The Tao of Kung Fu #9- "Seek not to contend."

In this clip from the episode "King of the Mountain", Caine recalls the words of Master Kan. Kan explains that harmony is only achieved through non-contention. There is no contention in Nature and everything succeeds.

This video was taken from the 1970's TV series 'Kung Fu' (Created by Ed Spielman, Herman Miller and Jerry Thorpe). It is essentially an American Western set in the latter half of the 1800's, with an Eastern hero who has neither a gun or a horse. The story follows the adventures of Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine); a nature loving Shaolin priest who had recently fled China. He speaks softly but is no pushover. He lives humbly yet knows great contentment.

Each episode also takes the viewer back to Caine's childhood in the Shaolin temple. It is here under the instruction of the wonderfully charismatic Master Po (Keye Luke) and the stern yet loving Master Kan (Philip Ahn), young Caine (Radames Pera) learns the harmoniously balanced ways of Tao.

The teachings of the Shaolin was meticulously researched for the Kung Fu series. This makes Kung Fu one of the most authentic interpretations of Philosophical Taoism available in popular culture. I was therefore surprised to see no one else had presented selected scenes from Kung Fu as an introduction to the Taoist philosophy. This is one of about 30 clips I'll be posting here during 2008.

To learn more about the Philosophical Taoism, please visit my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/TaoFAQ

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Tao
• Taoist
• Taoism
• Daoism
• Caine
• David
• Carradine
• Kung-Fu
• Shaolin
• Philosophy
• Grasshopper

[Knightus100]

The problem with not contending is that you never really find out what areas you're weak in.  I have to say that I really don't agree 100% with this teaching. I would rather say do not contend if it's boastful pride that you're seeking, since hurting the weak doesn't make you any stronger or wiser, and Ego spawns from it. Yet the context of the question is confusing what exactly is he seeking to contending with??

[yinyangnature]

@Knightus100 Philosophy often challenges our most deeply held beliefs. Why do we believe there's virtue in discovering our weakness? I've never seen animals do this. We rarely question our social conditioning & contention is a major part of this. Yet contention is very destructive & a major contributor to stress related illness and aggression throughout the world. Don't you think our society would be far more harmonious if people chose to cooperate with nature and each other rather than contend?

[Knightus100]

@yinyangnature, yes I see your point. What is the point of contending if we can simply befriend one another and learn from one another??? In the end if you really look at it, Contention is an unwillingness to let go of Ego. Instead of fighting with one another to gain wisdom. It's a lot less painful to befriend and work together for wisdom.

[yinyangnature]

@Knightus100 Not all contention is bad. The Buddhist concept of "The Middle Way", which teaches the avoidance of all extremes, is always useful. However, through the monetary system our society perpetuates a very noxious form of contention, that is highly exploitative of others in a weaker position to ourselves. Our indoctrination into this form of corruption began at school, where non-contention is often branded as weakness and any form of cooperation is usually seen as cheating.

[Knightus100]

@yinyangnature Yes I I definitely agree with you there. What we learn in school is how to conform to work mindlessly for the government. Yet, I see nothing wrong with friendly competition for I believe it helps you to grow more confident in your abilities and helps you to step more boldly into new experiences, yet there's a flip side to that also, for in doing this we can become overly ambitious.

[yinyangnature]

@Knightus100 Rather than saying Don't contend, Master Kan said Seek not to content. Taoists often describe how more can be achieve by flowing with an opponent, than using force. Many of the martial arts are based on redirecting an aggressor's energy to bring about their own downfall, rather than using your own energy. Therefore, non-contention of Eastern philosophy is often much deeper than it may initially seem, especially from the context of a society that sees contention as highly desirable.

[RedCrescentDemon]

Every time I see one of these tao videos and hear another phrase of wisdom, my mind feels like it's glowing and the feeling just reverberates through my whole body. It is one amazing happy trip.

[metalictempest]

I have enjoyed these clips, thank you for uploading them. I am likely to buy the series now.

[tallenheli]

??reinforced h

[TheZanipolo]

"Awakening to the Tao" by Liu I Ming is a great book

[RedCrescentDemon]

@TH3D1R3CTOR The pineal gland, the third eye. How I long to open it. I know I'd be a totally different person if I did so.

[TH3D1R3CTOR]

@RedCrescentDemon you my friend, are raising the kundalini energy up to your spine and awakening your pineal gland through wisdom