wfs@mgweed.UUCP (10/26/83)
* True Meaning Of Kung Fu(Part 1) * Kuo had wanted to learn the art of boxing ever since he had been a little boy. Nearly every day he would search around but could never find a teacher who was willing enough to take in an orphan-much less a shabbily dressed one who made his living by selling firewood, or begging for handouts when it was necessary. All this made him the target of a group of rogues who belonged to a secret Tong society led by a young man called Hsia, who would always tease him whenever they met and remark: "There goes dimwit Kuo, who wishes to know, but alas, what a poor fellow!" hoping to draw Kuo into a fight so that they could practice boxing-which they had learned from their unscrupulous teachers-on him for real. One day, Kuo could no longer take any more of the constant humiliation and struck hastily and blindly at one of young men. But he hit nothing, and only added more fuel to the fire, as the group burst out in uncontrollable laughter at the comical fury they had unleashed. Hey, Kuo needs a few lessons, doesn't he? Should we teach him a few? The leader Hsia questioned his counterparts almost jokingly, but they all agreed in unison. A fist went into his abdomen as Kuo missed his opponent once again. Here is your first lesson, Kuo! And your second and your third! The bully insulted him as Kuo was knocked to the ground in only a few moves, and the other members of the group began to kick him mercilessly. Ho! You boys! Stop immediately! An aged monk interceded, kneeling over to the injured Kuo and helping him up. Hey! Hsia shouted angrely, why would you save such a miserable fellow, old monk? .........(Cont'd in part 2)
wfs@mgweed.UUCP (11/09/83)
* True Meaning Of Kung Fu(Pt.2) * But the learned man only closed his eyes and solemnly prayed. "Praise be Buddha," and the arrogant Hsia left with his friends in a huff, totally disgusted at the compassion of the priest and the outcome of the intimidation of Kuo. As it was, Kuo later found out that the monk was on his way to distant Lo Shan Monastery, and knowing that certain monks knew Kung Fu, deliberately volunteered to help and serve the monk whose name was Sung. For many years Kuo tended to every menial job that had to be done at the temple. He swept the grounds meticulously, chopped the wood for the fire and carried water everyday for the monks but they never taught him anything. On an exceptionally hot afternoon, as he was carrying the firewood to tend to the cooking furnace for the evening meal, he met monk Sung and they exchanged greetings, but Kuo could not control his emotions any further. Master Sung, I have fetched and carried water, cut firewood and swept the grounds of this monastery for the past five years, surely it is time for me to learn some boxing techniques, he implored. The old monk only sighed and picked up a thhick but short piece of firewood about a foot long from the pile Kuo was carrying. Tut! impatience is the mark of youth and the lesson of old age, like a clay pot that has not been properly fired! Very well, disciple Kuo. Take this piece of firewood, and everyday hold this wood firmly and run your palms over it, repeatedly in both directions. Kuo was delighted and thanked the old master over and over again, thinking that at last he was about to learn some form of Kung Fu. Year after year Kuo religiously followed his master's advice by running his closed palm over the hard, dry piece of wood until almost ten years had passed and the once rough,thick barked wood was now a shiningly clean baton of solid white wood only about an inch in diameter. Kuo had always thought that his master was preparing him for some splendid method of boxing that he always dreamed of knowing, and later on that day showed the piece of wood to monk Sung, hoping to learn more about the next step of this slendid Kung Fu!.............(contd. in Part3)
wfs@mgweed.UUCP (Walt Scott) (12/19/83)
* True Meaning Of Kung Fu(Part 1) * Kuo had wanted to learn the art of boxing ever since he had been a little boy. Nearly every day he would search around but could never find a teacher who was willing enough to take in an orphan-much less a shabbily dressed one who made his living by selling firewood, or begging for handouts when it was necessary. All this made him the target of a group of rogues who belonged to a secret Tong society led by a young man called Hsia, who would always tease him whenever they met and remark: "There goes dimwit Kuo, who wishes to know, but alas, what a poor fellow!" hoping to draw Kuo into a fight so that they could practice boxing-which they had learned from their unscrupulous teachers-on him for real. One day, Kuo could no longer take any more of the constant humiliation and struck hastily and blindly at one of young men. But he hit nothing, and only added more fuel to the fire, as the group burst out in uncontrollable laughter at the comical fury they had unleashed. Hey, Kuo needs a few lessons, doesn't he? Should we teach him a few? The leader Hsia questioned his counterparts almost jokingly, but they all agreed in unison. A fist went into his abdomen as Kuo missed his opponent once again. Here is your first lesson, Kuo! And your second and your third! The bully insulted him as Kuo was knocked to the ground in only a few moves, and the other members of the group began to kick him mercilessly. Ho! You boys! Stop immediately! An aged monk interceded, kneeling over to the injured Kuo and helping him up. Hey! Hsia shouted angrely, why would you save such a miserable fellow, old monk? .........(Cont'd in part 2) * True Meaning Of Kung Fu(Pt.2) * But the learned man only closed his eyes and solemnly prayed. "Praise be Buddha," and the arrogant Hsia left with his friends in a huff, totally disgusted at the compassion of the priest and the outcome of the intimidation of Kuo. As it was, Kuo later found out that the monk was on his way to distant Lo Shan Monastery, and knowing that certain monks knew Kung Fu, deliberately volunteered to help and serve the monk whose name was Sung. For many years Kuo tended to every menial job that had to be done at the temple. He swept the grounds meticulously, chopped the wood for the fire and carried water everyday for the monks but they never taught him anything. On an exceptionally hot afternoon, as he was carrying the firewood to tend to the cooking furnace for the evening meal, he met monk Sung and they exchanged greetings, but Kuo could not control his emotions any further. Master Sung, I have fetched and carried water, cut firewood and swept the grounds of this monastery for the past five years, surely it is time for me to learn some boxing techniques, he implored. The old monk only sighed and picked up a thhick but short piece of firewood about a foot long from the pile Kuo was carrying. Tut! impatience is the mark of youth and the lesson of old age, like a clay pot that has not been properly fired! Very well, disciple Kuo. Take this piece of firewood, and everyday hold this wood firmly and run your palms over it, repeatedly in both directions. Kuo was delighted and thanked the old master over and over again, thinking that at last he was about to learn some form of Kung Fu. Year after year Kuo religiously followed his master's advice by running his closed palm over the hard, dry piece of wood until almost ten years had passed and the oncerough, thick barked wood was now a shiningly clean baton of solid white wood only about an inch in diameter. Kuo had always thought that his master was preparing him for some splendid method of boxing that he always dreamed of knowing, and later on that day showed the piece of wood to monk Sung, hopeing to learn more about the next step of this splendid Kung Fu!....... .............(Con't. in Pt.3) * True Meaning Of Kung Fu(Pt.3) * A gleam glistened in his old master's eye and he smiled at Kuo. Excellent, my deciple Kuo. You have mastered the true meaning of kung fu. Your training is now complete. Complete? Master, I do not understand! Kuo was utterly confused. In time you will, Kuo. You have learned all that I can teach you. You are complete. You may leave the temple if you wish, monk Sung replied nonsensically. Complete?!! Kuo was furious and dejected. What have I learned? For 15 years I have served and prayed in this temple in hopes of learning something, and all you have taught me is how to rub a stick! And now you say I have learned everthing? What a fool I have been! What a fool!! Master Sung never showed emotion at the man's emotional outburst. He showed nothing at all. You may leave the temple now. Praise be Buddha. He blessed Kuo, who was already on his way out. Old fraud!! Kuo whispered under hot breath. Kuo quickly made his way to the village, angry and bewildered at what had transpired over the last 15 years. Whhat a fool! What a fool! he would repeat to himself, walking haphazardly, not even caring to look where he was going until he clumsily collided with a burly man who was purchasing some steamed rice cakes from a hawker. It was none other than Hsia, his old adversary, who recognized him almost instantly. Ah Kuo! It is you! Where have you been all these years? Have you returned to be a beggar once again? The last time we bumped into each other a senile monk saved you. This time you won't be so lucky! the Tong leader declared. Hsia swung his right fist at Kuo, who instinctively parried and grabbed Hsia's forearm, like an old piece of firewoood, and ran his closed palm upward toward Hsia, who was flayed instantly, sending him running off screaming in pain and horror. A bellowing laugh came from behind Kuo as he turned around to see his old master standing behind him. Very good, Kuo! he gestured. Master! I.....Kuo was at a loss for words. You underestimated the subtlety of the art, my disciple! That is the true meaning of Kung Fu! Old monk Sung laughed heartily once more as master and disciple slowly turned toward distant Lo Shan Monastery. END