The famous mantra, “Om Mani Padme Hum,” loosely translates as “the jewel within the lotus,” was perhaps originally intended to guide seekers towards enlightenment.  It sure holds relevance even for us humble golfers seeking improvement on the golf course.
 
Consider the multitude of self-imposed pressures we burden ourselves with before a golf shot: “Keep your head down! Avoid the canyon! Beware of the lake! Don’t make a fool of yourself.” These thoughts often act as layers of interference, hindering our performance.

To unlock the potential within each golf shot, we must peel away these layers of interference, much like revealing the inner jewel within a thousand-petaled lotus flower.  We trust that every shot possesses the potential for greatness, obscured only by these layers.

Ironically, lotus flowers grow best in mud.  Similar to the swamp on #18 at Delaveaga, we are instructed to grow during these metaphorically muddy experiences. As we continuously peel the layers of interference, we create the conditions for success.

Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Seamless Golf,” “Golf Sūtras,” “Daily Golf Tap-Ins,” and is the founder of Golf PROformance LLC. She teaches golf lessons, golf schools, and performance coaching in Santa Cruz, CA and Reno, NV.