Truly brilliant! So much to glean from this story and your reflections on it. Having grown up with a brother who became a black belt in karate and then went on to become equally well-skilled in Kung Fu, I heard similar reflections from him. Yes, he had become masterful at martial arts, but what changed his life were the lessons he learned from wise teachers who showed him the deeper truths hidden within the art itself.
Thanks Chris. I'd venture to say it's more important that you find the right teacher than it is you find the right discipline or art to apprentice to. Though anything that requires having to work with and through the body is going be grounded in a lot of useful learning.
…be the board…see the board…completely see through the board…break the board…break even more boards…surf those boards…this reminds me oh how I learned to snowboard (was brought to the top of a mountain and my teacher pointed down and said go there)…how many lessons do you think you learn in a day?
No, not sure why I wasn't compelled to continue with Karate. My black and blue hand perhaps? Re your woodpile, I'd love to come by and stare at it with you over a glass of wine.
Which is why your whole context in relationship to business is so useful and necessary, because business is where real things happen in the world, and participating in that domain is rich with growth.
Well done man. I've always loved the technique of board-breaking as a metaphor, and I've tried to write about it in the past without much success. You'll illustrated it beautifully here and brought it to life. Awesome stuff.
I agree with Chris. Brilliant, indeed. "Problems are often not solved at the level of the problem itself, but through connecting to a principle or truth beyond the apparent issue." And you then give a few very good examples.
By the way, I've tried to break boards when I studied tae kwon do for a few years. I must've done something wrong, since it hurt like hell even when the board broke!
ha ha, I thought this was a very niche and off-the-beaten-path experience, but it seems like half the people I know who have read this have had an experience with board breaking, or the attempt!
Truly brilliant! So much to glean from this story and your reflections on it. Having grown up with a brother who became a black belt in karate and then went on to become equally well-skilled in Kung Fu, I heard similar reflections from him. Yes, he had become masterful at martial arts, but what changed his life were the lessons he learned from wise teachers who showed him the deeper truths hidden within the art itself.
Thanks Chris. I'd venture to say it's more important that you find the right teacher than it is you find the right discipline or art to apprentice to. Though anything that requires having to work with and through the body is going be grounded in a lot of useful learning.
Truly.
That story was masterfully told. I usually struggle to read stories online which are more than 500, but this had my full attention.
Wohoo! I doubled your usual word limit! ha ha. Thank you for the appreciation Mak.
Cannot even say how much I love this story. It unfolded as a vivid, entertaining yet transcendent movie scene. And before Karate Kid!
What a huge life lesson by an insightful teacher.
Thanks Kathy. I appreciate your feedback on it.
…be the board…see the board…completely see through the board…break the board…break even more boards…surf those boards…this reminds me oh how I learned to snowboard (was brought to the top of a mountain and my teacher pointed down and said go there)…how many lessons do you think you learn in a day?
Trying to unlearn old lessons faster than adding new ones.
Awesome. Hits hard!!! Well done!
Thanks for the help with this one Genie.
One of your best stories, Rick! Did you carry on going to karate class after that?
Also, have you got time to pop round to mine? There’s a pile of wood I need to chop up.
No, not sure why I wasn't compelled to continue with Karate. My black and blue hand perhaps? Re your woodpile, I'd love to come by and stare at it with you over a glass of wine.
It's amazing how a handful of learning experiences far outside of a traditional classroom/teacher situation are the most powerful..
Which is why your whole context in relationship to business is so useful and necessary, because business is where real things happen in the world, and participating in that domain is rich with growth.
“And on we go, with our life in our pockets, tethered to the Great future self that already is.”
From a poem I wrote that seems to dovetail this piece.
I really enjoy your writing!
That's a beautiful line Michelle. And thank you.
“So many problems are not solved, but rather dissolved when they’re seen in a broader context.”
Thank you 🙏. I will keep this in mind the rest of my life Rick.
Thanks James
Well done man. I've always loved the technique of board-breaking as a metaphor, and I've tried to write about it in the past without much success. You'll illustrated it beautifully here and brought it to life. Awesome stuff.
Thank you Alex
I agree with Chris. Brilliant, indeed. "Problems are often not solved at the level of the problem itself, but through connecting to a principle or truth beyond the apparent issue." And you then give a few very good examples.
By the way, I've tried to break boards when I studied tae kwon do for a few years. I must've done something wrong, since it hurt like hell even when the board broke!
ha ha, I thought this was a very niche and off-the-beaten-path experience, but it seems like half the people I know who have read this have had an experience with board breaking, or the attempt!