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The Dharma of Motorcycling

THE DHARMA OF MOTORCYCLING

Dharma is usually mixed up with religious merit. Dharma is duty. Duty towards whatever is right and proper. This judgement about what is right and proper is not dependent on any law, constitution, or culture. Neither is it a result of our own conscience. Dharma is the leading edge of our awareness. A clear, calm and receptive mind becomes aware of its dharma by itself. Dharma combines ritual and freedom without conflict. In the Mahabharata, Arjun must wage battle against his respected elders. With a mind bound by preconceptions about his ritualistic duties towards them, he could not become aware of his duty towards what was right and needed at that moment. He would not let the leading edge of his awareness lead him. Not until Krishna became this leading edge of awareness for him. Then the decisions came by themselves.

All learning that comes from what others have experienced is reducible to being a continuum of rituals. Real learning, which arises from within, comes only when one rises beyond these rituals, since they, in reality, are static awareness patterns that impose limits on our spirit. We cannot simply fight them or drive them away from our consciousness. We need to get beyond them. And for this, we must master these rituals with such proficiency that they become an unconscious part of our nature. We need to get so used to them that we completely forget them. Then they are gone from our awareness. In motorcycling, learning how to accelerate, brake and shift gears are rituals of learning. All must perform them to be a part of the motorcyclist's world. Mastering them to the point where they become our second nature opens up a new world of speed, adventure and control. Our leading edge of awareness is no longer restricted to these ritualistic limits of braking, accelerating and gear shifting. It now stretches beyond into the world of speed, of unlimited distances and a freedom never possible while being on foot. One's entire way of looking at the world changes. Roads that were featureless and tiring in a bus become exhilarating and adventurous to ride on. Places that were once distant and exhausting to reach become fun to visit. Fear takes a back seat, remaining at the edges disguised as caution, but never overpowering.

While riding, the dharma of a rider is apparent to him all the time. When and how much to accelerate or brake or lean over are ever flowing continuos dharmic decisions that come without conscious effort. The leading edge of one's experience and awareness makes whatever is needed and best for the moment, clearly visible. What is right and what is needed comes naturally to a practiced rider. The Krishna within him is wide awake and guiding him. His awareness is entirely focussed on his dharma as a rider, which is to be safe and fast. Achieving it brings happiness and contentment. We also call it peace of mind.

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