Wu De - the Martial Morality.
1. Qian Xu/Humility
Humility comes from controlling your feelings of pride. There is an old Chinese aphorism: "Pride loses, humility earns benefits." Knowledge is infinite. No matter how much one attains, there is always a higher level to reach. Another Chinese aphorism: "There is always a man beyond the man, and a sky above the sky." Yet another: "If you climb many mountains, soon you will meet a tiger." With these in mind how can one settle for the vacuity of pride? "The taller the bamboo grows, the lower it bows."
The following is an instructive story: Once there was a student who went to learn from a Zen Master. The student said, "Honorable Master, I've studied for many years and have learned so much of Martial Arts and zen theory that I've reached a very high level. I've heard that you are a great master, so I've come to see if you can teach me anything more." The master didn't say anything. The master picked up a tea cup and poured tea into it until the tea overflowed profusely. The student was stunned and said, "Master, Master, the tea is overflowing!!!" The master stopped pouring tea, looked at the student, and beamed a knowing smile. The master said, "You are like the tea cup. I'm sorry, but I can't accept you as a student. Like the tea cup, your mind is filled and overflowing. There is nothing I can teach you. If you wish to learn, you must empty your cup."
To be humble, one must rid oneself of false dignity. This is especially true in front of a master. A wise person knows when and how to bend and always keeps the cup empty.
2. Zun Jing/Respect
Respect is the foundation of relationships with family, teachers, classmates, other Martial Artists, and everyone else in society. Respect makes a harmonious relationship possible. The most important type of respect is self respect. Respect must be earned and cannot be requested or demanded. A Chinese aphorism says, "Those who respect themselves and others will also be respected".
3. Zheng Yi/Righteousness
Righteousness is a way of life. Righteousness means that if there is something you should do, you do not hesitate to do it.
4. Xin Yong/Trust
Trust includes trustworthiness and trusting yourself.
5. Zhong Cheng/Loyalty
Loyalty is the root of trust. One should be loyal to one's teacher. Loyalty lets mutual trust grow. In the Chinese Martial Arts, it is crucial that there be loyalty between Master and student. This loyalty is built upon a foundation of obedience to the Master. Obedience is the requisite for learning. If one sincerely desires to learn, one must get rid of false dignity. One must bow to the Master both mentally and spiritually. Only this will open the gates of trust. A teacher will not teach someone who is always concerned about personal dignity. In front of the Master, the student does not have dignity.
6. Yizhi/Will
It usually takes a while to demonstrate a strong will. This is because the struggle between the emotional mind and the wisdom mind is often hard to breach. If the wisdom mind governs the entire being, one will be able to suppress the disturbances that come from the emotional mind and the will can last. A strong will depends upon the sincerity with which one commits oneself to a goal. This has to come from deep within and cannot be a casual, vague desire. Often the student who shows the greatest eagerness to learn in the beginning quits the soonest, while the student who hides his/her eagerness deep inside his/her heat stays the longest.
There is a famous story to illustrate this. Long ago there was a famous archer named Hou Yi. He heard of a famous teacher with whom he wanted to study. Hou Yi visited the famous archery master and asked to learn from him. The archery master said, "I am too old and not as good as you think. I cannot accept you as a student." Hou Yi bowed in front of the master's door and said, "Honourable Master, I have made up my mind and I swear I will not get up until you promise to take me as your student." The master closed the door on Hou Yi without saying a word, leaving Hou Yi on his knees in front of the door. Soon it began to snow, but Hou Yi remained without moving or saying a word. One day passed, two days passed, three days passed and finally the master opened his door. The master said to Hou Yi, "If you really want to learn from me, you must pass 3 tests." Hou Yi was delighted and said, "I abide by your wishes." The master said, "The first is a test of your Heng Xin/Patience and Yili/Perseverance. You must go home and watch 3 incense sticks burn out each morning and night for 3 years. At the end of 3 years, you may return to me." Hou Yi did this and realized that he had developed a great sense of patience. From practicing this concentration he learned that it calmed his mind and he learned to distinguish the false from the real. After the 3 years had passed, Hou Yi realized that everytime he focused his mind on an object, the object would become larger in his mind and the superfluous objects around would disappear. He had learned the most important aspect of an archer, a concentrated and calm mind. Hou Yi returned to the master ready to learn with him, but, instead, the master said, "Now that you've passed the first test you must pass the second. Go home and watch your wife weave her loom. Watch the shuttle go back and forth incessantly without fail each day for 3 years, then return to me." Hou Yi did this each day and learned that when he watched the shuttle with attenuated attention, the shuttle seemed to move in slow motion. Hou Yi had learned the second lesson, concentrating on moving objects. At the end of the third year, Hou Yi once again returned to the master who set before Hou Yi the third task, "Go home and make 10 rice baskets a day for 3 years." (Rice baskets are made of rattan. A very good basket maker can barely make 5 a day because of the arduous work. It requires very strong arms and wrists.) Hou Yi did this each day, even when his fingers bled and his arms shoulders were numb with pain. At the end of 3 years, however, he no longer felt pain and was able to make 20 baskets with ease. He had learned the third lesson in archery, to be strong and steady in arms, shoulders, and wrists. Hou Yi returned to his master, ever hopeful to begin his lessons. The master said to Hou Yi, "You have learned all that I can teach," and then the master turned and walked away. Hou Yi wanted to demonstrate his skill to his master and decided to send an arrow to knock the master's hat of his head. The master sensed the impending arrow, turned, and knocked it from the air with his cane. Hou Yi rushed to the master, fell to his knees and apologized. Hou Yi said, "Master, I have just realized that the only thing that the only lesson that I lack is experience and this is something I can only learn from my training." The master said, "You have learned the final lesson that I had not yet given you. You have been a good student and someday a good master."
The master can only point the way to enlightenment. The student must walk the path. This is the student's responsibility. The more training one does, the better one will be.
7. Ren Nai/Endurance
The people who are successful are not always the smartest, but are the ones willing to endure the travails necessary to reach their goals. If one learns how to cultivate one's mind to ponder as one trains, it can lead one to a deeper state of understanding and enlightenment. If one can manifest this understanding in one's actions, one will surpass all others.
8. Yong Gan/Courage
Courage accompanies the understanding which comes from the wisdom mind. Bravery is the external manifestation of courage, e.g., if one has the courage to accept a challenge, then the mind has accepted the situs and makes the decision. Bravery enters when one goes to face that decision.
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Last Updated ( 2007-08-28 13:12:29 )
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