The Tao of Kung Fu #25-"Can any man afford such arrogance?''

[JeriDro]

2 people were related to the thief

[0428733]

I think I totally get it, the thief was arrogant, believing that his poverty could justify his acts, he really believed he was superior to the priests.

[yinyangnature]

@0428733 Very well surmised my friend.

[k1mcheenoodle]

I think master po meant this. Can any man afford such arrogance when we are all equally desperate and in need not so much of the material but the spiritual currency of love, wisdom, compassion and humility which is symbolized by the book. I also liked how young caine recognized the thief as "a man in need" and not the more pejorative denotation "thief".

[yinyangnature]

@k1mcheenoodle Great insight my friend.

[RedQNZ]

My guess is the arrogance is that the robber thought that since he had a knife he could just do and take what ever he wanted from anyone he wanted.....he thouhght he was invincible b/c he had a knife something along those lines

[duqmiguel]

Imagine if all of "You Yube" came to an awareness as this small little snipet has inspired, we as a whole, would be on are way to making our existence better for all, instead of the few.

[0428733]

beaten by an old blind man, thief should quit

[FreekeeChakra]

"Resisting the desire for ascendancy." Yes, indeed. That makes all the difference in resolving conflict.....neutralize instead of dominate. I think it would be wonderful to be in the presence of someone like Master Po, Master Kan, or even young Caine :) I liked how he saw the thief as "a man in need."

[Sterreism]

LOL

[dandorry]

No, the arrogance of which Po speaks is his own. He needs to keep the book to remember that, though he may have memorized the poems, time may steal the memory from him. The book is a reminder that the body ages, decays...is imperfect.

[darkunorthodox]

@dandorry you are overlooking it, stealing the book was mostly spite, obviously if the guy is in the middle of a forest, he can burn plans and wood, but he completely disregards anothers's valauble even when they are almost useless to him

[jpapare]

This little clip certainly generated a lot of thinking!

[yugiohsc]

Would someone please explain to me why Master Po claims the thief was arrogant? In a sense, what he says is true. The monks have food and shelter while he may not. Does his acknowledgement of his lacking make him arrogant, or his over generalization of the monk's wealth? Or neither?

[yinyangnature]

@yugiohsc Have you read my commentary for this clip? It's found directly below the viewing window?

Master Po was willing to give the thief two bowls. He even allowed the thief to justify his actions by criticising the Shaolin temple. However, when the thief wanted his book of poems merely to start a fire; this was nothing but malevolence. For even the desperate are not above the practice of Compassion, Moderation and Humility.

[mercian7]

Initially I was surprised by Master Pos' reaction. but now I understand it.

The thiefs reaction is "over the top" he wants more than he needs.

I am a believer in the Tao but, for example, cannot accept the burning of the poppys on Remembrance Sunday by those who showed such arrogance.

[yugiohsc]

@mercian7 Hmm, so it seems because people are poor, society seems to think what they have is so far depreciated from the rest of us, that they are exempt from humility. Perhaps the few arrogant poor men in the world have given us that stereotype while the truly humble ones don't feel the need to expose their wants all as often. I've never really thought about poverty that way before. :)

[Ceejai999]

@yugiohsc The arrogance of the theif is his inability to not just take what had been giving to him, but his desire to want something that has no value.

[jannevellamo]

@yugiohsc Starting a fire with dry leaves is just as easy as using paper, yet he wanted to use somebody's words of wisdom for kindling. This was not justifiable by poverty, but plain wickedness would find the idea most palatable. Resorting to his knife for paper he did not need proved just how self centered and mean he was. The guy needed a lesson. Perhaps it was a growth experience for him, though probably a wasted one.

[jpapare]

@yugiohsc The thief is a symbolic character.He believes he has nothing. The idea that he tries to steal even another man's poetry (a symbol of beauty) is important, because each person has his own "poetry" and cannot steal the "poetry" of another. His not being able to "sell" it, may mean, another's good attributes cannot be used by a "thief". The thief would be better off finding his own "poetry" inside himself. Then he would be richer. It is not about rice or poetry. but personal growth.

[repelghosts]

Phil Ahn and Mr. Luke were quite special...rip beloved ones...Gemma, Toronto

[drandtus]

thank you somuch for posting these videos. I also watched these as a child and did not grasp all the wonderful gems of wisdon that were there.

[atfatw]

I wonder if Master Po (Keye Luke) was a buddhist

[yinyangnature]

@atfatw I'm not Chinese, but I understand that most Chinese of Keye Luke's generation would have been raised with the knowledge of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The Shaolin practised Ch'an Buddhism (Zen in Japanese) which is the union of Buddhism and Taoism. Confucianism is a tradition of social etiquette. Of course much of this changed with the recent introduction of communism.

[jacksawild]

Who in their right mind would rob a priest in Henan province....

[BillG54]

". . . in the end the seeds of hatred destroyed themselves. As they always do. As they always will." - Master Kan

[DavelovesRealMusic]

Addition: can Any People of a Country ALLOW such arrogance in its leaders.

[DavelovesRealMusic]

can any COUNTRY afford such arrogance is the lesson for America.

[horyzont2009r]

Dziękuję :)

Serdecznie pozdrawiam!!!

Oczywiście,  najwyższa ocena :) ☆☆☆☆☆

Marysia

[nmfrancia]

Consequently, the first goal in any conflict must be to resolve it using the minimum of force and resisting the desire for ascendancy. For the greater the humiliation and harm inflicted; the greater the repercussions and the freedoms forgone.

I love this analysis! Thank you!

[yinyangnature]

Thank you very much my friend and thank you for taking the time to read my commentary.

[redbmusic]

Yes, the Shaolin developed Kung-fu (Gung-Fu) as a way of protecting themselves when travelling from temple to temple:]

[DarthHuru]

brilliant uploads :)

thank you :)

[MelonNinja]

This is the first one in these series that I do not understand. Could anyone please explain?

[yinyangnature]

Have you tried reading my commentary available to the right ->. Simply click on (more info).

[ToaistPriest89]

as it says on the information don't reat with anger only intent to stop the oncoming attacker further fighting only causes more retaliation of the opposing side

[dailyrev]

Interesting, I saw this as a parable on corporate America. As any CEO will tell you in an honest moment (if they have any of those), even theft is a business transaction, with its peculiar propriety; its rules and its limits. When the thief violates that propriety, he creates a fate, and loses even what had already been given him. I look at Wall St. today and murmur, "can any man afford such arrogance?"

[repelghosts]

David you called Toronto your 2nd home when filming the Legend Continues here...

We love you past,present and beyond...

G n Da Girlz Crew.

[dimsow]

arrogance like any seed must first be sowed.

[upupsteru]

thx for explaining man....i was like ...hey wait a minute ... he just kicked that guys ass .. now i understand grasshopper.

i wish i had a master po to keep my ass in line when i was a kid

[modelleg]

"A blind priest kicked my ass."

RIP D.C.

[dannysr20]

I think that the Jews living in Israel could live without their fear if they didnt use excessive force on the Palestinians.

[yinyangnature]

I often wonder if the Middle East exists as an example to the rest of us, of the futility of force and retribution. I also wonder how much longer the violence will continue until everyone involved learns that nothing good is ever achieved by aggression.

Let us all meditate for peace in the Middle East and everywhere else there is war and misunderstanding.

[brucelee12]

He reads poems through 'Brielle' i suppose.

[kramotakra]

lol

[doctorw2]

thats brilliant!!!!!

[mainestategop]

I bet the thief and all these other conflicts caine went through as a boy were set up by the temple to teach him.

[rauldurand]

how can the blind man read the poems?

[yinyangnature]

The fictional Master Po suffers from chronic cataract blindness. This is a gradual clouding of the lens and it inflicts most elderly people. My elderly mother recently had her eyes treated, but she isn't a Shaolin master. These days it's a simple and quick procedure.

Therefore at one time Master Po would have been able to see normally, allowing him to both write and read. I guess he retains his poems as a keepsake. As he tells young Caine in this video, he has committed his poems to memory.

[EmeiBaguazhang]

I would think so also. And remember how he gives Cain the bag and everything in it. Just as he would have his son, if he had had one.

So at the time, he has probably already known that he would give the book away to someone else (Maybe even Cain) and did not want it to be used for a fire. And in his actions he was helping the man with his arrogant nature.

[yinyangnature]

You're welcome!

[yinyangnature]

Thank you for taking such a keen interest. I'm certain there is going to be a change in the world's consciousness for the better in the next decade or two. Therefore I'm always delighted to hear from young people such as yourself, since it will be your generation who brings this about.

[wolfinside]

Though people often seek conflict for reasons that seem justified. Usually, they really seek it out of emotional reasons. Because of this the violence they engage in far out weights what would be nessesary to protect themselves or others.

[yinyangnature]

Well stated my friend! Fear has the amazing ability of blinding us to the truth and exaggerating the threat. We must always be certain we are acting rationally and this is best done by always seeking a peaceful outcome. Peace can never come from action based on phobias, ignorance or arrogance.

[wolfinside]

Thank you, but I was thinking more about the thief's motive. It seems it was more about jealousy and envy than about hunger. Do you think that is why (in the end) Po resisted him? I am not sure of Po's reason was for finally fighting with him, do you have an opinion? (maybe I needed to see the clip in context with the rest of the episode)

[yinyangnature]

Yes, I think you have called it much better than me. Master Po was willing to help someone who was genuinely in need, but not someone who was acting purely out of spite. Great deduction!

[wolfinside]

Thanks again, but this one has had me scratching my head. Po's actions have really had me mystified. I guess the thing is, Po is a Taoist, and that doesn't mean he is a total pacifist or always at peace or happy. I guess this time the tiger was a bit irritated and it was only natural for him to act that way, rather than to be contrary to his true nature.

[yinyangnature]

I totally agree with you. A Taoist follows her true nature and self preservation is part of our nature. (This is not to be confused with ego, which is often and unwittingly a self destructive force.) It's quite natural to get annoyed and feel the need to defend yourself, as does a mother duck. A duck will do everything to avoid a confrontation by building her nest well away from predators. But in the event her nest is attacked, she will defend her nest with all her vigour.

[wolfinside]

On another note, it was funny to watch Po chastize that thief wasn't it? I would wager he would think twice before ever trying to take advantage of a monk again. :)

[walkingbear56]

Thank you Bobba for this gem... a very human reaction from Master Po..... beautifully put.

Putting yourself in another's place to understand why they are doing what they do... so you can at least understand their plight.

But also not putting yourself to a point where you lose your liberty... thats a fine position to seek.

Master Po indeed a wise teacher... I am with you on having a teacher like that. We are blessed if we get one good teacher in our lives.

Do any others have such a teacher?

[yinyangnature]

I've had many posts from people saying Master Po reminded them of their kung fu or karate instructor. I've never studied the martial arts, so unfortunately I haven't had this experience. I guess my "Master Po" has been the late English philosopher Alan Watts. I find his knowledge and understanding of life and reality extremely profound. Watts lived in California and died just prior to the making of the Kung Fu series. I'm sure his influence played a small role in the success of Kung Fu.

[walkingbear56]

Got to Alan Watts only recently, and love his delight and humor in playing with ideas. (Joseph Campbell also).

But I suppose that being of the "TV generation" and being in my early teens when Kung Fu was broadcast in the UK, I am able to count these characters as friends and teachers.