“Jon Smith” goes to philosophy class one day and the professor says something that resonates with Jon. Jon raises his hand and speaks form his heart about the subject. After he speaks, a small group in the back of the class applauds and voices their approval. After class, the group approaches Jon and asks him to lunch to discuss what he said. It seems he’s made some new friends.
The next week, a girl who supports the opposite position on the subject makes a statement in class that Jon finds he agrees with. When she finishes speaking, Jon raises his hand and voices that agreement. After class, Jon approaches his new friends again, but gets a cold shoulder. The leader of that group then tells Jon that the girl in class represents everything wrong with this world. Since Jon agrees so much with them, maybe he should have lunch with his new friends. Jon has become a traitor to the cause.
It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how much you support a position, there are always people more extreme than you who just can’t wait to brand you a traitor to the cause.
In martial arts we see this a lot, especially regarding aspects of internal training. But it also happens with supporting certain teachers, learning martial applications, fighting, etc.
The old saw is “when you meet a fork in the road, take it” and only if it were so easy. Instead, if you take the left fork, the 50% of people that took the right will immediately brand you the enemy. They are the enemy without. But the worst is the 25% who took an even more extreme left than you did. They are the enemy within. They stab you in the back when you aren’t looking.
So no matter what your opinions are on martial arts training, always watch your back. There’s always someone more extreme than you waiting to brand you a traitor to the cause.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Hermann // Jun 20, 2008 at 6:34 pm
So serious?
Where is the fun?
Have a nice weekend!
2 YMAA.com // Jun 20, 2008 at 7:52 pm
True, as usual. Good point, thank you.
3 Graham // Jun 20, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Traitor!
4 neijia // Jun 21, 2008 at 12:02 am
Haha, yeah. We humans are darn silly.
“It is futile to argue as to which single leaf, which design of branch, or which attractive flower you like; when you understand the root, you understand all its blossoming.”
5 josh // Jun 21, 2008 at 3:25 am
This is a very true observation… it’s disappointing how many acrimonious debates I have seen lately that resemble this scenario. The underlying problem IMHO seems to be people’s need to adhere to and publicly pronounce some sort of partisan point of view, which denies the validity of any differing opinion. Often, people seem to think that to “support a position” means passionately rejecting any differing position. Why not just relax and be happy with whatever knowledge you have obtained, rather than attempting to win others’ approval and, in the process, incurring others’ disapproval?
Qingjing jing says, 上士不爭，下士好爭 “Superior gentlemen do not quarrel; inferior gentlemen are fond of struggle.”
Zhuangzi said, 世俗之人皆喜人之同乎己而惡人之異於己也，同于己而欲之，異于己而不欲者，以出乎眾為心也。- “Common people all love it when people agree with them and hate it when people disagree with them. Desiring others’ approval and being vexed by others’ disagreement all come from wishing to stand out from the crowd.”
Not to sound overly pedantic, but I think there is some value in these notions
6 Hermann // Jun 21, 2008 at 7:11 am
Nice quotes, Josh!
And fine translations!
7 tom // Jun 24, 2008 at 3:18 am
Josh,
If we all met those ideals, there might not be Internet forums and blogs.
;- )
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