Comments on: The Parable of The Swordsman http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2160/the-parable-of-the-swordsman/ Tai Chi and anything I can relate to Tai Chi ... like life Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:06:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: John Crewdson http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2160/the-parable-of-the-swordsman/comment-page-1/#comment-1035 John Crewdson Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:30:31 +0000 http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/?p=2160#comment-1035 Walt, You're right that "contentment" is the missing part of this story. Good point; you might even say it was the elephant in the room that no one was talking about. Looking for balance in life is the best way I think. John Walt,

You’re right that “contentment” is the missing part of this story. Good point; you might even say it was the elephant in the room that no one was talking about. Looking for balance in life is the best way I think.

John

]]> By: John Crewdson http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2160/the-parable-of-the-swordsman/comment-page-1/#comment-1034 John Crewdson Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:26:53 +0000 http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/?p=2160#comment-1034 Mel, I like the last one! Being alive to tell your story is a good strategy. ;-) John Mel,

I like the last one! Being alive to tell your story is a good strategy. ;-)

John

]]> By: John Crewdson http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2160/the-parable-of-the-swordsman/comment-page-1/#comment-1033 John Crewdson Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:25:38 +0000 http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/?p=2160#comment-1033 Bev,, I have definitely not achieved mastery yet, but I do agree with your master. Learning one thing well - keeping your eye on the ball - while adding more breadth to your knowledge by learning new things seems like good advice. John Bev,,

I have definitely not achieved mastery yet, but I do agree with your master. Learning one thing well - keeping your eye on the ball - while adding more breadth to your knowledge by learning new things seems like good advice.

John

]]> By: walt http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2160/the-parable-of-the-swordsman/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 walt Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:10:46 +0000 http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/?p=2160#comment-1032 I'm a Big Fan of Jet Li movies, and I enjoy martial arts stories just like the next guy. But when it comes to "how to live," I appreciate the multi-directional approach: health + longevity + combat + philosophy. So I'm thinking that the Rat and the Lion got carried away, and forgot the "longevity" and "philosophy" parts. In the end, this had a bad effect on the "health" part, as well. Certainly, the cultivation of "contentment" is not the message of this tale you presented, but it's a big part of the wisdom imbued in the philosophy surrounding martial arts, at least as I understand it. Your story reminded me of that aspect, so I thought I'd mention it. I’m a Big Fan of Jet Li movies, and I enjoy martial arts stories just like the next guy. But when it comes to “how to live,” I appreciate the multi-directional approach: health + longevity + combat + philosophy. So I’m thinking that the Rat and the Lion got carried away, and forgot the “longevity” and “philosophy” parts. In the end, this had a bad effect on the “health” part, as well.

Certainly, the cultivation of “contentment” is not the message of this tale you presented, but it’s a big part of the wisdom imbued in the philosophy surrounding martial arts, at least as I understand it. Your story reminded me of that aspect, so I thought I’d mention it.

]]> By: Mel http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2160/the-parable-of-the-swordsman/comment-page-1/#comment-1031 Mel Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:36:49 +0000 http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/?p=2160#comment-1031 Wow John Great post. There are so many lessons and nuggets found within this post. When we focus only on one way of getting to our goal, how many other ways, paths and means are we ignoring or neglecting to simply get there? The journey is so important and there are many path ways to be explored. Making only one path wrong and one right is very limiting. Deciding what your big picture be all end all goal is can be very helpful and will lead you to the path that will work for you. If you only want to win against the champion, and that's all you focus on,then the style of the lion works great. If you only want to beat the lion, then the rat's style was perfect. If you want to be alive to tell tales for years to come, then combining many styles like the son did works great. What do you really want in the end? Great post John. Thanks Mel <abbr><em>Mel’s last blog post..<a href="http://www.melhirsch.com/106/new-video-for-local-business-now-on-their-website-canon-city-co/" rel="nofollow">New Video for Local Business now on their website- Canon City CO</a></abbr></em> Wow John
Great post.
There are so many lessons and nuggets found within this post.

When we focus only on one way of getting to our goal, how many other ways, paths and means are we ignoring or neglecting to simply get there?

The journey is so important and there are many path ways to be explored. Making only one path wrong and one right is very limiting. Deciding what your big picture be all end all goal is can be very helpful and will lead you to the path that will work for you. If you only want to win against the champion, and that’s all you focus on,then the style of the lion works great. If you only want to beat the lion, then the rat’s style was perfect. If you want to be alive to tell tales for years to come, then combining many styles like the son did works great.

What do you really want in the end?

Great post John.
Thanks
Mel

Mel’s last blog post..New Video for Local Business now on their website- Canon City CO

]]> By: Bev http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/2160/the-parable-of-the-swordsman/comment-page-1/#comment-1030 Bev Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:25:08 +0000 http://www.camptaichi.com/blog/?p=2160#comment-1030 The story reminds me of advice my tai chi master gave me just over a week ago. He said to help develop the flow of chi he recommended that I practise the same fist form every single day - choose one and stick with it. He added that this was not sufficient and that I should also continue to learn new forms because each new form would help me understand and improve what I had already achieved. The story reminds me of advice my tai chi master gave me just over a week ago. He said to help develop the flow of chi he recommended that I practise the same fist form every single day - choose one and stick with it. He added that this was not sufficient and that I should also continue to learn new forms because each new form would help me understand and improve what I had already achieved.

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