The Gods' Gambit by David Lee Marriner Read Free Book Online Page A

housed many different Asian
swords and a variety of ancient combat weapons, which were displayed on the
walls. On the wall opposite the entrance stood an altar cabinet complete with a
metre and a half-high marble statue of Buddha Shakyamuny perched on top of it.
In front of the altar there were two candlesticks holding thick candles and two
vases containing fresh flowers.
    Lao and James knelt and bowed to Buddha’s statue, touching
the ground with their foreheads. James began the training session with the
ceremonial boxing dance Wai-Kru. The purpose of this dance was to express
respect to the teacher, but at the same time it doubled as a warm-up. Lao made
James play out a basic boxing routine called Mae Mai, and then guided him
through some more detailed Look Mai techniques that reflected Lao’s own
personal style of boxing. After this, they had a short sparring session and
finished with special breathing and relaxing exercises.
    “I can sense that your boxing rhythm is disturbed,” said
Lao.
    James nodded and replied, “Thanks for the lesson, Lao.”
    “I know you’re busy now. You and Elizabeth are planning the
wedding.”
    “You’re right. But I’ll try to find time to catch up,” James
almost snapped back.
    Lao turned his head in surprise to express disagreement with
what he had just heard. “It is not the quantity of exercise that is important
for you. You need to do quality work.”
    “Do you mean that I need to place emphasis on the ‘soft’
approach – using the power of the opponent against him?”
    Lao again turned his head towards James in disagreement. “A
Muay Thai boxer does not become undefeatable because of the proficiency of his
technique, his strength, his stamina, his boldness, or his willpower. He
becomes undefeatable because he is able to govern his own mind.”
    “I’ve heard this before.”
    “Clearly, it hasn’t helped you much. You still can’t find
the right state of mind. That is the key to victory.”
    “What state of mind is the right mind?” James’s curiosity
had been aroused.
    “It’s the possession of the right awareness.”
    “Right awareness as part of the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold
Pat?”
    “Yes and no.”
    “How can this be?”
    “Because this is a thing to do, to experience. When you talk
about it, you strain.”
    “Yet, this is something within the Eightfold Pat.”
    “You could say that.”
    “So, it’s the right thinking, speech, action, way of living,
understanding, effort, awareness, as well as meditation.” James listed the
principles of the Noble Eightfold Pat. “These elements are interdependent.
Developing one of them means working on the other seven as well. I believe it’s
an impossible task for a contemporary man to perfect them all.”
    “You can interpret that as much as you wish. In my opinion,
an interpretation is not helpful in reaching true understanding.”
    James was about to request clarification of this statement
when Lao stopped him by lifting his arm. Obviously, this time Lao didn’t want
to enter into one of their usual philosophical discussions. “You’re the expert
at talking, James, not me. My words cannot go beyond what I’ve just told you,”
he said.
    * * *
    After his training session, James emerged from the shower
and felt his stomach rumble. The early morning physical exercise had made him
as hungry as a wolf. He reached for the bath towel, dried himself, dressed with
barrack-like speed and headed directly for the kitchen. He had anticipated that
Elizabeth would be tired from the flight and from their long night of
lovemaking and so would still be in bed, but she was already in the kitchen
helping Pema with the breakfast. James greeted them both and kissed Elizabeth.
    “How was the training?” asked Elizabeth. “Pema saw you and
Lao in the gym earlier.”
    “I feel great, except I could eat a horse… Speaking of
which, Pema, please, make me a double breakfast, will you?’ He poured himself a
glass of water