The Tao of Kung Fu #29

I Call It Great

This is another clip from the very offbeat double episode The Cenotaph. In this scene we see Mr McBurney (Stefan Gierasch) and Caine (David Carradine) kneeling at what appears to be a grave. At the insistence of Mr McBurney we hear Caine recite chapter 25 of the Taoist sacred text, the Tao Te Ching: Something mysteriously formed Born before heaven and earth In the silence and the void Standing alone and unchanging Ever present and in motion. Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things. I do not know its name But I call it Tao. For lack of a better word, I call it great. This version of chapter 25 is from the book published by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. This translation of the Tao Te Ching is the one used throughout the Kung Fu series. Other than the Bible, the Tao Te Ching is the world's most translated book. There are more than a hundred versions of the Tao Te Ching available in the English language alone and a steady stream of new versions are constantly being added. It is believed the Tao Te Ching was written by the Taoist sage Lao Tzu, about the same era that Buddha taught in Northern India. The original Tao Te Ching was written in ancient Chinese ideograms that are no longer in use. Therefore, much of the ancient text is open to interpretation, making all versions of this ancient canon differ to a small degree; depending on the author's language expertise and understanding of the Taoist philosophy. Nevertheless, the fundamental message of each translation essentially remains the same. These variations in interpretations of the Tao Te Ching may seem disconcerting to those unfamiliar with the Taoist philosophy. In any case Lao Tzu warned that Tao was beyond the description of words. Therefore it is fitting that his work is open to many interpretations; for in this way the intended message may be found somewhere amongst the words and not in the words themselves. The Tao Te Ching is essentially a book on the workings of Nature and the obtainment of its wisdom. Its purpose is to direct the reader onto the path of non-contention, simplicity and harmony. Lao Tzu's book is not so much to teach the reader something new, but to rather remind the reader of something they have forgotten. It is to assist the reader recapture the feeling and wonder they had as a child; before the negative influences of society and culture. Most of us remember how as a child we were often confused by the ways of adults. We often say this is a time of innocence since a child finds it difficult to grasp the concepts of racism, religious hatred, greed, money and sexual innuendo. We often hear children ask questions like, "Why do people hurt the ones they love? Why does working make people so unhappy? Why don't we feed the people who are starving? Why do people hurt animals? Why can't everyone be friends instead of going to war?" We usually tell our children these things are too complex for a child to understand; but isn't it more a case that we have learnt to unquestionably accept these things? It is interesting that Albert Einstein claimed he was only able to make huge advances in science because of his child like enquiry. Einstein said that when most of us stopped thinking about things such as the nature of light and gravity, he continued thinking about these things into adulthood. Perhaps there is a lesson here for all of us? In many ways children are the ultimate seekers of truth. But unfortunately, as we grow up we begin to accept the things we once found so confronting and push our childhood concerns from our minds. Studies have shown that children initially become involved in sport for fun and friendship. Yet all too often adults get involved and introduce competitiveness into the game. Before long the fun and laughter is replaced by contention and the burning desire to win. The author George Orwell once said of sport,"...it is war minus the shooting." Sport is often a child's first indoctrination into the adult world of competition and opposition. A world where self-interest and the success of one's team are considered the utmost importance; weather it be a corporation, religion, race, political party or nation. Of course there is nothing wrong with success, as long it is not at the expense of others and anything surplus to our needs is shared. However, in our increasingly hostile world success is too often at the detriment of others and the hoarding of material wealth is considered admirable. To a child not yet coached into this world of winners and losers, the best outcome is when all sides receive equal benefit. This is also the way of the Tao and the intent of the Tao Te Ching is to allow us to rediscover the harmony that is contained within win-win.