Gau Lin Matt Spaulding

‘Thus, when Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil. It exposes his body to hunger, and subjects him to extreme poverty. 
It confounds his undertakings. 
By all these methods it stimulates his mind, hardens his nature, and supplies his incompetencies.

‘Men for the most part err, and are afterwards able to reform. They are distressed in mind and perplexed in their thoughts, and then they arise to vigorous reformation. When things have been evidenced in men’s looks, and set forth in their words, then they understand them.

‘If a prince have not about his court families attached to the laws and worthy counselors, and if abroad there are not hostile states or other external calamities, his kingdom will generally come to ruin.

‘From these things we see how life springs from sorrow and calamity, and death from ease and pleasure.’

 -Mencius

                “Wow!” thought John Doe as he experienced his first class in traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu.  “These Principles really do make perfect sense. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.” John felt bitter sweet exhilaration of his first soft palm and one-inch-punch from his soon-to-be instructor. He felt the excitement of learning “new” truths, and of setting foot on a very time-honored and fulfilling path.

                John felt the need to embark upon this new journey, with a vivid idea of the end which he foresaw himself reaching. He believed that he would hone himself physically, become healthier, and live a longer, happier life. He foresaw himself becoming more disciplined and mentally sharper. He foresaw that he would gain a greater understanding of Truth, thereby achieving a sense of peace with his world because he would understand it more. And, he believed that he would also gain the fighting skill and knowledge to be victorious in a fight. John saw in his instructor much of what he himself wished to become.

                John became a student, and for a time all his visions seemed to be coming to fruition. John felt that his reflexes were quickening. He felt happy and that he was indeed progressing. John could see that Wing Chun was just what he had been looking for.

                Then, over the space of a couple of weeks, John’s progress seemed to come to a halt. He felt that he had been working the same thing over and over again in class, yet hadn’t significantly progressed. Wing Chun seemed to lack some of the luster it had originally glistened with. John felt “stuck”, or as though he was “spinning his wheels”. He began to analyze everything he did in class to find out what the problem was exactly, yet uncovered nothing.  His instructor seemed to be working him harder than ever before. He would go home exhausted every night after class.

                After a great deal of struggling with these emotions, John realized that perhaps he had become unteachable. He decided that perhaps his ego had gotten in the way of his learning process. He had become frustrated with himself, and pride had told him to blame this problem on others instead of looking to himself for the answer. John decided to go back to class, only this time with a humble heart, ready to do whatever his instructor asked him to do.

                John quickly found that the drills he performed seemed easier, and new insight seemed to come to him as he worked out. John was surprised when he noticed that his instructor had been watching him for a time, with a smile on his face.

                “So, you finally decided to let go, I see.” It was a comment, not a question. “Good. Now you’re ready to learn again.”

                John then was able to continue along on the journey he had originally set out on, his visions of what it may hold again became more vivid, and Wing Chun again became a thing of progress and excitement. And John lived happily ever after…

                When times seem difficult, be it in class or out, we would all do well to do as our friend John Doe did and let go of our egos so that the learning process can continue. Always remember that these times, and those feelings, will come and come again, but diligence, perseverance and humility will see you through to the end of any time and into an ever-brighter light. May we all never lose sight of this.

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