When acceptance is total, the entire existence becomes a part of one. This is the way of nature. As children, we played a game simply because we enjoyed it. Slowly, sport has evolved into an investment opportunity. Take the Cricket World Cup, for example. Sadly, as the players become more involved in the championship, they forget the play. Play becomes work. Only when players enjoy playing, can they perform their best.
Playing for India means fulfilling a billion people’s expectations and that is not easy. When players start playing to satisfy other people’s expectations, their minds are stressed and they become physically limited. When a man is truly happy and carefree, he can engage in incredible physical action. This is the main aspect of yoga, that action can be performed without prior thought. With thought, intentions can be visible. So one does not think, one simply acts, as is needed in the moment. When players practise intensely, everything that they have to do on the field becomes like second nature.
Action simply flows out of them as the game demands. This way, they can respond with agility to whatever the other team throws at them. With proper practice of yoga, bringing sufficient control over their mind and body, they can learn to act without prior thinking. Meditation means going back to one’s original nature. When one is simply with the breath, all identifications dissolve. It is impossible to meditate as a champion. Similarly, when playing a game, the cricketer should drop all identity. If the cricketer constantly thinks of himself as per his identity, it is very burdensome. Once he becomes 100 per cent free of identity, he doesn’t have to play the game. It just happens.
How is a cricketing legend born? Surely not because the team he played against was not competent. For such a player, coordination is at its peak. He knows what he wants in his life. He is so committed to what he wants that it becomes a reality. If our cricketers can organise their energies, bodies and minds in such a way that they get more and more focused, everything will happen for the best.
Cricket is just one form of activity the player has chosen. It is important that he becomes truly aware physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Then whatever game he plays, he will play very well. When fools are playing cricket, cricket will be a foolish game. When intelligent people play cricket, it will be an intelligent game. All depends on who is playing the game.
What the player makes of himself is more important than cricket. Without bringing a certain quality into themselves, they cannot bring quality into the game. If they cultivate humility, they can aspire to reach unimaginable heights of performance. Humility is just acceptance of what is. Out of this acceptance, they can use their intelligence and act.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, an internationally renowned spiritual leader, is a visionary, humanitarian, author, poet and speaker. He can be contacted at www.ishafoundation.org
