The Tao of Kung Fu #22 - "Look beyond the letter of the law".

Learn more about this philosophy here.....

This video is from the "Empty Pages of a Dead Book" episode, from the 1970's TV series "Kung Fu". Here we see Master Kan (Philip Ahn) questioning Young Caine (Radames Pera) and Yet-Sen (Raymond Chao) over the fruit taken during a period of fasting. Earlier Master Kan had told the young students that they must not pick the ripe plums in the garden, since to do this would be breaking the law. Young Caine later witnesses Yet-Sen picking the plums, but is left unsure whether he should report the matter to Master Kan. Later Caine finds out that Yet-Sen was feeding the plums to an injured dove.

On hearing what had transpired Master Kan realises that he had done the two students a great disservice. His law has led Caine to unfairly doubt his friend's integrity and had forced Yet-Sen to conceal a good deed. Although Master Kan had made his law with every good intention, the virtue that had been intended had been lost. Therefore the master honours the two students for reminding him of the error of attending only to the letter of the law and not its purpose.

The ancient Taoists did not trust words and often warned of the dangers that resulted from rigidness. The sages advised the Chinese nobility against putting the laws into print, citing this would only cause confusion.

You may find these ideas strange, but think of how often the laws are poorly applied. We have all heard of the occasions where victims are treated like criminals; and the criminals able to escaped justice on a small technicality. These are both examples of where the initial intent of law has been lost. Of course our law makers are endlessly trying to address these inequalities, but this is a never ending process of amendments that only serves to drown the original intent further in complex legal syntax.

Since the dawn of time mankind has desired an infallible code that would bring about an utopian existence. Naturally this desire gave birth to the religious scriptures in which many of our modern laws are derived. Believing them to be the word of God gave these laws authority, making them beyond the questioning of mere mortals. Unfortunately the authors of the scriptures were mortals and they wrote the laws with only specific instances in mind, disregarding the countless variables of Nature. The result of this is we now live in a world where religious fanatics are using the scriptures to justify committing the very evils that these holy doctrines were intended to prevent.

Nevertheless, even in our highly secular culture we still attempt to solve all our social problems by the creation of laws of ever increasing complexity. This is often in the misguided belief that these laws will protect us from the predatory behaviour of others. Yet sociopaths never see the law as a barrier. They usually believe themselves above the law and are confident they can escape prosecution using their charm and intelligence. Sociopaths are more likely to see rules and laws as something to oppress and manipulate the rest of us.

The system of justice the ancient Taoists favoured is the flexibility and innate order of Nature. Called "Li" by the ancients, this is the pattern of intelligence that is beyond the description of words. We can see this indescribable pattern as the markings in jade, the fibre in muscle and the grain in wood. These organic configurations have a very sophisticated order that can't be described or aptly defined. "Li" is usually translated into English as "organic order".

The Taoists believed justice should be dispensed on a case by case basis by people who possess Li. Together with compassion, moderation, humility; these people would have an innate sense of justice beyond what could be defined by our current legal system.

Needless to say our modern judicial system is in some aspects an attempt to emulate "Li". But unfortunately we too often see our courts hamstrung by complex bureaucracy; restricted by inflexible and archaic laws; and their decisions too often criticised by a public who haven't been privy to all the evidence presented.

To learn more about Li, Taoist morality or the Taoist philosophy, please visit my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/TaoFAQ

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Tao
• Taoism
• Li
• Morality
• Law
• Grasshopper
• Caine
• DavidCarradine
• MasterKan
• PhilipAhn
• Shaolin
• Philosophy
• Judicial

[tigere01]

What's the name of this movie? English version hopefully.

[yinyangnature]

@tigere01 It's a 1970's TV series called "Kung Fu". It was released on DVD in 2007.

[Mystrymeat]

"we now live in a world where religious fanatics are using the scriptures to justify committing the very evils that these holy doctrines were intended to prevent." It's a shame that the truth must be so grim. But, alas, it is. It is sad to see how far the tree of religion has grown from it's roots. Now, it seems that it's only fate is to topple over as a result of growing to a point that even it cannot sustain, and we are all to be negatively (or positively) effected from this tree's death.

[yinyangnature]

@Mystrymeat You may find this quote useful: Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. ... Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Martin Luther King

[buckdich1]

I think the idea of the law, or handing out justice to people is inherently flawed. "Justice" is just a sophisticated way of saying "You wronged me and I want to hurt you back for it." even though this does nothing to solve the original problem. This isn't even considering that over half of the people who are sent to prison end up back there after being released. Punishment doesn't work. "Justice" is just a pretentious way to get revenge without having to feel immature about it.

[yinyangnature]

@buckdich1 Congratulations. You see the Truth beyond ego. You must now help others to have this same realisation.

[hiddenmind]

Your videos are timeless, thank you.

[sean695380]

the idea of law never can over come nature but what makes us human is breaking natural laws. One cannot truly love until they truly hate. truth is hidden because its power defies law

[grahambates1]

The activity of lawyers/bureaucrats is counted as part of a nation's GDP, therefore, it's profitable for a gvnmnt to hve all their laws coz it creates the possibility of lengthy trials etc, and thus a bigger GDP. So these complexities aren't seen as restricting, but rather, as 'healthy' for a country's appearance statistically. Our modern world is run by what could easily be called gang lords (the elite). Probably like the kind that the Buddhists invented Kung Fu to defend themselves against!

[tindesk136]

This show is timeless and really stood apart from the other pedestrian offerings on TV then and now. Thanks for posting the old clips from this show. Ugh, dullards using this fine clip as a soapbox to air their petty grievances about religion. How about...Hegel failed in his attempt to show that Aristotle's laws of logic misconstrued reality. There, that's more relevant to the clip.

[zachf777]

@Mystrymeat I'm sorry, it looks like you're right. But I would like to add that although those "religions" you've mentioned may topple as stated in your original quote, the religion of the "holy doctrines" you mentioned will not.

[Mystrymeat]

@zachf777 Since you only seem to be disapproving of the statement in terms of the Bible, I'll only list examples regarding this book. The KKK quoted Rev 3:14 on their website as justification for their hateful belief system. Adolf frequently referenced the Bible (namely Rev 3:16) when influencing others with his speeches. The Army of God terrorist group quoted scriptures such as Lev 20:1-5, Lament 2:19, and Psalm 94:16 to justify their homicidal actions. Shall I go on or am I wasting my time?

[Mystrymeat]

@zachf777 Firstly, you're correct, I didn't deny it because I seem to have skipped over it. My original comment was refering to religion as a whole, not just Christianity specifically. Technically speaking, the Abrahamic religions are all founded upon the Holy Bible, as the Qu'Ran is basically a re-working of its texts. Secondly, I'm not entirely sure if giving you quote after quote by members of various terroristic religious groups is really necessary, but if you insist...

[zachf777]

@Mystrymeat ...Secondly, as far as "Christian extremist groups"...You feel they're "using the scriptures to justify committing the very evils that these holy doctrines were intended to prevent", yet my point remains that it merely seems to be a popular catchphrase, but with no real truth or examples to substantiate it, other than the tiny wbc that you mentioned.

[zachf777]

@Mystrymeat I never said it was unimportant, I said it was rare. Also, Muslims, al quaeda, hezbolla, etc don't use the Holy Bible, as I presumed you were referring to which you did not deny, but they instead use the quaran of course, which is not commonly thought of when the word "scripture" is used by most in America.