 |
|
|
|
When is a Master Truly a Master? (Part I)
Part I: What is a True Master?
Part II: More than a Teacher — The Path of Shao-lin
Many come to study the martial arts for various reasons:
defense, health,
love of culture etc. The reasons vary from person to person. Some have
little expectation of advancing far in the martial arts, while others
have great expectations.
 Those who persist can achieve the level of teacher,
but making it to the master level is a different matter entirely. So the question
arises, when is a master truly a master? And how many can expect to reach
such a high level of expertise? Sad to say, few make it according to the
standards embedded in true Shao-lin mastery.
|
For more messages from Grandmaster, see the Archives.
|
If you look around the world of martial arts, many call themselves
Masters. There seems to be a master at every school. But what is a
master? How does Shao-lin define one who has achieved the highest goals of
our art? Does one only achieve the title of Master by superlative martial
arts skills? Is this the criterion of mastership, or is it in fact something
else?
Let's look at some real life facts, because, hidden from public
scrutiny, they will truly determine whether a man or woman has the
right, in the eyes of Shao-lin, to be called Master.
The general public may think that outward skills -
punching and kicking -
determine if a person is a master, but those in the inner circle know this is not
completely true. The skills can be many or few, but this is not what determines
who is truly a master. In fact, if skill were the only criterion, the number of
masters would decrease by half.
The Inner Battle
In Shao-lin,
one is a master who has
mastered himself or herself, who has won the battle
raging within. It is the victory over self that qualifies one to be
called master. How can anyone who has not won the internal fight
teach others to do so?
|
True masters never lose because they avoid fights to begin with.
|
In Chinese there is a term " xing ming shuang xiu" which
means, Spirit and Body cultivation. It is true that having good skills plays a part in
the overall picture, but many practitioners have skills and still are not worthy to be
called Master. Who in their right minds would want to study with a person who
is no different from themselves in character? If you look at a
true master you will find both the skill and, most important, a person who
is above reproach according to Shao-lin Wu-De (ethics).
Shao-lin temple boxing, has little to do with physical rewards, such as
unbeatable fighting talents or chi power. This is but icing on the cake.
It is the inner development that transforms you. True masters never lose
because they avoid fights to begin with. No person is unbeatable for long. As
my teachers always told me from my early years in training, "everyone can
be beaten. All it takes is the right person to step forward." To my
knowledge Superman only exist in comic books.
So, the greatest of masters
are the ones you seldom hear about. They know that the quickest gun in the west
is the one they all come after. Who would want to spend each
day with rows of challengers waiting for a turn to take you
on? A true master only wants peace and the time to improve his lot in
life. The master fights only when all avenues of escape have been blocked.
Only at this point are masters justified to fight, then they will act in
their own behalf.
Part II: More than a Teacher — The Path of Shao-lin
|
|
|
|
|
