Practice

Today I spent five hours immersed in meditation. Zen is a practice but it has literally been years since I have made quiet meditation a priority in my life. Intent is always present but my follow through tends to be a consistent casualty when I set my daily priorities.

My big takeaway from today’s application is that I have to devote more consistent time to my practice. If I am always devoting myself to putting out personal and professional fires, it becomes difficult to justify more time for my personal development. Empirically I know that the more time I spend cultivating my mind, the more efficient become my efforts, and ultimately, the more time I free up. As I never hesitate to tell my students, investment generates a return.

“I have lived with several Zen Masters - all of them cats.” - Eckhart Tolle (b. 1948)

So This Just Happened . . . .

I teach my students the importance of recognizing opportunities and getting the most out them when they present themselves . . . .

Thanks to my teacher, Master Brian Macdonald, one of the biggest influences in my kung fu life was Grand Master Stan Lee. Before passing away in 2003, the kindness and generosity he showed me changed my life. In the relatively short time our lives intersected, Grand Master Lee certified my black belt and continued to promote me, giving me a lineage of which I am intensely proud. I was a nobody but he had nothing but time and advice for me. He showed me the true meaning of humility.

Last night I had the unbelievable privilege to have Grand Master Stan’s top student teach at my school. I had always said that Sifu Ben Ma’s Hung Gar is the best I have ever seen. Having him teach at my school was a surreal, mind blowing experience of inspiration. Sifu Ben’s skill in Hung Gar and Tai Chi Mantis at 68 years old is something to behold. Like his Sifu, Grand Master Lee, Sifu Ben is amazingly generous with his time and knowledge.

As last night progressed, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Even sixteen years after his death, I continue to benefit from Grandmaster Lee’s kindness and generosity. I am so thankful for the opportunities that conspired to have our paths cross so many years ago and which ultimately brought Sifu Ben Ma into my life today.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” - William Arthur Ward (1921 - 1994)

Why

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. A day to reflect on sacrifice, freedom, and what it means to be a Canadian. My uncle fought in the Second World War. For him it was a no-brainer. You’ve got a racist megalomaniac trying to take over the world - there is a present and imminent threat to your family’s safety and freedom.

Some of the other wars that Canada has been involved in may have been more about politics than values but that does not diminish the respect I have for the sacrifice made by our veterans. In fact, their sacrifice has fueled my activism. All life is precious and none should be sacrificed unless the cause is just. At a minimum, we should not be looking for foreign enemies while allowing our leaders at home to circumvent our laws, rights, and freedoms.

Lest we forget, or else the why is lost. Without the why, the sacrifice is for nought.

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.” - Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943)

Accountability

A little under three months remain before we hit the end of another lunar year. When the Year of the Rat begins on January 25th, another year of mastery begins with my new I Ho Chuan team.

The coming year’s team will be comprised of a few rookies, a few veterans, and a few people who wish to challenge for their black belt. My advice to all of them is the same. You have to understand the reason behind each and every requirement before you will be able to truly apply yourself to the process. Furthermore, you need to complete every requirement - to the letter - if you want to maximize the benefit of the process. If you already understand the reasoning behind every requirement, applying yourself to them is much easier because you will see them as tools to help you achieve your goals as opposed to just hoops that your instructor has asked you to jump through.

A big part of success is found in accountability. We tend to be more successful at keeping our promises if those promises are tied to the success of a team and are publicly scrutinized. It is much ore difficult to ignore mediocrity when you are held, or hold yourself, accountable to measured results and expectations.

Everybody has goals and dreams. Almost any goal is attainable if it is broken down to incremental improvements. One step or three thousand kilometres - the magnitude of the distance is less relevant than the direction you are headed.

“Development is an endurance exercise with incremental improvements.” - Sri Mulyani Indrawati (b. 1962)