The Philosophy Corner

The Donkey

One day a young boy and an old man were walking along the road with their donkey when they were stopped by a stranger. The stranger told the old man that he was foolish not to let the young boy ride the donkey. The old man followed the stranger's advice. A while later, a second man told the old man it would be smarter if both would ride the donkey. Again the old man followed the stranger's advice. Still later a third stranger stopped the old man and told him how cruel they were to the donkey. He suggested they carry the donkey instead. The old man and the young boy thus proceeded to carry the donkey. While the three were crossing a bridge, the donkey suddenly got startled, causing them to drop the donkey over the bridge. The old man and young boy were very sad that they had lost the donkey.

The point to this story: If you try to please everyone, you might end up pleasing no one, especially yourself. So use your own logic to analyze the situation.

The Elephant

Once upon a time in India, five blind men came across an elephant. Each of the five examined a different part to determine what an elephant was like. The first man examined the ear and thought an elephant was very much like a leaf. The second man examined the side of the elephant and thought an elephant was very much like a mountain. The third man examined the elephant's tail and thought an elephant was very much like a rope. The fourth man examined the elephant's leg and thought an elephant was very much like a tree. The fifth man examined the elephant's trunk and thought an elephant was very much like a snake. Then they all went away to tell their story of what an elephant was like.

The moral is: Don't be narrow minded and make hasty judgements. Try to see and understand your art completely, as well as the art of others.

No Style as Your Style

According to some recent literature from a large martial arts organization: "Even where genuine material is taught, the style is often limited - the popular Wing Chun is an example. To any hard working student, the entire style of Wing Chun can be taught in two years or less and then you're finished; not to mention that it has serious flaws since Ng Mui didn't have the opportunity to complete Yim Wing Chun's instruction. Also, Wing Chun's weaknesses are against strong attacks to the low gate areas such as iron broom techniques, and against high speed, compound, overlapping circular techniques. And, while Wing Chun talks a good game of deflection blocking and re directional technique, it is basically a centerline oriented, power on power system any way you look at it."

In our opinion these ideas are caused by looking at Wing Chun as a style. When a beginner first learns Wing Chun, the art is taught in a very systematic, structured way. However eventually all structures become self limiting and must be discarded in favor of the reliance on principles and feelings only. The student must learn to adapt his art to any kind of attack. In an extreme case, we have observed that some hard style practitioners got tied up quickly only because they felt that they must restrict themselves to use specific sorts of blocks which turned out to be too inflexible for close range combat.

To achieve the state of not being restricted by style requires one to give up all ego so that one can react to the opponent. The Wing Chun system cannot work effectively unless it is based on calmness, suppleness and sensitivity to the opponent's movements.

How Long?

One day a student came to learn martial arts from a famous master. The student was anxious to learn the art that the master taught. After practicing very hard for many months, the student said, "Master,how long will it take me to get good?" The master replied, "Ten years." The student then said, "What if I practice even harder than that?" The master replied, "20 years." The surprised student then said, "But what if I practiced the hardest I can practice?" The master replied, "30 years."

The master went on to explain, "If you have one eye on your destination, then you have only one eye with which to find the way."

The moral is: You can learn no faster than to totally concentrate on what is being taught to you at the moment. Don't worry about what comes next. When you learn what was taught, then the next thing will come.

Wing Chun as an Art

From an observer's point of view, Wing Chun might look just like something for fitness or fighting. But for a true Wing Chun practitioner, it goes well beyond that. Wing Chun is a very comprehensive art which contains both physical and mental training. To the Wing Chun practitioner, it is understood that Wing Chun is a very deep subject that needs constant refinement to reach ultimate precision in all aspects. Accordingly, Wing Chun is not just something for a great workout or a fight. Few people would think of playing the piano for a good workout. Instead, they endeavor to play well as an art. Likewise, Wing Chun should be looked at as an art, just like playing the piano.

To learn an art well means constant striving for perfection in every way. Therefore, the learning process of Wing Chun requires time, patience and determination.

The horizontal stroke of a brush represents the Chinese character for the number one. It represents the beginning. In traditional schools of calligraphy, the student may practice just this one stroke for several months before advancing to the vertical stroke. Poor technique in performing the most basic of strokes results in poor technique for the more advanced strokes.

In the art of Wing Chun, the first part of the first set forms the foundation of the whole art. This section was sometimes practiced for many months before advancing to something new. The benefits in the end were a good solid stance, a strong center, supple actions, the ability to relax and tense quickly, and the patience to learn the rest of the art well.

The Tea Cup

One day a professor came to visit a Zen master to inquire about Zen. It was obvious to the Zen master from the start of the conversation that the professor was more interested in expressing his own opinions than to learn anything about Zen. After listening quietly, the master poured the professor some tea until the professor's cup overflowed. The professor jumped up quickly and said, "Stop, my cup can hold no more!" The master then went on to explain, "Like this cup, your mind is full, leaving you no room to accept anything new. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

The point to this story: To empty one's mind of old habits and old knowledge and be open-minded to new learning.

Wing Chun Philosophy

The founders of Wing Chun Gung Fu drew upon deep spiritual insights and a brilliant culture of Chinese Martial Art and philosophy. Practicing Wing Chun not only requires knowing how to focus your strengths but also how to focus your softness, stillness, sensitivity, timing, reaction and more. Only the finely tuned balance of these yin/yang (soft/hard) aspects will culminate in the consummate world class martial art that Wing Chun was designed to be.

      Proper martial art instruction should not be without it's complementary balance of spiritual training. Wing Chun is based on many principles of universal truth. This being so, it is natural to learn how these principles extrapolate into skills for everyday life and spiritual development as well. They are not just for fighting alone.

      The simple yet profound principles of Wing Chun have more than one meaning, more than one application. To view Wing Chun as being just for fighting is taking a very narrow-minded approach to the vast wealth of possible development that the art offers. Learning to develop spiritual tranquillity, and having the ability to abstain from arguments and fights is just as valuable a skill to acquire as is learning to explode someone's head.

       People of worth would appreciate you more as a well developed person than just a good fighter. You of course bring more true richness into life through your internal development as well. However, like anything else in life, you have to be ready for it and be able to devote yourself to the slow and steady acquisition of these skills.

Covering Up Insecurities

Acts of courage do not of themselves make a courageous person. Often times the person who has to be the toughest guy in town, or who is always the first to take on a dangerous dare, is in fact the most insecure. He or she constantly tries to prove to themselves and to others that he or she is not a coward. Often, the person who places a disproportionate value on winning that match or doing the most death defying dare has a core of insecurity. Their life is a constant battle in which they attempt to prove to themselves and others that they are not cowards.

Levels of Humanity

In the philosophy of the Kung Fu system, there are three levels of human consciousness and behavior. These levels are the spontaneous, the calculated, and the imposed. They each have unique characteristics.

Spontaneous - Represents the highest form of consciousness because it dwells in the here and now. This mind can respond to life as it unfolds. It asks for nothing, harbors no ill for events of the past, and does not record or expect the repayment of debt. Because it expects nothing from others it is not disappointed. It does not seek to posses and is therefore never owned. From this non-possessiveness comes freedom, love and demonstrates a receptive nature.

Calculated - Represents the second level of consciousness. It is lower that the first because it requires manipulation. This mind attempts to steer events relative to it's perception of right and wrong. It is focused on achieving the end that it thinks should happen. This results in a constant contention between what would be, and what this mind thinks should be. This mind's creative energy is confined by it's need to direct others.

Imposed - Represents the third and lowest level of consciousness because it requires force. It insists that all proceed in accordance with it's plan. This methodology is both calculated and manipulative. As well, it addresses any opposition with punishment. This is rarely successful in the short term and never successful in the long term. A person of this mind becomes both jailer and prisoner. This mind is too focused on the control of events and people to experience life's wonders in the slightest way. It is a task oriented mentality that sheds no light on what is really occurring.

Freedom

From where does freedom come? It comes, ironically, from adherence to the natural order. Manipulation and imposed force are a direct contradiction to this principle. Freedom comes from being one with the energy of the universe. It comes from being part of the process of living. This can only be achieved by first knowing ourselves. People will spend 2, 4, 6, 8 or more years in college learning a subject but often spend little or no time getting to know who they are or what, they themselves, truly think and feel. Some can go through their entire life and never have an original thought. A whole life can be spent vicariously living only second hand thoughts and experiencing little. It is said that, knowing others is wisdom and knowing ourselves is enlightenment. It is also said in the philosophy that I follow that, mastering others requires force and that mastering ourselves requires strength.

The Path

True strength results in a giving and compassionate spirit. The need to exhibit force is a sure sign of insecurity. When we have truly overcome our own demons, we feel no need to control, condemn or punish others. If others attempt to oppress you, you can chose not to take part. You can chose to lead your life outside of the control of another. In Wing Chun we say... "If I do not resist you can not push". We all have the ability to chose our own path. No one can take that empowerment away from us. We only give it up by choice. Don't strive for greatness. Live a chain of positive deeds and you will find peace. If greatness comes from this, it is deserved.

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