Issue 54 - Tse Qigong Centre

Wing Chun KuenChan was sitting talking to his Sifuwhen Ma entered the room andannounced that a gentleman hadcome to visit Sifu.Their Sifu was always veryobliging and never turned away visitorsand often people came to him for helpand advice. Ma showed the man in andinvited him to sit down.He introduced himself and heasked the teacher many questions. Eachtime the teacher smiled, but only said oneor two words in reply. After half an houror so the man bid them farewell and leftlooking very satisfied and content.All the time Chan and Ma quietlyobserved, and when the man left politelyshowed him out. Afterwards theyreturned to their Sifu.“Sifu?” Asked Ma, “Thatgentleman asked many questions of you,and some of things he said were clearlywrong, but you never corrected him?”“You are quite right, Little Ma, he wasmistaken in some of things he said, but Idid not correct him.”“Sifu why is that?You always correct uswhen we are wrong?”“When I wasyoung, there was afamous place close toour village. At the topof a hill was a treewhich was quiteunusual. It was said that if you kowtowedthree times and asked a question thenthe spirit of the tree would answer andsolve any problems you had. Manypeople went there and some travelledfrom great distances to ask theirquestions. Do you believe this ispossible?” Their Sifu asked.“It sounds a little far fetched.”replied Chan.“Let me tell you how this treebecame so famous. Long ago there wasa rich merchant. He was a not the mostintelligent man, but his family was verywealthy and they would often cover uphis mistakes. One day he went out for aride on his horse, he was about to makeQi Magazine 28It is always good to ask questions, but before you askyou need to be ready to hear the answer, otherwise youwill miss everything.Good Questiona big decision about his business andwanted to think it over.After a few miles he came toa conclusion and was so happy andpleased with himself he wanted totell someone his solution. Just thenhe happened to come to thetop of a hill and there hefound a large treestanding on its own. Helooked around andfound that there was agood view of the wholearea. “Hmm,” hethought to himself, “Thistree looks very old andmust have seen somuch from up here. Ibet it is very wise andknows a great manythings.” Heclimbed downfrom his horseand stood infront of the tree.“If you have made upyour mind, then why askthe question?”“Old Wise Tree,” he said, “Its becausehe had a white horse isn’t it?” Just thena leaf fell from the tree and landed athis feet. He took this as a sign that thetree agreed with him. He was so happyhe went back to the town and toldeveryone how this tree had answered hisquestion. Eventually, the news spread outand people mistakenly thought that ifsuch a rich man would risk his wealth onthe answer from this tree then it must betrue. So the tree became very famous andpeople came from far and wide to visitit.”“Sifu, his question does not makesense,” said Ma. “ You are quite right,but it is not his question that is theproblem. The man was not really askinga question, he had already made up hismind about the answer and he only reallywanted someone to agree with him. Thefact the leaf fell was just coincidence, buthe took it as confirmation and wassatisfied. Someone who seeksknowledge considers verycarefully the questions he asksand is not so easily satisfied.Some one who is looking forconfirmation is easilysatisfied and the onlypeople he or shewill really listen toare those who arereally close tothem. If they ask astran-ger and donot receive theanswer that theywant to hearthen theywill only becomeupset.However, ifyou have areal questionthen you arenot worried whetheryou are right orwrong, you are onlyhappy to find the trueanswer.”“So the manwho came to see youwas not really asking what youthought, he had already made up hismind and instead was telling you whathe thought, and did not really want tohear your answer.” Said Chan.“That is right, and because I donot know him and I am not his Sifu, I didnot want to upset him and so I chose notto say anything. However, when you arenot right I will tell you as you will listenand appreciate my answer. Do youunderstand?”“So the saying, He who knows asays little and he who nothing says a lot,is quite true,” said Chan.“Sifu there are a couple of thingsI’m not sure about,” said Ma, “…. but I’llthink about it more and ask you later.”By Darryl MoyEmail Darryl@qimagazine.com