-year-old Swedish blonde, ætaughtÆ me, a five-year-old, how to ride a bicycle. Her technique (nothing against the Swedes) was to prop me on the big old Huffy with balloon tires while I held the handlebars with all my strength and centered my feet on the pedals. Next, sheÆd give me a running shove from the top of the driveway of our apartment complex, and IÆd be on my way. It all seemed straightforward enough. The faster IÆd pedal the smoother the ride. I remember I liked the feeling of the breeze in my face even back then. I felt free—free from the adults, free from all the siblings at home, free like a bird. This sensation lasted all of fifteen seconds before I realized I wasnÆt free from certain laws of physics, and I smashed squarely into the garage door. Karen hadnÆt taught me about brakes yet. Balance goes beyond the ability to not topple over. I see so many people seeking balance who are caught in the duality trap—viewing life as an either/or predicament—falling over or not falling over. I liken it to my initial bike-riding experience. I learned the essence of the Ride lies in balancing the multitude of factors that you face in life. The duality trap—how many times do we see only two alternatives to a situation? Winning or losing, good or bad, black or white. This is the appeal of superficially understanding yin and yang. The tai chi symbol, the symbol of the Taoists, depicts black and white as two opposing forces or aspects or dynamics in any system. One of my favorite and beloved teachers, the ninty-two-year-old Master Duan Zhi Liang of Beijing, hates even looking at this symbol because of what it leads people to think. As a Chinese Qigong healer [pronounced chee gung, itÆs an ancient exercise and healing system—G. G.] and martial arts expert, Master DuanÆs true gift is flexibility, both physical and mental, so limits of any kind really set him off. He always speaks of the æperceivedÆ limitation that people construct and how that keeps them from living and enjoying life. Because of this perception that most people hold of limits, they get the wrong idea of lifeÆs essence from the yin yang symbol. Everything is in a state of flux and chaos, Master Duan would remind me. Gaining balance within this chaos means accepting that nothing is only what it seems. Things are never just æblack and white.Æ The tendency of human nature though is to simplify and assume comprehension. This is most magnified in the scientific didactic outl

Excerpted from The Tao of the Ride: Motorcycles and the Mechanics of the Soul by Garri Garripoli
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