Discerning Real from False in Writing

[Antonius]

The ability to discern "real" from "false" is essential in Shaolin Kung Fu. If your opponent uses a feinting move as a trick, you must not fall for the bait. You must be able to discern which moves are false, and which are real. The same philosophy also applies to reading about Kung Fu (and Chi Kung).

We live in the Age of Information. Never before have humans had so much information at their fingertips. Type the words "Kung Fu" into Google and you'll get pages of information. But how will you tell the good from the bad?

You'll need at least three things:

• Experience.
• Clarity of mind.
• Luck.

Shaolin Wahnam members already have plenty of luck. Even fresh beginners have experience with qi and internal force. Of the three, therefore, clarity of mind is the one that we must work especially hard to cultivate on a daily basis.

Thankfully, Shaolin Wahnam students already have a clear example of "real" with Sifu Wong. This should help us to have clairty of mind. Whether you found Shaolin Wahnam through Sifu's books, his website, or his instructors -- you still recognized it as "real" and decided to give it a try. So all of you knew at one time how to recognize "real" when you saw it.

I didn't. For years, I was confused about martial arts, qi, and internal force. It was like fumbling around in the dark. I read literally hundreds of books before finding "The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu" (luck?). It was not until I met Sifu that I could be sure (experience!), but I had a strong sense (clarity of mind?) that the book was "real", not "false". And I was right.

Sadly, today's writers often have no experience of the things they write about, including many masters. They talk about qi and internal force, but they don't make things any clearer. They mystify things instead of clarifying them. In the end, you're still stuck in the dark.

English is not Sifu Wong's native language, and yet he is still able to write with utter clarity. His books are a pleasure to read. They are like a beacon through the darkness. As soon as he explains something, I hear my heart go "aha!"

Now that I have experience with qi and internal force, I can make use of the information even in bad books, which is sometimes valuable. But it would be foolish of me to assume that everyone who talks about qi and internal force is therefore "real". Just because they talk about something that I now know to be real doesn't mean that THEY are real.

I must cultivate clarity of mind in order to continue to discern real from false. My experience should help me to tell when someone is talking from direct experience, or when someone is just talking. I just listen for my heart to go "aha!"

As for luck -- I've had plenty ever since I read "The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu."

[Mark Blohm]

You'll need at least three things:

• Experience.
• Clarity of mind.
• Luck.

I think I have benefited from luck more than the other two things. Choosing the Complete Book of Taichichuan and The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu from all the other books on Amazon.com was very lucky. I think some in Shaolin Wahnam have had to go through a lot before finding our school. Not to say my path is better, I think I don't appreciate our art as much as someone who has practiced exernal arts for a long time and then has come to Shaolin Wahnam. I think this is a good topic.

Sincerely,

Mark

[joko]

I didn't. For years, I was confused about martial arts, qi, and internal force. It was like fumbling around in the dark.

Interesting. But actually those years of confusion was not wasted. It became part of valuable experiences to go on after the key to open the door to the real martial arts was found by meeting Sifu.

I think I have benefited from luck more than the other two things. Choosing the Complete Book of Taichichuan and The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu from all the other books on Amazon.com was very lucky.

It can be considered as luck, but it can be seen also as part of our path in finding the truth, as the continuation or result of our own karma in the past. Have we ever considered why others did not select the books when they saw them in book stores? Who guided us to select the books out of many books out there to find the way to encounter with Sifu? Was it not the Buddha inside us? Then, it is the result of our own deeds.
Anyway, I agree to consider it as luck.

My experience should help me to tell when someone is talking from direct experience, or when someone is just talking.

Yes, and I am grateful to be able to do that.

Sincerely,
Joko

[Antonius]

Have we ever considered why others did not select the books when they saw them in book stores?

It's a good question, Joko. I'm sure that luck (karma?) is part of it.

But it's also important for quality information to be accessible. Many people have difficulty telling "real" from "false" because there is so much bad material and so little good material. They don't know "real" because they have never seen it.

For a few years, some of Sifu's books were out of print in the US. I went around to every bookstore I could find, snatching up copies of his books. It was exasperating to see multiple copies of "false" Chi Kung books on the shelf, and yet hardly any copies of Sifu's books.

Thanks to Eugene, "The Art of Chi Kung" is now back in print in the US. I now buy them by the crate -- 48 copies at a time -- and sell them to all of my students. It's great to hear the reactions of my students, many of whom have been reading chi kung books for years. They simply love this book.

Why? Because they recognize it to be "real".

Best,

[Buddhasfist1]

False and real

Amitoufo,

Yes I agree Sifu, When I first contacted you, and you told me after the first Private lesson about Si-gong Wong kiew Kits book's, I was a bit skeptical and excitied at the same time, being that I had just finished a lesson from you and felt a whole lot better than I have before of course I have sent you the e-mail on that one.
Now I have the books and have read them: most of the time I read them over and over again , That's alot of Clear information that Si-gong has in his books, they're that good!

With your help, guidance and experience I too hope to obtain all these, except I now am in the Belief that Karma (luck) Has played a good roll in me find you in Florida. so luck is so much not needed to obtain.

Best Regards,and utmost respect.


Amitoufo, may all be happy and at peace!
_____________________________________
David

[ryanberg]

luck

I think I must just be extremely lucky

As I recall, Sifu's book "The Art of Shaolin Kungfu" was the first book I ever bought. I think I was actually looking for a book on stretching and exercise...and ended up getting Sifu's book instead because it sounded cool. A year later I was in Malaysia learning chi kung.

Yes...extremely lucky.

Ryan

[shaolin_mike]

Hehe ryans post made me recall the first time I bought one of Sifu's books. I was browsing the mind/body/spirit section and saw his complete book of zen and bought it cos i liked the look of those kung fu pictures lol. Little did i know....

[Antonius]

How do you judge a book?

As I mentioned, all of my chi kung students get a copy of "The Art of Chi Kung". And they love it. Many of my students are acupuncturists or acupuncture students. They've been exposed to various other chi kung books, but many of them tell me that Sifu's book is the best they have encountered.

A useful question to ask yourself is -- why are Sifu's books so wonderful? What is it that makes them so special?

I look forward to hearing your ideas.

[DarkCosmoz]

why are Sifu's books so wonderful? What is it that makes them so special?

Here's what I can think of:

1. Simple English: Sifu Wong does not use any jargon or flowery, embroidered words in his writing. He defines pretty much everything.

2. Clearly Expressed Ideas: Self-explanatory. Sifu Wong easily gets his ideas across to his readers.

3. Relates to Readers: Sifu Wong somehow subtly relates to his readers in all his books. I can't exactly pinpoint what though.

4. Anecdotes: One thing I like about reading Sifu Wong's books is the stories.



Stephen

[ryanberg]

why are Sifu's books so wonderful?

Maybe because he can tap into the universal mind for inspiration so easily?

Ryan

[LeeWeiJoo]

Sifu is able to convey his vast knowledge about the Shaolin arts easily, concisely and effectively to the audience. The words also carry a different meaning each time you go over them again. Sifu writes about the Shaolin arts in words that even a beginner would understand.

[Tapio Raevaara]

A useful question to ask yourself is -- why are Sifu's books so wonderful? What is it that makes them so special?

They are simple, direct and effective.

[Antonius]

Sifu's books are certainly simple, direct, and effective. They are also well written, which is remarkable for a non-native English speaker. (Many people assume that his books were translated into English, but they were not.)

But there is something else that you are missing. It's subtle. And I think many of us take it for granted. But it is the single most important factor in discerning "real" from "false" in writing.

Can anyone guess what it is?

[Alberto]

Dear Sifu Anthony :

A useful question to ask yourself is -- why are Sifu's books so wonderful? What is it that makes them so special?

I look forward to hearing your ideas.

For me the answer is simply: Sifu Wong's books were written with the westerner's readers in mind. Indeed his whole system is oriented towards westerner's way of thinking. This is in my opinion one of the most valuable contribution of Sifu Wong and one of the reasons for his success.


With Shaolin salute

[Marcus]

Anthony,

Is it because he writes from over 50 years of direct experience?

Or is it that Sifu expresses the skills, techniques and qualities that he writes about in all aspects of his life?

I've got to know!

Kind regards

Marcus

Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha