Here at the frontier, the leaves fall like rain. Although my neighbors are all barbarians, and you, you are a thousand miles away, there are still two cups at my table.


Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.

~ Wu-men ~


Saturday, August 26, 2017

Almost Anyone Can Be Your Teacher

Below is a post made by Jim Russo on his excellent Facebook Group Zhong Ding Tai Chi Chuan.

You can find out more about Jim and his Tai Chi Chuan at his website.



This is one of my favorite Chinese proverbs as it suggests that at least one of every three people you pass on the street has the capability to be your teacher. This also suggest humility which is something I have not seen in modern day "martial artists". This is not only ethically disturbing it is ignorant as it limits ones opportunities to learn. The last event that I had certain individuals tho...ught the need to test other individuals to see whether there was anything there for them to learn. Clearly they have a lot to learn...

The proverb consists of eight characters pronounced ‘san ren xing, bi you wo shi yan’. Its literal meaning is amongst three people walking, one can certainly be my teacher in English. This proverb originates from Analects of Confucius. Its extended sense is that you should learn from his or her good merits, and meanwhile, review yourself by reflecting his or her bad merits and correct them if you have. Confucian admonished us that to be a backbone of society he or she should be modest and eager to learn, and also be constant to make self-cultivation consciously.

3 comments:

ms_lili said...

Sounds like something Confucians would say. ;)

Rick Matz said...

He probably did.

Anonymous said...

Why so three people? Even two people walk together, they could learn each other. The proverb should be like that: If you walk with others, you learn from them.