The Tao of Kung Fu #27

Who Can Defeat Himself?

Learn about this video and philosophy here................. This is a scene from the 1970's television series "Kung Fu". This short clip was taken from the episode called "The Nature of Evil". This scene takes place in a Shaolin temple in the nineteenth century. Incidentally, the philosophy followed by the Shaolin is called Ch'an. Most people know Ch'an by its Japanese equivalent Zen. Both Ch'an and Zen were derived from the union of Taoist philosophy and Buddhism in ancient China, about the first century A.D. Nevertheless, the Taoist philosophy is far more prominent in the Kung Fu TV series than are the Buddhist aspects. The Tao, the Taoist sages and the Tao Te Ching are all frequently mentioned throughout the series. It is for this reason and for the sake of simplicity that I chose to call these clips "The Tao of Kung Fu". In this scene young Caine is distressed about the evil he feels is within himself. The ever knowing and wise Master Po explains to Caine he is merely experiencing another aspect of himself. Master Po explains to Caine that he couldn't feel joy without also having the capacity for despair; and he would have no capacity for good without an equal capacity for evil. Of course this teaching is based on the union of polar opposites represented by the yin-yang motif. Due to the immense pressures we face during our busy lives, even the most outwardly calm and forgiving of us can experience periods of great anger and hate. While in this intense emotional state we may feel like striking out at those around us and dream up all sorts of diabolical scenarios. Fortunately for the vast majority of us these highly malevolent thoughts are quickly forgotten as our more rational self re-establishes control. Nevertheless on reflection, we may sometimes feel like young Caine and become aware of our own deep seated capacity for malice. Yet Master Po reminds us this is no cause for shame. As he suggests to Caine, "All that is necessary is that we face it and choose". On further analysis it becomes clear that it is only because we know of both that we can choose altruistic actions over evil intentions. For if we knew only of good and nothing of evil, how could we distinguish one from the other? An inability to differentiate this within oneself could also explain why some people have the ability to act so unscrupulously and yet still claim saintly status. Young Caine asks his master if one should fear and fight evil? To this Master Po asks, "Shall we fear our own humanity?" The great fictional Shaolin master then reminds us of the futility of fighting this part of ourselves by adding, "Who can defeat himself?" Of course trying to defeat evil, whether real or imagined, is the cause of most of the conflict in our world today. Although we are quick to judge the actions of others as evil, we are often unable to see the malevolence that resides within ourselves. Yet it is only by accepting this negative aspect of ourselves we are able to see the benevolent side of our adversaries. This is the beginning of genuine compassion and the only way we will ever realise a lasting peace.