Posted by PTCruiser on April 01, 2003 at 21:53:37:
Hehe- so nice of you to drop in to read this.
It's become apparent that there are different types of people studying and posting on the martial arts.
All these quibbling little details such as 'did he really claim to jump off a building, ooooh ohhhh oh!' and such. At best (even if they are right and he didn't) makes them a suprisingly accurate gossip.
I don't practice gossip. So I probably won't end up good at it. Some posting here will say 'Well I don't practice gossip either, I'm just good at it'
Unfortuanately being so knowledgeable about a particular thing can lead to not really knowing the thing itself, just knowing about it.
I read some where once that knowledge is the accumulation, whereas the true way is a paring away of such things. This may be as unpopular to men as the places the true way abides in.
The wise men of old guided others not by enlightenment, stuffing their protoges with facts about things. They may trick them into learning one thing well, leading them on into knowing the hell out of one thing, so that a comprehensive way develop[s in the individual. Often the teacher benefitted more.
The clever, the cunning, and swift know what to do on a respite, they climb hills and party. Myself drifts aimless, miraculouly occupied and sustened by infinite emptiness. Thus I am ultimately useful while being worthless, abandonded, of no fine repute. I practice beyond day and night.
The relentless give and take of the sea is more telling to me than all the words the ambitous, both the earnest and the charlatans post here. A better teacher than the best mouth boxers that come on here to despoil and defame someone whose main goal is practice.
Those who aqquire a lot of facts and words about practice are usually laughed at by those who are on the same path but happen to be a little further along. They bore those whose goal is practice. I used to seek out places of practice but now tire of the vain foolish, striving to accomplish, and attain. Now I just practice in the cemetary. I know words, yes, and the sense of words, but empathise with my last asian teacher who grew impatient at the mouthing little goodby parrots, so eloquent and funny. I too mimicked my teacher at one point, walking away in disgust moving my hand like the mouth of the mouth boxers, only those who will give will recieve now.
Your words, your proofs, your logic, and facts are more worthless than dung to one who singlemindedly practices.
Go achieve the black sash or whatever. Run your mouth as you wish. Those who know slow lightning will do what they wish with you when they wish. Be greatful for what morals I still have, it's what suffers fools.
Realize all the lineages, and associations can containg more charlatans who are good babysitters, money makers and trophy winner, but to what end?
*; =qq(