The Tao of Kung Fu #13 - "Not many things.....One."

This short video is from the 1970's TV series "Kung Fu". "Kung Fu" tells of the adventures of a fictional Shaolin priest named Caine, played by David Carradine. Caine wanders the American "Wild West" with nothing more than compassion, moderation, humility and a little Shaolin magic.

The teachings of the Shaolin was meticulously researched for the "Kung Fu" series, making it one of the most authentic interpretations of the Taoist philosophy in popular culture. I recently decided to present selected scenes from "Kung Fu", to illustrate this extremely insightful ancient Chinese philosophy.

This clip is from the episode called "The Praying Mantis Kills". This title comes from Caine's comments as he watched two men kneeling to pray prior to a gun fight. Caine observed that praying under these circumstances was as hollow and worthless as that of a praying mantis readying to kill.

In this scene, Caine is explaining to Martin (Wendell Burton) the subtleties of meditation. Caine explains that he is able to hit a target by considering himself, the bow, the arrow and the target as one action in Nature. This is an archery technique commonly practiced in Zen. (Zen is the union of Buddhism and Taoism.)

We often consider meditation as some type of mysterious process, but this really isn't the case. Meditation is simply anytime one becomes distracted from their usual thinking of time and self. Everyone has experienced this phenomena, but since it is extremely subtle, it is most often disregarded. Think of the last time you were surprised at how 'time flew'; or when you were so engaged in something, that you were unaware of anything else.

Caine meditates using archery. However fishing, reading, knitting, writing, solving puzzles, playing music or any other activity you find enjoyable can be just as effective as a meditation.

We often emerge from meditation feeling refreshed. This is because in this time we have briefly transcended our ego and have become an action of Nature. Again, this feeling of harmony is extremely subtle and often goes unnoticed. It is often only after we have evaluated the experience that we understand and appreciate the value of the meditative state.

To learn more about meditation, oneness and philosophical Taoism, please visit my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/TaoFAQ

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Tao
• Taoist
• Taoism
• Meditation
• Zen
• One
• Oneness
• Caine
• DavidCarradine
• Kung-Fu
• Shaolin
• Philosophy

[Gibberish1983]

WHen you cease to try to understand then you'll know without understanding..

Such powerful and true words!

[PurposeOnEarth]

What happens when the world learns about the asian culture: buddism, tao and karate......instead of jesus, god, news and the media. Something to think about..when one surrounds themselves with enlightened people.

[Rensune]

@PurposeOnEarth There were still wars with this "enlightened culture"

Just as "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

People love conflict no matter what part of the world they're from.

[wiggalama]

"All truths are paradoxal." ~ Lao Tzu

[Tirius9393]

funny how we have loads of christians coming onto these enlightening videos to push their values on other people; in reality, their ways are ego-centered because they think they're "important" enough, more important than other people, to be able to "talk to god," when truthfully nothing really exists so it doesn't matter if there is a god or not when a majority of the space between subatomic particles is completely empty - that's the true nature of the universe, emptiness

[Enigma415]

Sounds like me! Right on! I have to get this movie!

[TheGeorgianskater]

@atfatw you really gotta stop raping kids its not funny

[MrMarvinpayne]

my dad saw this when he was 7

[yinyangnature]

@7Jesucristosetsufree I understand this is your reality my friend, but yours is not the only reality available. Many people's lives have been changed by Buddha & Lao Tzu & many other sages also; but these people would never consider their Path the only Path available. For to force one's reality onto another with the use of guilt, threat and the promise of great rewards for compliance, is the way of the fascist and MUST always be avoided. Most of us would rather be FREE to find our own way. 

[yinyangnature]

@7Jesucristosetsufree Why do you assume I haven't read the Bible my friend? I was raised in a Christian culture and this was all I knew for the first 40 years of my life. It wasn't until I started learning about Eastern philosophy that I started to understand Christianity. We are only "sinners" because we are unable to see we are One with the entire universe that is the Great Creator. However, through meditation practices & prayer, we can again become One with the universe and the Great Divine.

[7Jesucristosetsufree]

@yinyangnature u r totally wrong about this. And i dont get upset if u dont want to accept Jesus as ur Lord and Saviour. If u dont want to believe in Him its ur responsabity. God show u the way, but ur the one who has 2 deside. Read the bible, the gospel of John. And find out who God is.

By the way, we r not gods, we r sinners separated from God. And Jesus was not enlighted. He is the light. And created everithing. Open ur heart. Jesus loves u.

[7Jesucristosetsufree]

@yinyangnature I'm not agressive i just tell u who God is. JESUS IS THE TRUTH. Jesus changed my life 10years ago, He set me free from occultism and false religion. God loves everybody, thats why He died on the cross so people dont go to hell when they die or get deceive by the devil in this live. I think that nobody can compare Jesus our Lord and Saviour with false prophets.Jesus is the Creator of the universe and He cannot be compared. Accept Him in ur life & have eternal life. Jesus loves u