The Tao of Kung Fu #14 - " Cowardice is wisdom of weakness."

Did they show the bully scene in that episode, or does Grasshopper only refer to it?

If my memory serves me well it was only referred to.

Thanks yingyangnature,

In reading the comments and opinions here, I'm thinking that if there was a scene, then we could be more on the same page in judging whether in this case aiding a person would escalate or calm the situation.

And if there was no scene, everyone is going to have a different scenario in there head of how this bullying situation occurred, and their comments would be relative to that.

Thanks for posting the video. I really like the first Kung Fu series.

I'm going to offer a different perspective. If one was in a fight with just himself and another person(s), then I could understand Master Po's perspective. But in the clip, we are talking about your friend who needs your help. In this instance, the desire to help another supersedes your own self interest. This is the nature of selflessness--- selflessness put into action.

Too often we go to the defence of others and our actions only serve to escalate the conflict. Many wars have been waged by the brave in the defence of the vulnerable, only to increase the suffering of those it was intended to help.

Kindly let me help you or youll drown, said the monkey to the fish as he placed him safely up a tree. Alan Watts

Interesting perspective, YingYangNature, however.....You are assuming that if a person comes to the aid of another that this will escalate the conflict. Couldn't it just as easily deescalate it? Yes, you could use WWI as an example proving your point, about all the alliances on both sides which caused an outright world conflict. But if we accept your point as fact, then why come to the aid to anyone at all? It's confusing, I know. In the vid, I would help my friend without a second thought.

I dont think there is a definitive answer to this my friend, for every circumstance will be different. Yet we usually always assume that to be brave and ignore ones instinct of fear is very admirable. This clip simply makes us reconsider this age old belief. Im sure if resolution had the same high honour associated with bravery, there would be far fewer conflicts.

Excellently put!!! I LOVE the Alan Watts quote!

I agree that true bravery is connecting with and trusting in one's own intuition.

It is absolutely true that all situations are different.

Don't all actions have both a positive and negative side? Therefore in helping or not helping your friend, you will still encounter both positive and negative repercussions.

True courage is believing in one's own wisdom to determine whether more positivity will be gained through helping or not.

Well said.

thx verry much