The Way of Cultivation

A Laugh Across the Boundless Sea

Performer: TAM Po-sherk - Chinese vertical bamboo flute (譚寶碩 洞簫), MA Changsheng – Guqin (馬常勝 古琴)

Selected from New Century Workshop's music album "Dreams of the Mortal World (《戲夢人間》)"

The old master has extraordinary martial arts skills.

Today, he will teach his disciples ancestral boxing technique.

The master was seen concentrating his energy and spirit, his punches and kicks flowing seamlessly in an endless stream.

After the master finished demonstrating the boxing routine, the disciples couldn't help but applaud and cheer.

The disciples discussed among themselves.

Some said: "It's dazzling to watch, too difficult."

Some said: "This boxing technique is too complicated; how can we possibly learn it?"

The master said calmly and composedly: "Everyone, don't be anxious. Let's not discuss the boxing technique for now."

The master asked all his disciples to look up.

The master asked: "Please tell me, what do you see?"

Some said: "There is a bird."

Some said: "Not just one, there's a flock of birds over there."

Some said: "I see a cloud in the sky."

Some said: "I see many clouds."

Everyone argued endlessly.

Master said: "Very well, what you all saw is correct, but there are more important things that cannot be seen."

Master continued: "In the sky, what can be seen are clouds and birds, what cannot be seen are air and wind, but air and wind are more important. In martial arts, what dazzles the eyes are the fists and feet, what cannot be seen are the spirit and internal energy. Everything originates from the heart, and mental cultivation is most important. In learning the arts, one must look far ahead and not focus only on the surface techniques of fists and feet."

Everyone quieted down, listening to the master's careful instruction.

Gather qi and focus the spirit, sink qi to the dantian, guide qi with intention, move fists with qi, dense and continuous punches and kicks, flowing endlessly.

Spring comes and autumn goes, time works its magic, and an ancestral set of boxing techniques is passed down through generations.

Such is the nature of kung fu, and isn't this true for all Chinese arts?

Everything originates from the heart, and the method of the heart is most important.

Xiao (洞簫, Chinese vertical bamboo flute) is played by a person, and the performer's physical and spiritual temperament is directly embodied in the sound of the flute.

Therefore, the quality and expressive power of Xiao’s sound are both related to the spiritual quality of the performer.

Basic skills involve not only technique, but more importantly, the cultivation of character, what kind of heart produces and what kind of music.

Music originates from the heart. The performer's mindset and thoughts are all infused into the music, which is then conveyed to the listener's heart. If the heart is confused, then the sound is confused. If the heart is combative, then Xiao’s sound is combative. Xiao faithfully reflects one's heart, temperament, and cultivation.

The way of Xiao as the way of cultivation, enhancing one's spiritual essence through learning, making the significance of studying Xiao more profound. Only in this way are we truly worthy of learning this instrument. Broaden your heart and set your sights on distant goals. Connect the practice of Xiao with personal cultivation, so that through this practice, you can benefit both body and mind, making the time and energy invested in Xiao worthwhile.

Everything begins with the heart, this is fundamental to learning arts and even to being human.

When the heart has insight, all things can be teachers.

When the heart has a place to belong, life has a path.