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The following was submitted to me as an actual and genuine email. What makes it more interesting than the usual, is the substance of the material involved. (What makes it really interesting, is the apparent age of the author; talk about having insight at an early age). I publish the email, as it was sent to me, with all identifying notations removed.
Dear Doc,
Thank you first of all for providing a good amount of information about the Shaolin and their philosophy. It will help me get a good grade on my report.
The reason I'm writing you this is because a few problems I've been having with people and my own life, and judging by the info I've read, you might or might know someone that can give me some advice. I'm a guy that just started eighth grade, and all summer I've been reading books on Martial philosophy and techniques (I gained an interests in Asian Arts ever since I started believing in Buddhism). Mostly I read books on philosophy, and in every one they all mentioned on how to not let your ego consume, or as Lao-Tzu said:
"Those who don't boast know, Those who boast don't know."
I thought a lot about this especially. I've worked on self-control using meditation (at my age) and so far my attitude is better, I seem to have more friends this year. It's helped me a lot to "uphold" the rules Martial Arts. My friends sometimes ask me, "Can you beat up that person," and I always reply, "I don't know, I've never tried. What's the point anyway?"
But ever since my self-control has improved, I've at my xxxx xxxx and Karate classes, that my fellow student's and teacher's lack of it. At xxxx xxx, the guy who runs the place is Grand Master xxxxxx, you might have heard of him. I've heard him before say things like how he has more skill than any other teacher in xxxxxx. I also dislike the way he conducts himself any time we win a tournament, and the way he prints his face and the school's phone number on our uniforms. But what I hate the most is how he never teaches a class, and he always lets kids who don't know what they're supposed to teach instruct a class of thirty. Karate is the same issue.
What I want to know is if their is any such school that actually still follows the rules of Martial Arts. I have looked everywhere in xxxxxxxxxx for a decent instructor, but their egos seem to rule them all. Is it a fantasy that I'm thinking of, or does such a philosophy still exist.
Thank you for reading, and hopefully responding.
For a brief email, it really sends quite the dramatic message. And from a fourteen year old, who is just embarking on his/her journey through the martial arts.....
The following was submitted to me as an actual and genuine email. What makes it more interesting than the usual, is the substance of the material involved. (What makes it really interesting, is the apparent age of the author; talk about having insight at an early age). I publish the email, as it was sent to me, with all identifying notations removed.
Dear Doc,
Thank you first of all for providing a good amount of information about the Shaolin and their philosophy. It will help me get a good grade on my report.
The reason I'm writing you this is because a few problems I've been having with people and my own life, and judging by the info I've read, you might or might know someone that can give me some advice. I'm a guy that just started eighth grade, and all summer I've been reading books on Martial philosophy and techniques (I gained an interests in Asian Arts ever since I started believing in Buddhism). Mostly I read books on philosophy, and in every one they all mentioned on how to not let your ego consume, or as Lao-Tzu said:
"Those who don't boast know, Those who boast don't know."
I thought a lot about this especially. I've worked on self-control using meditation (at my age) and so far my attitude is better, I seem to have more friends this year. It's helped me a lot to "uphold" the rules Martial Arts. My friends sometimes ask me, "Can you beat up that person," and I always reply, "I don't know, I've never tried. What's the point anyway?"
But ever since my self-control has improved, I've at my xxxx xxxx and Karate classes, that my fellow student's and teacher's lack of it. At xxxx xxx, the guy who runs the place is Grand Master xxxxxx, you might have heard of him. I've heard him before say things like how he has more skill than any other teacher in xxxxxx. I also dislike the way he conducts himself any time we win a tournament, and the way he prints his face and the school's phone number on our uniforms. But what I hate the most is how he never teaches a class, and he always lets kids who don't know what they're supposed to teach instruct a class of thirty. Karate is the same issue.
What I want to know is if their is any such school that actually still follows the rules of Martial Arts. I have looked everywhere in xxxxxxxxxx for a decent instructor, but their egos seem to rule them all. Is it a fantasy that I'm thinking of, or does such a philosophy still exist.
Thank you for reading, and hopefully responding.
For a brief email, it really sends quite the dramatic message. And from a fourteen year old, who is just embarking on his/her journey through the martial arts.....
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