"Glacial calmness"... ooh, I like that one.
I was discussing with a Neurologist a few years back, about my rather annoying habit of falling asleep at times of stress. I find that situations where other people get agitated, fretful or fidgety, can oft times make me slow right down and occasionally start doing the slow blink. I remembered back to occasions during exam preparation back when I was at school, settling down to revise ony to fall asleep before opening the book. I would fall asleep in the middle of a heavy conversation with Yoriko (my wife)... and still do, if she's not holding the rolling pin!
Not Heijoshin exactly, as it has few useful qualities. But it does seem to be at the other end of the scale from the wild-eyed panic, and may be a close relative to the calm "everyday" mind of Heijoshin. I wondered if the body has a chemical that is used to supress an over-secretion of adrenalin, and whether in my case I was over compensating, leading to lack of adrenalin and associated reflexes. The Consultant Neurologist listened intently to my theory, said "mmm", ordered some tests and then a few weeks later told me "there's nothing wrong with you... perhaps you should see a psychanalyst". She said it with such a calm face, she could have been a Zen Master.
David Noble
Shorinji Kempo (1983 - 1988)
I'll think of a proper sig when I get a minute...
For now, I'm just waiting for the smack of the Bo against a hard wooden floor....