On laziness

“…it is not only necessity, but also laziness, which is the mother of invention.”
– Alan Watts, “The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety.”

Conserving energy and economy of motion is important in many, if not all aspects of life. It is certainly true in the case of martial arts, academic research, teaching, and other areas, where creativity is important. However, there is a fine line between conserving motion and thus moving “skillfully – along the line of least resistance”, as Alan Watts puts it, and just being passive, procrastinating.

I think the difference is in taking a proactive, as opposite to a reactive approach to whatever is at hand. When we are in a reactive mode of operation, overwhelmed by whatever is coming our way, we might be busy, but not truly active, fro the creative point of view.

In kendo, there is an expression “bogyo no tame no bogyo nashi” – “there is no defence for the sake of defence.” I would not attempt a definitive interpretation (these sayings are notorious for having layers upon layers of underlying meanings,) but one way to read this is that even when we have to be defensive the reaction itself should be viewed as an opportunity to prepare to the next action.