Chen Zhe
Lack of human spirit is sometimes seen as a disease of modern society. I’ve been under the influence of Chinese modern education for over 20 years, and it seems like people have almost forgotten the foundation of the human spirit. Some focus only on money, forgetting the true relationship between people, and losing trust between each other. I have a feel that traditional Chinese culture is almost on the verge of dying. I believe it is time for people to get back to the basic human spirit.
Since I came to the Shaolin institute, I have felt more and more admiration for the traditional Shaolin culture, which is broad and profound. I still have a lot of things to learn. Some of Shifu’s words in his article really remind me of how to be a good Kung-Fu instructor and how to put theory into action.
“Courtesy” is very important in Asian culture. In Kung-Fu, courtesy is “Bao Quan Li,” which fully represents the traditional Kung-Fu ethics. It also represents “Humility.” We take on the spirit of humility, we can learn from everybody. And always appreciate people.
“Loyalty” is more important, in traditional culture, especially in Kung-Fu. In China, lots of heroes became famous because of their loyalty. Without loyalty, nobody would trust you anymore. Naturally we must make sure our mindset is in the right direction and without discipline and focus we can accomplish nothing.
Being a Kung-Fu instructor is more than just being a teacher. In traditional Chinese culture, “One who is your teacher one day, is the father for a whole lifetime.” So, as Kung-Fu instructors, we do not only teach Kung Fu but also teach how to be a person. Without profound culture, our teachings will not last for long. We must let all people who are interested in Shaolin Kung-Fu know this spirit of Shaolin; let people know that Kung-Fu is a way of life we choose to enjoy, producing positive Qi and inner strength which in turn brings calmness and inner peace into being.
I think that, by never stopping to learn about the Shaolin spirit, people will conquer all of life’s problems and develop our abilities to shift views, get to the root of our issues, and deal and adapt with life’s vicissitudes to conquer and to tackle our daily challenges. Always remember these characteristics: “courtesy, discipline, humility, loyalty, integrity, generosity” and use them throughout your life.
