Be The Change

I am not sure of the exact amount but I do know that Silent River Kung Fu has raised and donated in excess of a quarter million dollars to various charities and initiatives over the years. The money we have raised has provided eye care for the poor in India, educated girls in Malawi, educated the public of the importance of a keystone species, cared for  homeless pets, saved the Onoway Public Library, helped purchase a defibrillator for the local fire department, fed the homeless in Katmandu, helped fund the local Suicide Prevention Hotline, provided funding for underprivileged children to participate in sports, and helped children with disabilities. Of course the money made a huge difference for so many but the biggest impact of Silent River’s efforts has been from the awareness we have raised in the process.

Starting on May 1st and culminating with the 24 hour kung fu sweat-fest we call the Pandamonium, Silent River Kung Fu students will be seeking sponsorship as they embark on a quest to log as many acts of kindness as they can before our Pandamonium on May 27th.

I had a profound experience ten years ago that reinforced in me the power of a single act. That experience changed my world view forever and inspired me, as Ghandi proclaimed, to be the change I wanted to see in the world.

“Never doubt that small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978) 

Perspective, Again.

Clarity of perspective is one of the biggest factors for success in anything but especially so in the martial arts. Two students can look at the exact same lesson with one seeing the lesson as a ladder to help overcome obstacles in the way of their goals while the other sees the lesson as a hoop that must be jumped through to get what they want. If you reduce the martial arts to just an application of narcissism to improve oneself physically, there really is little difference in outcome of the two perspectives of the same lesson. As long as the lesson gets physically applied, the physical result is the same no matter in which perspective the lesson is received. 

So why is perspective so important? Kung fu is a martial art, it is not a sport. It is all about developing character, compassion, and empathy. It is about becoming a fully engaged, cognizant human being. It does not begin and end with the physical training. The physical training is a tool to achieve a higher personal ideal. This is why we bow, why we have simple, clean uniforms. It is why we learn to show as well as earn respect. It is why we focus on the journey, not the destination.

Two perspectives of the same lesson produce two different results. It all comes down to values. Our values affect our perspective. If you only value the physical, you do not value the martial arts. As I am always ready to point out, there are many who train in the martial arts but there are fewer who are martial artists.

"The Destructive Arts are exactly like Martial Arts, except they don't have uniforms or usefulness and the end result doesn't resemble art in any way.” - Jim Benton (b. 1960)

Control

There is a correlation to the Taoist term Wu Wei and the Buddhist hypothesis of the Four Noble Truths, specifically the third truth. These are not easy ideas to discuss. Once you bring in philosophical terms like Taoism or Buddhism, people are instantly polarized by their own personal dogma. Even if a philosophy is compatible or identical to that of their own, once a label is attached personal dogma can impose challenges that make it difficult to engage in open and productive discourse. With that proviso, I carry on.

Wu Wei roughly translates as non-striving or natural action. It implies an action that does not involve struggle or excessive effort. It does not imply inaction, but rather the correct application of action. The term I use with my students is effortless effort. The third Noble Truth is basically the truth of the goal - again non striving. Only when we eliminate the struggle can we see the reality of how our unsustainable efforts to attain more is causing the suffering we are trying to mask by possessing more.

So what does all of this have to do with control? First, let me be clear. Control is about you and no one else. Control is not about imposing your will upon another but rather having the clarity and wisdom to be able to take 100% responsibility for your own decisions and their consequences. Control is less about controlling the action you take than it is about understanding why you take the action you take. Looking at control from that perspective highlights the value of the philosophical ideals represented by Wu Wei and the third Noble Truth. If we're always so busy looking for more and not paying attention to the here and now, we will not be aware of what we already have until we lose it, and then it is too late. One of my favourite lines in Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is - The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.

Knowledge and mastery are worthy goals. They are never completely attainable, as there is always more to learn and master, but like most worthy goals the value lies in the journey, not the destination. Often the only difference between identifying the right path and the wrong path is perspective. Applying Wu Wei and the Noble Truths as tools is important for maintaining a proper perspective and solid control.

"I don't meditate to control my thoughts. I meditate so my thoughts don't control me." - Timber Hawkeye (b. 1977)

Mortality

I got news last week that a friend of mine is in the final stages of cancer. He was a mentor of mine when I was first starting out and he is a big reason why I am where I am today. His example of kindness and ethics has guided me for thirty years. I owe a lot to him.

It is demoralizing to think of what is lost when someone of quality and consequence passes on. Wisdom and insight that has developed over a lifetime is wiped out in a single moment, leaving a huge void in the world.

No matter our lot in life, rich or poor, faceless or famous — our destination is the same. We will be remembered for the life we lived, not the stuff we owned.

“Respice post te! Hominem te esse momento! Memento mori!” - Ancient Roman Tradition

When Mastery Becomes Mediocrity

Injuries, surgery, swine flu, personal tragedy — nothing has derailed me and my commitment to mastery. In fact, all those incidents further cemented my focus and dedication to the path. Yet here I am, two months into my kitchen renovation, and I find myself derailed off the trail that used to be so easy for me.

As I retool and adapt my daily structure to get back on the right track, I have noticed that where mastery used to be present, mediocrity has quietly and covertly crept into my routine. Unmindful pushups that focus on quantity are ignoring the micro muscles that are so important in reinforcing my shoulder joints. Forms repetitions while my knee requires more rehabilitation are setting back any chance of recovery. It seems that while I was so focused on mastery, the approach I took on certain tasks -
while serving me well at the time, should have been adjusted to meet my needs better as I continued to evolve.

Lesson learned: Since the requirements for mastery evolve as I evolve, mindful application is key. Complacency breeds mediocrity.

“Do a few things at mastery versus many things at mediocrity.” - Robin Sharma (b. 1965)