Extreme Sports

People can be divided into three categories: those who do not engage in any sports, those who participate in sports, and those who engage in extreme sports. If someone has tried an extreme sport once and didn’t enjoy it, they can be classified into either the “those who participate in sports” or “those who do not engage in any sports” category; extreme sports are such that you either love the feeling they provide or you don’t. If you love it, you continue. As you continue, you progress, and as you progress, the risk increases. What makes an extreme sport “extreme” is precisely this progressive nature—the fact that as you advance, the level of risk rises accordingly.

For a long time, I have been pursuing a question: Why do human beings push their limits to such an extent? What is the motivation that drives people toward extreme sports? It would be taking the easy way out to explain all this effort solely through “adrenaline addiction.” I sometimes find it difficult to explain to those close to me the rational reasons for heading into the mountains and voluntarily enduring such harsh conditions. Of course, I have an answer of my own, but I am curious to hear your views on this matter. Why do human beings push their limits to such an extent?

Tbh i dont really know exactly the answer to that question. For me sports is more what u like and also if for example it keeps u more thin and i burns fat. I do sports but now it is only ballet which i think is NOTTT only an art but ALSO a sport and if i can i also really want to do tennis if i have more time and can pay for the lessons. But they are not extreme sports and if smt is really dangerous than for me it is a reason NOT to do it or ONLY if u really want it a lot bc of other reasons.

I know that @BartL if he is still online does extreme sports bc he jumps out of airplanes with a parachute and maybe Jayyy @Based_Aura did dangerous sports or at least for his work when he was a soldier. So maybe they can tell what they think.

And i have a question for u too @diogenes_cask: so maybe u really like climbing mountains which are really dangerous NOTTT bc of the danger but bc it can be really beautiful. For exanple: if u did not know abt the Titan that it exploded and was too dangerous would u do that faster bc it is dangerous or wud u do that bc u want to see the Titanic or maybe smt else in the ocean. Bc if that is the case than it is not bc of the danger but bc what u can see. ORRRR u can do it bc u like the danger and also bc u see the Titanic and not a lot of ppl saw that before. So im curious what u think abt that!!! 😇😇😊

Dear "Diogenes",

I don`t know if Apnea Diving is in your eyes an extreme sport.
For me it was a huge challenge to start this sport.
I was just fascinated when I saw "The Big Blue".
When my meditation teacher started to dive with some friends
I wanted to experience it, too.
So I think one aspect is fascination.

Another aspect seems for me to push it until the mind says "YOU WILL DIE!"
With Apnea even the best athlets come very quickly to this point.
There are only a view minutes until the mind wants you to go back up.
For me my mind even told me that on the surface and it was a great feeling
to manage some time down there.
Even though I don`t do it anymore there is still the certainty that I can go further
than my mind tells me. That is a good set up for the challenges in everyday life.

Yet another aspect is an increased body awareness. You want to have a fit body.
Your diet, sleeping routine, workout and stretching, breathing and the way you
manage stressfull challenges are important. You have more power, also outside
the water. You are more sensitive to the needs of your body.

When you do Apnea you always have a partner with you. He secures you
when you dive down. He watches you and may stop you when he senses
too much stress before you are diving. And he has to save you when
something happens. It`s good for developing empathy and responsibility.
For me the most important aspect was trust in my teacher.
I would have never started such a challenging sport without him.

I quit Apnea more than ten years ago.
So I guess I am not somone who does extreme sport.
But for me the most challenging "sport" is the way to Self-Realisation.

An extreme sports enthusiast is not necessarily someone
who is very mindful of their environment in everyday life.

Sometimes it seems to me that extreme sports are also
a form of compensation. What do you think?

c.

People can be divided into three categories: those who do not engage in any sports, those who participate in sports, and those who engage in extreme sports. If someone has tried an extreme sport once and didn’t enjoy it, they can be classified into either the “those who participate in sports” or “those who do not engage in any sports” category; extreme sports are such that you either love the feeling they provide or you don’t. If you love it, you continue. As you continue, you progress, and as you progress, the risk increases. What makes an extreme sport “extreme” is precisely this progressive nature—the fact that as you advance, the level of risk rises accordingly.

For a long time, I have been pursuing a question: Why do human beings push their limits to such an extent? What is the motivation that drives people toward extreme sports? It would be taking the easy way out to explain all this effort solely through “adrenaline addiction.” I sometimes find it difficult to explain to those close to me the rational reasons for heading into the mountains and voluntarily enduring such harsh conditions. Of course, I have an answer of my own, but I am curious to hear your views on this matter. Why do human beings push their limits to such an extent?

Just as some people have an appetite for something which is downright weird, some people have an appetite for adrenaline, that's all. Now look at mountain biking, a sport where one mess up means you down a cliff, but people do it because it's fun.

I agree with "Diogenes" when he says that
It would be taking the easy way out to explain
all this effort solely through “adrenaline addiction.”
or just fun.
The cause is deeper!

I am not a sports person, but I used to go mountain climbing in the past. Maybe because I didn't consider it as sport, but "life".

I wasn't professional and I quit it after an accident in the mountains. But I never quit loving it. It is not just body activity or trying to stay healthy. Mountain is "life". Even now that I am writing about it and I remember my moments flirting with the stones, the silence, and the fresh air up there, I feel wonderful. It is all "unity" up there.

A while ago, inspired by a beloved friend, I tried to put my feet on mountain stones again after many years. I was determined to do that and I did it. I cannot call it mountain climbing, when I compare it to my climbing in the past, but the point is I did it because of the inspiration inside me which enlightened that faded courage to climb.

In my opinion, whether someone loves a sport and sees it as a way of life, does it out of inspiration (which I think is a kind of love), or engages in it for any other reason, it all comes down to psychology, the mind, and emotions. I think even when one exercises based on spiritual lessons/ instructions (before becoming enlightened), the cause is mind, feelings and emotions.

In my opinion, whether someone loves a sport and sees it as a way of life, does it out of inspiration (which I think is a kind of love), or engages in it for any other reason, it all comes down to psychology, the mind, and emotions. I think even when one exercises based on spiritual lessons/ instructions (before becoming enlightened), the cause is mind, feelings and emotions.

I rather think it is a drive to go beyond the illusion of mind, feelings and emotions.
I remember Michael once wrote something like: What if life is just a preparation for what comes after that?

@Yue_ parachuting in the Army is different than skydiving. You have a static line that is attached to the aircraft which pulls your parachute about five seconds after you jump. HALO is essentially skydiving, but getting into that school if you're not an operator is near impossible, believe me.. I tried ... i did skateboard though...still do sometimes. Pilates is the only extreme sport I'm doing atm ..

To answer the original question. I just tell people that taking risks makes me feel alive....that's the truth ..

@Yue_ parachuting in the Army is different than skydiving. You have a static line that is attached to the aircraft which pulls your parachute about five seconds after you jump. HALO is essentially skydiving, but getting into that school if you're not an operator is near impossible, believe me.. I tried ... i did skateboard though...still do sometimes. Pilates is the only extreme sport I'm doing atm ..

To answer the original question. I just tell people that taking risks makes me feel alive....that's the truth ..

Hahahhh pilates is not extreme but is actually really good for u and for ur health and body. 😃 But i am NOTTTT going to jump from a plane with a parachute or skydive or smt like that!!! 😬🙅‍♀️

I rather think it is a drive to go beyond the illusion of mind, feelings and emotions.
I remember Michael once wrote something like: What if life is just a preparation for what comes after that?

You are right. What I was talking about was the "drive". I beloeve this drive is rooted in psychology of the body. Maybe that's why Michael says body is important.

I myself started excercising due to this lesson of his, and to take step to go beyind the illusions one day, but when I feel down, I have no interest in exercise or any sport.

Well, this is my bellief based on what I have experoiened.

Anyway, you know better, as you are more axperienced and you have been with him and his teachings much more.🙂

There’s also an argument that something like alpinism is the perfect antidote to our ‘cotton wool’ society, where everything must be easier and safer. Today, many people establish sterile "bubbles"—free from all manner of risks—within high-security residential complexes. Yet, within this zero-risk lifestyle, the fear of missing out (FOMO) grows quietly. We only get one chance at life, yet some people choose to spend that entire opportunity sitting in the very same chair. In my view, one of the greatest catastrophes that can befall a person is not death, but rather being unable to remember almost any day of the life one has lived. When I'm older, I want to talk not about how many years I have lived, but about what I managed to fit into those years.

It is impossible to go straight from the sedentary nature of modern office life to an altitude of over 5,000 meters. Alpinism is, therefore, bravery along with proper and adequate preparation. Mountains are astonishingly beautiful land formations touching the high sky and standing in wonder. But this alluring charms comes with a bitter cost, since they shown their brutal side by claiming the life of many brave climbers. There is a famous saying for some of high altitude mountains: "they are not mountains but judges; they judge on who will survive and who will die." During this unique struggle, you have to face to various challenges such as steep ascent, technical difficulties, extreme climate, cold, low oxygen, frost bites, dehydration, and altitude sickness, avalanches, and so on... In other words, the mountain does not simply hand you the summit; it tests every last shred of your willpower. Death Zone begins at an altitude of 8000 meters, the point where the human body struggles to adjust to the extreme altitude. That's to mean, you keep slowly dying every second you spend in there. You push the summit through an ongoing death state and then descend into life again. That's nothing but a resurrection. Very few things in life can give you this feeling. You descend from the mountain not as victors, but as those who have been tested and blessed.

Beautiful description of "mountain" and "mountaineering"! Although I never climbed higher than about 2500m , and I was never a professional at climbing, I can a very good picture of mountain is given by this post. I can feel myself among the stones and rocks by reading it.

The reason that I say mountain is "life", is not just the amazing feeling it gives to me. I believe it has all the lesson that life has. One should be very careful with every step, with tune of walking and breathing, with cooperating with others (and not following one's ego that think it knows the best and can proceed all alone), with not being tempted by beautiful paths which are dangerous to go, with not giving up on the difficulties on the way, etc. Every wrong decision may lead to a disaster, and every "feeling" of joy will give one more inspiration to continue... All above are like what happens in "life".

Similar to life, in the mountain, the climber should stay focused and cautious about the path, while enjoying the beautiful atmosphere and every moment of this glory which is a mixture of determination, courage, love, bliss, liveliness, and hope...

Beautiful description of "mountain" and "mountaineering"! Although I never climbed higher than about 2500m , and I was never a professional at climbing, I can a very good picture of mountain is given by this post. I can feel myself among the stones and rocks by reading it.

The reason that I say mountain is "life", is not just the amazing feeling it gives to me. I believe it has all the lesson that life has. One should be very careful with every step, with tune of walking and breathing, with cooperating with others (and not following one's ego that think it knows the best and can proceed all alone), with not being tempted by beautiful paths which are dangerous to go, with not giving up on the difficulties on the way, etc. Every wrong decision may lead to a disaster, and every "feeling" of joy will give one more inspiration to continue... All above are like what happens in "life".

Similar to life, in the mountain, the climber should stay focused and cautious about the path, while enjoying the beautiful atmosphere and every moment of this glory which is a mixture of determination, courage, love, bliss, liveliness, and hope...

Accurate observation. Arrogance and ego, are two things a mountaineer should not carry in his/her backpack. Hypoxia becomes a true danger after 2500 meters. During the Cho Oyu expedition, one of our teammates began claiming that he had seen a herd of Tibetan yaks at an altitude of 7,000 meters. We had to make the right decision, because at that altitude, there are no major or minor mistakes—there is only right or wrong. We brought him down to a camp 1,000 meters below and spent five days there. We decided that if his condition worsened, we would descend to base camp. Fortunately, he recovered with the help of supplemental oxygen, and we continued toward the summit.

That was a very dangerous an sensitive situation! I am happy you could save him, and I am sure he is happy for having such experience in his "treasure chest of life".

Hahahhh pilates is not extreme but is actually really good for u and for ur health and body. 😃 But i am NOTTTT going to jump from a plane with a parachute or skydive or smt like that!!! 😬🙅‍♀️

In this house. It's extreme. Lol... at least her mom is here to help. 🙂

In this house. It's extreme. Lol... at least her mom is here to help. 🙂

I think sometimes babysitting can also be extreme but NOTTT in the way @diogenes_cask means!! 😛 😛 But still it can take LOTTTT of energy and messy if he burps on u after u feed him for example but it is not really dangerous.