The Tao of Kung Fu #26 - "Nature is always impartial."

[jamesarongray]

Now that was good

[Tirius9393]

This is one of the best, showing the core virtue of the temple's order - compassion, or unconditional love for all beings. Even if somebody attempts to harm you, seek not to contend because it is simply your karma.

[kathy160]

this master is asking to be killed by his enemy.... its sad, but people have no more honor or love. its a killed or be killed world now. even the shaolin style of fighting can be killed quickly by a republican shot gun.

[duqmiguel]

Does not the Tapeworm find nourishment, shelter, and warmth from it's host? To some creatures it may be considered ugly, yet it is one with all life. Must not we worship life?

[Ma007rk]

This is 1 time I disagree with Master Kan.

[TMasterYodaT]

Could you apply this impartial nature also to dealing with the self? In the case of being to strict to yourself and find yourself getting depressed. After all, who am I to withhold a blanket and a bowl of rice to myself?

[0428733]

these videos should be renamed to "Caine gets Pwned by the masters

[Simm2Dimm]

i think that was about the deepest thing i've ever heard

[FreekeeChakra]

I think this is my favorite clip......just sums up spirituality for me. Master Kan is so kind and humble....so human.

[battlecreekonline]

Why do we spend so much to imprison and punish and almost nothing on education? Who is the wiser the GOP or the Democrats?

[doctorw2]

wow that bloke was doing some serious grubbing on that rice.

[Jonnyeth]

I think this is my favourite one. It clearly illustrates the benefits and sense of non judgement and forgiveness =]

[SpriterShard]

This reminds me of several things; from Thoreau, "goodness is the only investment that never fails," or similarly from the TTC itself, 49, "s/he is good to the good, s/he is also good to the bad. This is real goodness." And perhaps one of my favorites, TTC 5, which also describes nature's impartiality.

[bodryn]

For years I found it hard to forgive my father, and others who had wronged me. Then in a moment of insight, it came to me. We are supposed to forgive. Since no one of us humans is omniscient, and we each see things differently in our own purblind way, who am I to judge anybody else based on my own purblind view of life, when each other person sees things from a different perspective? Only God has the omniscience to judge. Let it be so.

[yinyangnature]

@bodryn Thank you for your highly insightful post.

[lamourlupus]

@bodryn - Some say forgive and forget, forgive but never forget, others say do not forgive and never forget, still others may say never forget and never forgive. Forgiveness depends on the individual even when their decision may never be accepted by others.

[bodryn]

@lamourlupus Perhaps the main beneficiary of the willingness to forgive, is the person doing the forgiving.

[MrEffTee]

@bodryn i agree, we are all not celestial beings and like you have said that we may not agree with others ways, but being humble in that case is accepting and respecting their way BUT ALWAYS respecting your own way (and Gods) before any 1 - peace and love

[TheLovesoul1]

@bodryn but god doesn't judge you judge yourself in the light of infinite love as your pure nature you have always even as a child wish you infinite growth and a long peaceful happy life thank you.

[TonyBtheEG]

Mint.

[tomjohn1817]

This zen understanding is completely parallel to what Jesus said to people in Matthew chapter 5 verses 44-48 "....that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. .....Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

[ClairaGEagleHawk]

I feel. It takes a lot of power concentration. I am learning not to let another push every button like a control panel. It is evil that tries to push a person past themselves to become an evil person themselves evil does not want to be lonely. I work not to join evil but ... sometimes I still judge ...... I have found that first I judge myself then others. No double standard. Now I am learning to miss.. not be at the wrong time or place. Skip it all stay in the place of happy thoughts.

[ClairaGEagleHawk]

Sometimes I live in the world of more than written words or talking I live in the world of people listening to other's thoughts. A lot of people believe one thing, think another, feel another say something else and then do something completely different with no idea what or why they do that or if they do. I also have spent too much time on loses and less time on holding dear what I still have that has not been taken from me. I am learning to balance everything think what I say or do what

[darkwhitedirewolf]

I have used up alot of time and energy on revenge.. :(

[TaoFAQ]

@darkwhitedirewolf We all have my friend and I still find myself slipping back from time to time. The most important thing is that you see the futility of this now. Please help others have the same realisation. (Alias yinyangnature)

[pete0969wi]

Interesting point ov view and something to ponder when we face off with the ones who test us the most...

[TaoFAQ]

@pete0969wi Indeed and something I'm currently experiencing also.

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

young grasshopper is staring at the betrayful monk and thinks to himself at the end, "when I grow up, ima kick your ass"

[atfatw]

shaolins were no where near as good and benevolent as on tv they murdered many Christian Chinese during the boxer rebellion

[yinyangnature]

@atfatw We must remember a part is never the whole. As caring individuals we wouldn't want our entire species judged by aliens from another world, merely on the acts of the Nazis during WWII. Yet, as shown on "Schindler's List", some members of the Nazi party had genuine compassion. Therefore it is probable the Shaolin did some awful things, nevertheless Compassion, Moderation & Humility are the central Ch'an teachings.

[atfatw]

@yinyangnature

obviously, you cannot hold innocent people responsible for crimes commited by others

it all goes to show the inherent uselessness of humans. John Calvin the founder of presbyrterians said it best that mankind was bad not good by nature

[yinyangnature]

@atfatw In Zen it is said "If you meet the Buddha you must kill him." Initially this may seem extremely disturbing, especially in a philosophy of peace & tolerance. But it's meaning is to banish the thought that anyone is holy and can lead us all to salvation. We can only find our own liberty through the use of selfless wisdom. The Yin-Yang shows us good has the seed evil & evil has the seed of good.

[geonerd]

@atfatw One of the appeals of Eastern philosophy is the notion that humans are not inherently 'evil' or bad, whereas Christianity's very foundation rests on that assumption. That's not a very healthy foundation upon which to build a philosophy / theology. IMO, the deep fear of an "evil world and evil people" fundamentally poisons our society.

[atfatw]

@geonerd

NO, I don't agree. you judgment that 'its not healthy' ignores real evidence of evil. sadistic, perverted, inhuman, sociopaths. who have truly have no soul as there isse absolute lack of humanity like john wayne gacy is easily proved. people have a legitimate fear of these people and nations that are evil we keep the nations out of America with our death dealing armies. legitimate rational fears help keep us alive and we stay smart

[tomjohn1817]

@atfatw Is it legitimately rational to have weapons of mass destruction while telling others to destroy theirs/may not build such a weapon for theirs?? Is it legitimately rational to send troops to other countries in the name of freedom while all you really want is to take their oil? Fear is the true evil, Jesus n Buddha agree with it. Even Jesus said "In love there is no fear and love never fails"

Why let fear controls you? what rational in it? Fear will make you blind of your own evil.

[atfatw]

@tomjohn1817

rationality has nothing to do with it. its EVIL that self righteously lies and steals other people's land and their oil do you know how many children died in the bombing of Iraq?

EVIL is the only EVIL which does unimaginable permanant harm to millions.fear is not an evil thing its connects us immediately to the truth of our situation and keeps us sharp and hopefully out of trouble

[geonerd]

@atfatw One of the appeals of Eastern philosophy is the notion that humans are not inherently 'evil' or bad, whereas Christianity's very foundation rests on that assumption. That's not a very healthy foundation upon which to build a philosophy / theology. IMO, the deep fear of an "evil world and evil people" fundamentally poisons our society.

[yinyangnature]

@geonerd Here, here. 

[anonyms404]

@yinyangnature - well put! You actually said that like a Shaolin Priest ... in fact most of your commentary sound just like things the Shaolin would say - are you from that order?

[yinyangnature]

@anonyms404 Thank you for the wonderful accolades my friend! However I'm just a middle aged Australian of European heritage. I have been studying Eastern philosophy for over 7 years and I'm a devoted student of the late Alan Watts. This wisdom are what I used to over come the untimely loss of my wife to cancer. My writings here are a meditation and I'm often unable to explain where the words actually come from.

[anonyms404]

@yinyangnature -hey you're welcome, and that's really impressive to be this well versed as you are - though I'm unsure who Alan Watts is (I suppose I can look him up) ...I'm sorry to hear of your loss - but let me say (as I just posted on another of your videos) ...your writings and postings of these videos really are a great service- in more ways than you might know.

[sammyzee79]

@yinyangnature put your faith in Jesus christ, he is reliable.

[Mystrymeat]

@sammyzee79 Put your faith in yourself, you are reliable. To base your entire self, all that you are and will be, into one man who's time has come and gone... is a very dangerous notion. By all means, follow his teachings to your heart's desire, but take care to not lose yourself in the process.

[sammyzee79]

@Mystrymeat I can not put faith in myself, because i will die. How can i believe in myself when i dont have the answers. I am not reliable, I struggle with Racism, Hatred, Dehuminising, lust etc like everyone. The only person who was reliable and didnt sin was Jesus Christ. He came and resurrected. If someone dies then comes alive im going to put my trust in him. The evidence is overwhelming. It is not dangerous to follow a Christ who died on the cross and forgave his enemies while dying.

[Mystrymeat]

@sammyzee79 "I can not put faith in myself, because i will die" Everything dies, it is a part of our universe. To not rely on oneself simply because one doesn't believe in oneself is a dangerous thing. "The only person who was reliable and didnt sin was Jesus Christ" Sin by whom's perspective? What some called a sin back then, others call perfectly fine now. It's best not to base one's judgement off of the ancient judgements of others, regardless of how perfect they may seem at first glance.

[sammyzee79]

@Mystrymeat Everything dies? No Jesus didnt die, he resurrected infront of people who doubted and hated him.

What some called a sin back then, others call perfectly fine now? Is Murder fine, is rape fine? Is stealing fine? These are the sins from BC and AD and nothing has changed. It is not ancient Judgement my friend, Murder is an act of killing someone unlawfully. Sin is moving away from God. If you dont have God in your life you will never have purpose.

[Mystrymeat]

@sammyzee79 If Jesus didn't die, where is he now? According to your bible, murder and rape are indeed fine (given they're done in the name of your god). Why do you act as if peaceful ways are only taught by one faith? Nearly every faith has the ideal that killing is wrong, not just yours. "Sin is moving away from God", once again.... sin from who's perspective? Nearly everything is a sin in the bible. Some of the most sinful acts in history are approved of in Christianity (Salem Witch Trials).

[64bigbaloo]

@atfatw : Imperialist European powers were systematically destroying Chinese society and culture. The Europeans engaged in opium trade, land confiscation to be given to The Church, and mass rapes (especially the French and Russians). Second, the Shaolin Temple was not a participant of the rebellion. The Boxers were from the Shandong province, and the Shaolin Temple is in the Henan province. Last, many of the fiercest Boxers were Hui and Kansu Muslims, not even Buddhist, let alone Shaolin.

[atfatw]

@64bigbaloo

shaolin buddhists also were in shanghai and nanking where monasteries were located.

what proof do you have that what you say is true?

[stockscalper]

Before I was born, who was I?
After I am born, who am I?
Respect yourself, and everyone will respect you.
Understand yourself, and everyone will understand you.
There are mirrors all around you:
Strive to see and understand yourself.
Strive to have the heart of a Buddha.
Stop doing bad things, only do good.
Do whatever you can to help others.
In these ways you help yourself.
Help yourself, and you help the world

[Magician12345]

thank the fates that the elements dont have there own conciousness and emotions like we do, whew!

[619nwohollywoodholl]

if man  walk in darknes he can see the ligth in dar nes if man run from fear he run from his self he man cry in tear he cry for some one the are my w widso on life

[619nwohollywoodholl]

close your eyes do you hear your own heart beating do you hear the wind blow do you hear the  brids sing ing open your mind to life resecept all livinng thing around you the are wisdo of life

[JessPk212]

Simply amazing.

[abbyguy]

Amazingly simple, yet so powerful.

[goddessmelania]

Such simple wisdom more should live by.

~ Melania

[pkscolax]

I am reminded of Gandalf's words to Frodo when the hobbit considers killing Gollum in the Fellowship of the Ring.

[datalal624]

@pkscolax: Yes! I loved that bit of wisdom from Tolkien. :)

[pkscolax]

All have a place here on planet Earth, especially those most opposite and unlike yourself.

[easysueburs]

well said from my favored show.

[TurquoiseLamp]

What we perceive others to be is the illusion of our conditioned mind... but if we act like the non-judgemental sun, then our love and unconditional acceptance of all beings will be the action of our true nature, not of our conditioned ego self.

Our true nature is obscured when our conditioned ego blinds us with fear. Fear is only present in the ignorance of unity.

May we all find freedom to be who we really are. May our boundless love connect with the unconditional acceptance of nature.

[yinyangnature]

Truly beautiful and very wise words indeed.

[lalijan21]

@TurquoiseLamp - I don't wan't to argue - but don't you fear that you will loose things ? That you will be maimed or disabled ? I don't think fear is about ignorance - ignarance is excluding fears which are present - and we don't know how to cope with them.

[TurquoiseLamp]

@lalijan21 - I didn't say fear is ignorance. I said fear is present in one's ignorance of unity.

If we truly feel we are one with everything, then we realise we cannot lose anything ultimately.

I am just a girl with fears, hopes and ego. I experience a lot of anxiety. But I understand that it isn't the best way to experience reality. I am still working on myself.

Why fear things? Why not just deal with life as it comes. This is how I want to live.

Thank you for reminding me of this. :-)

[lalijan21]

@TurquoiseLamp - Yes i read what you wrote correctly. And I ment ignorance of unity have nothing to do with it. I hope and fear for things which I percive valuble or essential in my life. If i 'don't care' about something it doesn't generate no hope for getting it or fear of losing it. And we place value trough beliefs, ideas, thoughts.

[TurquoiseLamp]

@lalijan21 - I respect your views, my friend, and dont wish you to conform to mine.

But from my humble experience of life, I've found the most valuable thing life can offer is whatever comes your way. Both loss and gain can be great lessons if we perceive it positively.

When we fear loss or desire more than we have now, we can often miss the wonders that are already in our life.

What is in one's life this moment, is most valuable.

Thank you again for reminding me of my path. :-)

[inbredagogo]

I always get choked up when I see these

[operation1enduring1b]

and with him carries a sword at his hand...to fight for good and no media... i am humbled here...... love is silent but understood

[operation1enduring1b]

his first teaching is of humility.... then greed... and the self... but what would you gain here with nothing?

[operation1enduring1b]

what a good lesson..

[Dovelike]

This is beautiful philosophy. It's a shame our education system does not do enough to promote this type of education.

[Dovelike]

Alot of people think we are all disconnected but we are not. We are all one with the sun the plants animals. It is this disconnections which leads to ego and selfishness.

[bigtimemuffin]

/Ther was a time that the bible was taught in schools. "to love your enemies" do good to those that hurt you and pray for those who use you. But mankind is becoming more lovers of themselves. And such teachings are just for feel good show. And not applied.

[Dovelike]

So true. The problem is most people are told to think with an ego from birth and have this ego to various degrees throughout their life. Conditioning is very powerful. The ego can be squashed with work not by just listening to a one off feel good philosophy programme.

[powderbluescorpio]

It rains on the just and the unjust. The sun shines on the easy going and the high strung. It is not our place to judge or withold love, understanding and kindness from any man!

[nilocyelraf]

Make judgements but avoid being judgemental..in other words you have to judge the width of the space to drive your car through but to hold yourself as knowing how things ought to be puts yourself in the position of diminishing yourself and that which you are judging.None of us truly knows how things ought to be, it is our opinion.

[doctorw2]

this is a hard thing to practice, i mean should a person show that sort of kindness to a murderer or a child molester?

[TurquoiseLamp]

If you were in a state of ignorant suffering whereby you thought murder or perversions would bring you happiness, would you not like to be shown compassion so that at least you have even a tiny chance of escaping your self-made mind-hell? I know I have acted in negative ways and people have not turned their back on me, so I have learned to be a better person and help others in the same way. It may not always work so well, but all life is precious and it is worth the positive effort of trying.

[Zatoichi444]

and yet I have been kind to people, and tried to be at peace with them, and they turned their back on me anyway. There is no accounting for motivations of people, but I think the majority of those motivations are ego, and selfishness...

[melandor0]

There are always exceptions, to confirm the "rule". When it comes to child molesters, you're better off trying to shove their disembodied head up their ass, pardon the language.

[squidman22]

No one said it would be easy. That is why only the most learned and pious were ever able to grasp and live this fundamental.

[doctorw2]

it sure is hard especially for a person like me who believes in stern justice.

[chokewholeddotcom]

We do not know why we do what we do. I could be a fool, but I know that if I am a good fool,

I remain compassionate and whether it is out of greed or selflessness, I still not know.

I did what seems right to me. As evil, I still am uncertain seems right.

[Royail1]

A good lesson indeed, one I will have to work on myself. Thank you for sharing!

[yinyangnature]

Thank you.

[patnhat]

if only we did not know competition.

in itself competitive nature is against all harmony a direct result of our wold,s socialism

this is a hard lesson, it is sooo easy to judge, when seeing someone else passing judgment for example you want to put that person down instead of starting a seed of HARMONY, not all will understand. but this is a better way than passing judgment yourself.

STOP THE HATE. WORLD PEACE,that means to all!!!

[yinyangnature]

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step." Lao Tzu.

Just as an infant taking her first step, walking this path is very difficult at first. But as a child's strength and ability improves with constant practice; so should our ability to live without judgement.

[zetetic0void]

Wow

"If Sun and Earth and Water refrain from judgement, who am I to withhold a blanket and a bowl or rice"

I've never seen this show but these are some great lines!

---------------

Often is the case that those who feel they are on the side of justice against some horrible enemy, end up acting in a similar way towards the enemy they judged as barbaric, cruel and unjust! As Nietzsche said "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster."

[yinyangnature]

What a great Nietzsche line!

I had an ironic thought today. I was thinking how wrong it was for me to judge others who judge. I guess this only proves what an immensely deep and difficult teaching this truly is.

[walkingbear56]

Thanks Bobba, I look forward to reading your commentary in the margin.

Perhaps its just me, but they are getting deeper in meaning or more difficult to grasp the true meaning behind the image (perhaps Im trying too hard).

This certainly touches home on our need (my need) to feel happy with things if they suit my perspective on life.

We are all perhaps like young Caine looking for a Master Kan, just so we can confirm that we are "doing it right"; life that is.

Namaste

[yinyangnature]

Namaste my friend! To understand the Taoist perspective, we must look at everything through Nature's eyes and not our own. It is only in this way we can experience our true Nature and allow her wisdom to come to us. (Which incidentally is the ultimate goal of meditation.) I write my commentaries from this perspective and I invite you to watch this video with the same eyes. In this way we discover our true self (p'u) and it is from this perspective the Truth becomes increasingly self evident.

[wolfinside]

It's so hard not to judge others. So often it feels like one must punish them for the deeds we disaprove of. But isn't that just another way of trying to control the universe around us? (rather than live in harmony within it)

[yinyangnature]

Exactly! Well said.

[sammyzee79]

@wolfinside the bible says You can Judge someone in a way to correct them from harming themselves and others, to help him walk a straight path. If you dont correct someone his soul will be lost. But to correct you need to do it in a humble way.

[Mystrymeat]

@sammyzee79 "You can Judge someone in a way to correct them". If this is what you believe, then I'm afraid you have misread your bible. It clearly states 'Judge not, that ye be not judged'. Your perspective of correction is more like imposition, which is not humble in any manner. A straight path is not the path of life, for life itself is full of curves and twists. To be straight and rigid is to go against the flow of the tide, and it is this rigidity that should be corrected.

[sammyzee79]

@Mystrymeat I have not misread the bible. The bible clearly states to help others. So helping someone is a form of correction. A form of good judgement. If i see a stranger on drugs, i can Judge him in a humble good way and help him correct his vice. The straight path in the bible is different from the Tao straight path.

Loving God with all your heart, with all you soul, with all your mind and all your strength, Love you enemys, love you neighbour, help the needy these are some straight paths

[Mystrymeat]

@sammyzee79 In other words, to truly help someone is not to correct them, but to help them to help themself. Correction will come naturally as a result. If you had actually read the Tao Te Ching then you'd find that the "path" of the bible is not so different from the Tao... aside from the stoning, condemning, punishing, genocides, and murder so frequently mentioned in the bible, of course. As I said, there is no such thing as a straight path. All of life works in a cycle, not a straight line.

[sammyzee79]

@Mystrymeat to truly helping someone with a racist, drug, lustful etc issues is correcting them. Correction cannot come naturally. If someones smoking dope that person is not gonna just stop naturally. That person needs support to correct is problems. Did Jesus Stone condem punish commit genocides and murder? You may have read a wrong book that was not the bible but is called the Koran. The bible straight path is different. The Tao is senseless without a God, Without God there is no purpose

[Mystrymeat]

@sammyzee79 "to truly helping someone with a racist, drug, lustful etc issues is correcting them" It's obvious you're ignoring everything I'm saying, if this continues I'll have no further purpose for trying to reason with you. Once again, YOU DON'T CORRECT THEM, the person must do that with guidance, but you alone can't change them. "The Tao is senseless without a God," Have you read the Tao Te Ching? Don't call something senseless just because you lack understanding of it.

[Mystrymeat]

@sammyzee79 "You may have read a wrong book that was not the bible but is called the Koran" What book have you read? Did Allah kill everyone with a flood in the Koran? Nope, that was the bible. Did Allah destroy the entire town of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Koran? Nope, bible again. Did Allah command people to stone others for not believing in Christianity? Nope, that was yours. If a god does exist, I'm certain it's not yours.

[Mystrymeat]

@sammyzee79 "Did Jesus Stone condem punish commit genocides and murder?" No, but your god did. [Josh. 10:40] [Exodus 25:18-24] [Deut. 19:21] [Deut. 13:6-16] And according to the New Testament, Jesus is god. It's all rather confusing considering that Jesus's views contradict Yahweh's even though they're (supposedly) one in the same (a holy trinity). Your god has a knack for changing his mind perhaps? Or maybe your Yeshua isn't divine after all.

[Juefawn]

@wolfinside is not giving up judgment, a way of controlling nature, instead of living in harmony with it?

[wolfinside]

@Juefawn Sometimes I think judgement is just a game our ego plays because it's bored. Like children putting on a play to amuse themselves. It has all of the power and force of a pussy fart in a wind tunnel.

[wolfinside]

@Juefawn To put it another way, judgement of others makes it impossible to live with them. Judgement of ourselves, makes it impossible to act naturally. How can we live in harmony with nature if we cannot live in harmony with others or ourselves?

[TurquoiseLamp]

Thank you for this! It's brilliant! What an excellent lesson - I hope that I will be able to remember this in daily life. non-judgemental compassion is perhaps one of the hardest things to do in a world which teaches retribution and unforgiveness - yet it is also, in my humble opinion, the most valuable thing to learn.

Thank you again - this has made my day! :-D

[minnesotachris]

I'll second your comment TurquoiseLamp, this was an excellent lesson :-)

[yinyangnature]

Thank you! Yes it is a very difficult lesson and it is one I often struggle with myself. It takes great courage and resolve to live without judgement. For the ego relishes the opportunity.