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