As mentioned briefly before, I use gaming as a tool for achieving enlightenment (and having fun at the same time).

I believe as martial arts, chess, calligraphy and many other sports can bring to light life's subtle truths, through questioning experiences, so can gaming.

This is what I have written:

The Philosophy of Gaming

Use the knowledge of territory to advantage
Test the established limits of reality in practice
Abide to the established limits of reality when it matters
Have confidence in your own ability. Force confidence if necessary. Do not be careless. Do not mistake carelessness for confidence. Even the best can become overconfident, which is likely clumsiness or carelessness.

Be gentle... Be calm even in what "may" appear to be disruption if believed OR chosen to be perceived that way. This calmness will come naturally, without effort once fear is eliminated. Nothing is really disruptive, because once appearing to be disruptive, inherently becomes part of what may appear to be disrupted, so it is not disruptive and is meant to be.

"Returning is the movement of the Way. Gentleness is the method of the Way."
Tau Teh Ching - Beck

I believe one must be in accordance with "the way," such as truly achieving inner harmony to achieve perfection in any trade or art.

I think there must be a way for the perceived winner and loser of a game to both gain something, which would make them both winners. I think that is for the common good. Whether a gamer win or lose, competition brings enlightenment through study of events and outcome. This is what healthy competition does for all competitors.

I believe that something learned is greater than the victory and loss of a game. So if the victor has won but has learned nothing, he will be less likely to win the next game. If the defeated has lost but learned something, he will be more likely to win the next game.

Will power is vital to continuation of achievement. With out will, "the drive" (as it may be called) is lacking and will ultimately succumb to those with a higher will power, even if their skill is greater. Motivation is what persuades will power to continue. I choose learning as my main source of motivation, because there is always something to be learned, so my motivation is never drained so long as I value education and enlightenment.

I have played and my achievements at times have seemed to remain on average the same after each match, my mindset was blocking me from playing better, because with multiple games, more skill should be acquired. Statistically, my outcome should have been better each time. I had to accept that I was wrong about something and keep throwing thoughts out and bringing them back trying to find the thought that was wrong, or start from scratch with only basic thoughts applied, but old outcomes remembered (for extra motivation, which has however lead so some frustration). I think it is mostly the thoughts that came from a result of frustration that were less reliable, which made future frustrations more likely. After reading the Tau Teh Ching (as you've read that I've quoted), I have re-found some more inner peace and harmony, leading to less frustrated thinking, and more rational thinking, producing more reliable results. From there, I think victor is achieved by a balancing of chances or those rational thoughts.

Measurement owes its existence to Earth; Estimation of quantity to Measurement; Calculation to estimation of quantity; Balancing of chances to Calculation; and Victory to Balancing of chances.
Sun Tzu, "The Art of War"

I hope some part of this has helped another gamer to "step up their game." While learning can be a motivation itself, what we want to do with that knowledge can be a motivation too, apparently, you who are reading has some motivation.

Electronic Sports has a ways to go, but we'll take it there!