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The Shao-lin Way: What is it?
Introduction
I
f the martial arts are as good as everyone says they are, let me
pose a few questions for your better judgement. If the martial arts
promote character building, why then are so many people in the
martial arts lacking in character? If the martial arts promote
brotherhood, why then are so many schools in conflict with each
other? If the martial arts promote respect, why then are so many
students at odds with their own teachers? If the martial arts
promote unity, why then are schools that come from the same
master at conflict with each other?
The term "martial arts" in itself is very misleading. The word
"martial " means military, warlike, or inclined to war. While the
word "art" denotes the beauty contained within some act we
perform, such as painting, dance, music etc. We can further define
the word "artist" as someone who is skilled in a particular art.
Therefore, we conclude that a martial artist is one who is skilled in
fighting, or warfare.
This is false, for fighting is the least important aspect of the
martial arts. The true complete art lies not in the kicking or
punching, but rather in the cultivation and calmness of the mind.
The martial movements are only a reflection of the mind. There is
far too much focus on the wrong end of our art. People are looking
for the toughest style, the toughest teacher, without any
consideration for what really counts-that being inner change.
To begin studying the martial arts only to learn how to fight is a
bad start, but it is nonetheless the most common reason given for
joining a martial arts school. Learning how to fight is the easy part.
These are only external skills. To change your inner being is the
hard part.
The real question you should ask yourself is: What do I feel is
lacking in myself, that practicing the martial arts can provide? The
desire to learn stems from our inner core. You want to change
something about yourself for the better. Maybe you want to be
more self confident, or maybe you desire to be more secure in your
own abilities to defend yourself. If the motive is self defense, the
first thing to understand is that true defense starts from your mind.
You must first honestly look within yourself and face the real you.
Here is where the battle begins. Once you know the true answers
you will realize fighting skills will not fulfill your deepest desire for
change. You come to know that fighting skills are only a small part
of it.
Even with Shao-lin skills you can not beat everyone in the
world. That is not their purpose. The Buddhists say our real enemy
is ourselves. It is our insecurity, pride, and fears that drive us
backward. The battle of the inner and outer will continue all our
lives. If you don't center on the core of your problem there will be
very little benefit derived from any training.
The Non-Traditional vs. the Traditional Approach to Training
Although I am an advocate of traditionalism, I understand we can
not live in this world without the non-traditional approach that we
see in the other schools. This is a normal condition in the Taoist
view of existence. If you understand the theory of yin/yang you
realize that there has to be a good and bad. But even the good is
not perfection; it will always have a touch of bad. And the bad will
never be totally bad; it will also have a touch of good.
Another aspect we must consider is our karmic destiny. According
to Buddhist doctrines your entire life is the just result of your past,
in other words, you reap what you sow. If you make no effort to
become enlightened, the result of your past actions will be played
out fully in life. However, if a person is motivated to take the
proper path, his karmic destiny can be altered for the better. Some
of us can not change our karmic course in our present life because
we have not yet arrived at a state of being where we take any real
notice of just what karma is, how it works, and how it effect our
lives.
So we suffer its consequences without knowing why. But
hopefully in the course of time everyone gets a chance to catch the
brass ring, and awaken into a new and exciting life that brings with
it a hope for total salvation. When that time is, nobody can tell you.
We all must go our separate ways doing what we think is best for
our physical, mental and spiritual growth.
As long as our world exists there will always be two points of view.
Some will follow one view and the remainder will follow the other
view. Which path a person chooses is dependent on their view of
life at that moment in time. Whichever way people go, it's all right,
for there is a saying: "One path is better than no path, but the right
path is best of all."
We must all have a path through life. Better to
have something to follow then to wander aimlessly through life with
no direction at all.
Choosing the Traditional
Unfortunately, many of the schools the general public sees
advertised are poor examples of true training; their center of focus
is in the wrong place, namely the outer aspects of physical conflict.
The novice student must learn to distinguish between the yin and
yang, and from the vortex of life pick the correct path for him.
There are a number of legitimate schools, teachers and
philosophies in our world, but their teachings are often muffled by
the carnival atmosphere and media hype surrounding the
presentation of our art to the general public. The quiet side of our
art takes you away from all the confusion.
You can see this dichotomy when you look at some of the
publications on the market today. Pick up any well-known martial
arts magazines and take the time to thoroughly read them. It won't
take you long to see that there are conflicts between styles,
systems and masters. The amount of senseless bickering, boasting,
and glory hunting you will find is enough to upset the strongest of
stomachs - yet these publications sell by the millions each year.
This kind of media is a poor representation of the true teaching of
the martial arts. On the other hand, there are also high quality
martial arts magazines that do not venture into literary
confrontations or defamation of styles or masters. Thank goodness
for the equalizing power of yin and yang forces ! For all the
negative aspects in our arts there is an equal amount of positive
aspects.
The traditionalist is unconcerned with the egocentric motivations
of the negative yang martial arts world. The yin (or positive)
followers are only concerned with guarding our arts' traditions,
customs and philosophy. They protect the precepts by which a
traditionalist lives and grows. One of the cardinal rules of the
traditionalist is never to bring dishonor to his family, himself, his
teachers or his art. He know his duty lies in continued learning and
the passing down of his art to the next generation while preserving
the core of his teachings from radical changes.
A Word about Controversy and Truth
The traditionalist does not take part in disputes and controversy.
He remains quiet in the storm of clashing egos. He is not concerned
with fame, money, and fanfare- who is best, or who is first.
We at A.C.C.S. receive a great deal of mail from around the
world. Some compliment our articles, while others find cause for
disputes as to who is really first or best at some particular
endeavor. Some will take exception to such meaningless words, as
"The First", "The Best" "The Only". If I say my teacher was the
"The First to...." you might take exception to it if you think your
teacher was "The First". If I say my teacher was "The Best at...."
again you might take exception to it, saying, no my teacher was the
"The Best at...". I, too, am a slave to these words, but I am only
speaking from my point of view.
My martial arts world is different
from yours. My experience of reality is different from yours. We
can only judge events in our lives by our own life experience. No
one can make any correct statement concerning another's life
experience. Each of our worlds is very real to us, and we act in
accordance with what we perceive to be the truth.
There is an expression: "words must be weighed not counted".
Never take words too literally; they are but shadows of the truth.
They transmit only a dim idea of the true meaning behind them.
When we use words we find we need to use more words to express
our meanings, even then we feel like our thoughts are not clear to
others, which they are not.
We only come to understand one
another when we ourselves have experienced a similar situation.
My articles are not intended to reflect on another's
accomplishments or feelings in a matter, only to express my own
view of reality, as I know it. The real issue is not words but how the
words express our own truth.
But, what is Truth?
Supposedly this question was asked of Christ at the time of His
judgement and death. His answer was "There is only one truth, and
it is God". The true path to liberation frees us from words. When
you find your real center then you will no longer be affected by
others comments or idealistic viewpoints, including my own. The
attitude of the traditionalist is "if you agree with me, that is fine
and if you don't that is also fine". The traditionalist agrees with
everyone's right to disagree, for he is aware of the interplay
between yin and yang.
Of course, people are naturally drawn to
those who agree with their idea of what is correct in life. It gives
people a sense of being right in their judgments. The more people
in agreement with you, the more you feel you are correct in your
assessments. In reality, numbers don't change things; they only
give that appearance. In actuality there is always the universal
balance of proportionate yin to yang. Knowing this, a traditionalist
would say, "the best approach is no approach, simply draw back to
the middle of the road. There we can move in any direction."
In all honestly I can not say I haven't made judgments in my life.
We all do. The secret is not to be controlled by our judgments, and
not to take them too seriously. Start by acknowledging the fact that
nobody can change another's perspectives about life, and then
simply stop trying. Any change that comes, comes from your own
revelations and no where else.
When I speak, I speak from my
world, and in my world I am correct. I am master of my world and
you are master of your world. The best we can do is to make our
worlds fit nicely into the ways of our society. Confucius advocated
this principle when he spoke of living in accord with mankind.
Living peacefully in a structured society was his judgement of how
to attain peace and harmony for all human beings. It is true we are
all connected in the web of life, yet we remain separated like the
strands on a spider's web.
However, it is this separateness that
gives the web its strength. It is the eternal balance of yin and yang
that cements our world together.
A Poem to Awaken the World
by Master Han Shan in the Ming Dynasty
In this world of boundless troubles and cares,
It is advisable to be patient and gentle.
Live according to circumstances wherever you may be,
And do your part till the end of your life.
Never ignore your conscience,
Nor disclose othersā faults.
Exercise prudence in social intercourse and you
will have nothing to regret;
Practice patience at work and you will find no
problem too difficult to solve.
The string of a strong bow is always the first to break;
The edge of a sharp knife is most likely to sustain damage.
Gossip brings misfortune;
Cruelty incurs blame.
There is no need to argue over who is right,
Nor is there need to dispute about who is better.
The affairs of the world have always left much to be desired;
How could the illusory body of yours last forever?
A little loss makes no matter;
A minor concession does no harm.
No sooner have you seen green willows under the spring sun
Then you see yellow chrysanthemums in the autumn wind.
Honor is no other than a midnight dream;
Wealth is the same as the autumn frost.
Birth, senility, illness and death cannot be shifted to others;
The sweets and the bitters of life are all to be
experienced by yourself.
People like to boast of their cleverness at tricks,
But Heaven takes its time in making the final decision.
Flattery, crookedness, greed and wrath lead to hell;
Fairness and integrity make a paradise.
Musk deer die early because of their valuable musk;
Silkworms perish untimely because of their rich silk.
Take a dose of mental relaxation to soothe your stomach;
Have a drink of good nature to neutralize your temper.
You will get nowhere with all your scheming while alive;
You will have nothing left in your hands after death.
The sorrows of partings and the joys of unions are daily
occurrences;
Life, death, success and failure are everyday concerns.
Strive not to outdo others,
For life is but a drama.
When the curtain falls suddenly and all is silent,
Where do you go from here?
The above Poem is what the traditionalist strives for. But, there
are many ways or paths in life, and, as a traditionalist, I hold no
animosity for those who follow other ways. For all I know they are
right and it is I who am wrong. No matter which way we follow, we
are all part of the great illusion. We all have but three friends in our
lives: the first is the person who loves me; the second is the person
who hates me; and the third is the person who is indifferent to me.
The person who loves me teaches me tenderness and gratitude.
The person who hates me teaches me caution and preparedness.
The person who is indifferent to me teaches me self-reliance and
understanding. Those who understand this can find love and
understanding for all aspects of humanity regardless of their
worldly views.
The higher the mountain we climb, the more we can see.
Therefore, the opposite must be true, the lower the mountain we
attempt to climb the less we see and understand. If you study this
art long enough in all its aspects of learning soon you move above
the clouds and see a glimpse of reality. You will begin to calm down
because you will realize that the folly of life - the game, the
competition - is all meaningless. You see the path you must trod to
find you way clear of the clouds of illusion.
Then it becomes obvious
that nothing really matters except that you keep on the path. All
the shouts coming at you from beyond the path are but faint sounds
that have no meaning. It is quiet on the path to liberation. Words
become meaningless, actions count and an unrelenting focus on the
path ahead of you. This is the true Way.
All negative commentaries and articles coupled with
misinformation only lead you further from the truth. A world of
misinformation can only lead to a vast waste of money, time and
effort and will as diminish the true value of our art. What can we do
to stop this? The answer is nothing; it is working as it should be
working. We are all climbing our mountain, some are ahead of us
and some are behind. The ones behind us make the most noise, and
the ones ahead of us are but noiseless shadows. Those who move
on to higher plains of understanding seldom use rhetoric as a
means to justify their actions.
They know that words are never
clear in meaning, and more often then not are misconstrued. This is
why the true masters tend to remain quiet. They simply never
partake in childish disputes or controversy. A true master knows
nothing can be accomplished by arguments, people simply have to
find out for themselves, in their own way and in their own time.
Hence, the American expression: you can lead a horse to water but
you can't make him drink.
The complete study of Shao-lin encompasses total training of mind,
body and spirit. If one only stays within the boundary of the
physical aspects of the art, then the disputes will continue. In
reality there is no best art form, there is no best teacher, there is
no first, there is no last. All we really have is NOW. The true
teachings advocate nothing except to look deeply at yourself.
All
the different art forms are good in their own way. All teachers are
good in some way. It is the man or woman in the training that
makes the difference. Give the right person one seed and he will
grow a forest, give it to another and it will never germinate. The
real problem lies with mankind's perception of reality.
Finding the True Path
Because mankind understands very little we tend to tag everything
with a name and classification. It is either good or bad, right or
wrong. This also includes our choices in the philosophies by which
we live. In reality, all are the same; nothing is better then
something else. Even the non-traditional styles and teachers are
needed in the world. They do serve a purpose for those who turn to
them. It does not matter who we follow but rather, that we keep
climbing to a higher understanding. As reality becomes clearer to
us, we will know which way to go. Each way is the best way for that
person at that moment in time. The road to the true path is laden
with detours; we must take them in order to return to the main
road. If we but keep our eyes open and listen to those who give us
directions, we will return to the true path home.
It's no mystery we
are all looking for answers, and what we see and accept at any one
point in our life is what we are ready to accept, no more or no less
will do at that time.
The last few teachers in my life were shining examples of the
philosophy of which I speak. Ch'ang Tung Sheng understood this
fact. He rarely if ever put pen to paper. I never heard him speak
badly of anyone. When he did speak, he only spoke of his art and
then, only to those who really wanted to listen. His greatness lay in
his skill, reserve, confidence, and quiet attitude. Great masters say
little; they let their actions speak for them. False masters say a
great deal, but their actions usually aren't in accord with their
words.
To find what is good for you, open your mind. Listen, watch and
evaluate your life. The master always follows a special road known
as the "Three Great Pillars". This is the road of desire and karma.
You must first have the desire to learn and pursue it; then karmic
event will lead you there. No need to worry if you have taken the
wrong path. You will know in short order. Then you can make an
adjustment in your course. You can not avoid mistakes in life. It is
how you deal with them that really counts. As is said in Shao-lin,
"Mistakes are the mother of learning." With each mistake comes
correction; with correction comes enlightenment. If you persist
in your search you will find a teacher who is in agreement with the
philosophy you seek.
If you can arm yourself with a few facts you then can easily see
through the hype and glamour of a martial arts styles and teachers.
Look for the underpinnings of our art, for it is this that sets in
motion what we call the true art. By understanding the martial arts
substructure we are able to distinguish the yin from the yang.
Without understanding you might be taken in by what you see, yet
don't understand. A novice would not know what to expect of true
training, so just about anything can pass for the real thing.
The
repercussion of this act is that the novice will suffer the
consequences of never really feeling sure he has the best the
martial arts has to offer. He will find his eye looking elsewhere, for
something more to fill the void within him. He will never feel
completely transformed, as he may have expected. He may become
a searcher and seeker - looking for that something which is
missing. This kind of training is short lived as nothing really
changes within the individual except the need to search for
something more fulfilling. In the long run all he has learned will
fade away into nothing but a memory. And the search continues.
The Three Pillars
The good news is if you happen upon a good teacher who follows
the old traditions and emulates the secret teachings. Then you have
found the real thing. You are on the road of the Great Pillars of our
art. But, to recognize it you must first have the idea of just what you
are looking for. "The Three Great Teachings of Shao-lin" (Shao-lin
Zhr Jau Swyer San Tz) presents the philosophical concept of how
we should live our lives.
Before we say more let us first try to get a better understanding of
the word philosophy. The Encyclopedia the word is defined in this
way:
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"Philosophy is the oldest form of systematic, scholarly
inquiry. The name comes from the Greek philosophies,
"lover of wisdom." The term, however, has acquired several
related meanings: (1) the study of the truths or principles
underlying all knowledge, being, and reality; (2) a particular
system of philosophical doctrine; (3) the critical evaluation
of such fundamental doctrines: (4) the study of the principles
of a particular branch of knowledge; (5) a system of
principles for guidance in practical affairs; and (6) a
philosophical spirit or attitude. |
All that has been defined here in the word "philosophy" is
contained in the study of Shao-lin's "The Three Great Pillars of
Learning".
The first Great Pillar is called "Shao-lin Zhr Swyer (Shao-lin
Philosophy). Here a student is taught the concepts of looking
beneath the vail of life. They are expressed in the concepts of
Buddhism, Taoism, Confucism, Hinduism, Christianity etc. The
student is introduced to the workings of karma and how to
transform negative karma to positive karma, ultimately resulting in
the cessation of karmic consequences. The tools of Shao-lin
customs, and rituals and practices are introduced to awaken the
spirit. The eternal questions of "who am I, where did I come from,
and where am I going," are examined and scrutinized. Ethical and
spiritual considerations are studied to enhance the spiritual growth
of the follower.
The second Great Pillar is called the "Shao-lin Yung Fa" (Shao-lin
Methods). This is comprised of the actual movement of the Shao-lin
Kung Fu. This involves training in classical forms, techniques and
strategies. Here a student learns how to harmonize with the Tao,
how to flow with the force of the universe, and how to distinguish
the yin from the yang. Attention is given to the bodies grace, form,
and harmony of motion. The goal is to become familiar with the
natural forces of nature and use our bodies in harmony with these
forces. It is from this that the physical power of the Shao-lin comes.
The third Great Pillar is called the "Shao-lin Tao" (Shao-lin Way),
which is an intensive study of the unity of all we learn and do with
our lives. This is the one point or source that brings meaning and
understanding to all things. This phase of training is sometimes
called the "Final Learning," for after this step there is nothing else
that needs to be learned, you now have come full circle, returning to
the starting point completely transformed. A great transformation
takes place that brings with it a new birth. A totally new viewpoint
of the world, the universe and your specific role in it, is the final
result.
The Traditional Kwoon
Some true masters never open a traditional Kwoon , then again
some do. So you must make the effort to find them. Try to get some
time to sit down with the teacher and inquire about the lineage of
the system. Judge for yourself the character of the teacher. Is the
teacher pompous, arrogant, boastful, rude, intimidating? Then,
chances are you are in the wrong school. One who follows the true
way of Shao-lin will be warm, understanding, friendly, eager to help,
yet proficient and highly qualified in whatever is being taught.
Good
teachers are very special people; in fact they seem like the kind of
people you would like to emulate in life. Look at a class and look at
the character of the members of the school. Are they friendly,
helpful and encouraging? Then, chances they are being taught the
correct way.
Look at the decor of the school. Appearance tells a lot
about teacher. There will be pictures and certificates hanging on
the walls. You may smell incense burning in a well-placed shrine to
honor past masters. The entire school should appear clean, with
everything looking like it was just shined. Training equipment is
meticulously placed in its proper place and appears well used, but
well cared for. Traditional schools always have a special look to
them that encourages a sense of respect for where you are.
Somehow you tend to find yourself talking as if you were in a
church. A true Kwoon has this effort on people. It is the cherished
home of a unique group of people.
When the concept of a Kwoon came into existence so to was the
non-traditional school born into existence. There is a saying written
in the Secret Teachings from Tibet:
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"Illumination is the discovery of the reality existing beneath
appearance, and he who is enlightened will be aware of the
place which he, in fact occupies in this reality."
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In a traditional school, great efforts are made to look beyond the
appearance of things. This search for truth is far more important to
the traditionalist than mastering the physical methods of Shao-lin
Ch'uan. Some will even tell you that those who follow the way are
stronger martial artists than those who merely talk of the way. It is
said: knowing the reason I need not ask the question. This is the
quest of one who follows the way. The quest of a follower is to
understand the reason why things are the way they are, so all
questions, doubts, fears, inhibitions may be resolved.
What is taught in the Shao-lin Temple
In the Shao-lin Temple in Northern China, the monks not only
study Buddhism but also the Shao-lin Wu Shu. This fact confuses
those who wonder why a Shao-lin monk would want to study
fighting, when Buddhist doctrines oppose violence. It is because the
monks look upon Shao-lin study differently than the Americans do.
Its purpose is not to hurt other people, nor is it to gain fame as the
best master of Shao-lin Kung Fu. The purpose is rather to train the
body to be observant of itself. To gain control over the emotions,
and help in times of physical attack, when no other way is possible.
Monks are no different than we are when it comes to defense. The
reality of the situation is that we all are in defense of ourselves. We
drive defensively, walk defensively, and eat defensively. It is only
natural to preserve the body, safe guard it, and keep it healthy. We
are always in competition with others in some form or another. We
are so used to this course of action we seldom notice the things we
do in everyday life. However, the enlightened mind knows this and
Shao-lin becomes only an extension of this idea. The difference is
that most Americans join the arts to learn how to fight, where the
monks join to learn how not to fight.
Contrary to what many think, Shao-lin is not really a violent art
when looked at from a monks point of view, but rather a thing of
beauty, grace, self control, and exercise, practiced as we travel our
path home. The use of it to hurt someone is the furthest thing from
a monk's mind. To a monk the needless taking of another human
life or any life for that matter could mean the end of a monk's
spiritual journey.
The taking of a life means a monk has failed and
will not free himself from the great dream. He will now be reborn to
suffer the pains of life once again. This is the worst of all tragedies
to befall anyone seeking spirituality.
Monks are trained to fight themselves first, which entails winning
the battle raging within the human mind. Fighting another human
being can be viewed as a failure, no matter whether he wins or not,
for this is only an admission that at some point he could not control
the situation and had to use martial skills to achieve the final result.
How could anyone be truly proud to have physically assaulted
another human being? When we hurt another physically,
emotionally, or spiritually we hurt ourselves. Hurting others does
not gratify. The type of mind that supports these actions is
shrouded in darkness and is uninformed as to the value of human
life. It displays the nature of a wild animal, which is something
monks wish to rise above.
However, the reality of life is that sudden attack does occur, no
matter how we try to avoid it. Even the Buddha was attacked in his
lifetime. This is a result of karma.
When this happens, the monk
will use his skills to ensure his safety and stop the attack long
enough for him to leave the situation unharmed. Sudden
unprovoked attack can not be reasoned with or avoided. It comes
without warning or apparent reason, from the deluded mind of the
attacker. Notice, I said apparent reason for attack, for in fact
everything has a reason, it's just that you can not see it. In this
sense we are obligated to protect ourselves, and continue our
journey through life unharmed in order to fulfill our destiny.
A true
monk would even try to reform the attacker's ways if he thought it
was at all possible and help him see the folly of aggression. But
usually this is not possible, for the blind of heart truly has no eyes
to see with.
Buddha said our true nature is divine, however, most don't know
how to develop this nature. With true Shao-lin training the eyes of
the heart can be opened enabling us to see the folly of aggression.
The monks do indeed follow the Tao and its proclamation on
non-violence when it states:
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"The skillful person strikes the blow and stops, without
taking advantage of victory. Bring it to a conclusion but do
not be vain. Bring it to a conclusion but do not be boastful.
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be arrogant. Bring it to a
conclusion but only when there is no choice. Bring it to a
conclusion but without violence".
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In a true school of learning fighting is never glamorized, for
fighting is considered the lowest form of arbitration, and is not
looked at as the way to settle anything. Even if you are a winner in
a confrontation there is no pride in the encounter for it only
demonstrates you lost Control over the situation, and Control is
what sets Shao-lin training apart from all else.
If you look into
today's martial arts world, you will see many schools that focus on
fighting, each boasting of its powerful fighting methods and how it
can make you invincible in combat. How sad that so many become
lost when searching for true Shao-lin and wind up instead with
nothing more then a bloated ego. Schools today are so divided
because of the power and fame issue. Everybody wants to be the
master; everybody wants to be first at something.
The Three Great
Pillars do not advocate these teachings. True teachings advocate a
unity of everything, love for all mankind and all of God's creations.
True Shao-lin advocates making a friend not an enemy. True
Shao-lin advocates a blending with the world and its people.
Bringing Your Shao-lin Training into Your Life
You must not believe all I say in this small article, for true Shao-lin
training asks you to doubt. Doubt is an incitement to research, and
research is the way that leads to knowledge. True Shao-lin training
not only brings with it a feeling of good health and vitality, but also
an inner calm in life's storm. A sense of self-confidence emerges
and a completely new outlook on life and its intricate twists and
turns is the result.
Soon your training will move outside the physical
kwoon and blend with your daily life, for in reality it is all the same.
Everything you do is training of some sort. New challenges will be
set forth for you to overcome with each passing day and with each
test in life you become stronger. You will begin to see yourself as
you never have before. Your inner nature will be fully exposed, and
with this the ego will be diminished and the masks we all wear will
be removed exposing your true identity.
No, Shao-lin is not a religion; it is a philosophy within which we
practice our chosen beliefs. Yes, Shao-lin teaches self-defense, but
the attacker is not someone else, it is we ourselves. As they say in
Chinese "to win a thousand battles in good, but to win the one
battle over ourselves is great."
Personally, if I never had to fight
again, a great burden would be lifted from my shoulders. For
fighting is only a result of ignorance of reality. I like to think I have
evolved enough to understand this and I am on the way to a
spiritual climax. When you have this attitude you are on the way to
perfection of mind, body and spirit.
The answers to our opening paragraph should now be simple to
understand. The condition that creates poor character in the martial
arts is when there is a lack of teaching of principles by which a
student can live and grow.
The reason there is lack of brotherhood
in the martial arts is that people haven't learned yet that we are in
fact all brothers and sisters. The reason schools are in conflict with
each other is because people are caught up in themselves and their
need for prominence and high position. The reason many disrespect
their own teachers is because they have succumbed to the power of
the blinding ego. They are not enlightened enough to realize that
humility is a sign of greatness. They have not yet learned that we
must all bow to a higher order of things. Being humble we grow
closer to the light of truth.
I would encourage those looking for a true school not to give up.
They are there, maybe in your own neighborhood. The teacher
awaits your arrival, waiting quietly till you appear at the door to
start your journey in the Way of Shao-lin.
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