Be water, my friend

This is an excerpt from a book I read a long time ago, and started reading again recently. It think it's probably the most powerful lesson in the book:

When the ancients and their students stopped to rest by a pure flowing stream, the teachers compared Tao to water.

Water is flowing. Every drop is made of the same substance. Water never fears being divided, because it knows it will flow back together in time. It is eternal.

Water is powerful. Although it can be soothing, comforting, and cleansing, it can also be enormous, mighty, and overpowering. It's nature is constant. It is true to itself at any extreme.

Water is profound. In the depths of the lakes, in the darkness of the oceans, it holds all secrets. It is dangerous. It is mysterious. Yet life came from those depths.

Water is unafraid. From any height, it will plunge fearlessly down. It will fall and not be injured.

Water is balanced. No matter what the situation is, water will seek its own level as soon as it is left alone. Water will always flow downward to the most stable level. It conforms to any situation in a balanced way.

Water is nourishing. Without water, no plant and no living creature could survive.

Water is still. It can be completely still, and in its stillness, mirror heaven perfectly.

Water is pure. It is transparent, clear, needing neither adornment nor augmentation.

For all these features—to be flowing, powerful, profound, unafraid, balanced, nourishing, still, and pure—one who would follow Tao need only emulate water in every way.

Some of my favorite philosophy quotes come from Bruce Lee, who loved making references to water.

Water can flow, or it can CRASH! Be water my friend...!

By any chance, what book is this?

The Silent Flute, or as it was released, The Circle of Iron, was a wonderful movie with a few not so wonderful bits...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Iron

I don't know the extent to which Bruce Lee wrote it, but its different in a mostly interesting way...

Ah, I forgot to mention where I got that quote... It's from a book called Everyday Tao by Deng Ming-Dao

It's great for just reading a quick message and moving on. Each page has one lesson based on an ancient Chinese symbol, it's meaning and importance, along with a few paragraphs about how it's applicable to everyday life.

Streen wrote: Ah, I forgot to mention where I got that quote... It's from a book called Everyday Tao by Deng Ming-Dao

Love that book. Thanks for sharing.

Yes ... I was just reading that. 98.

Of course, I've been reading it in the original French ...

:blink:

I love the imagery of "be like water". It's a fantastic metaphor for life. I have never read the books you have mentioned but I have read a lot of Bruce Lee's thoughts and philosophies.

For me, "being like water" is the ultimate path to finding one's true self.
I understand that every philosophy can be interpreted differently depending on your own personality or beliefs.
My interpretation is that to be like water we must adapt to every situation. Like a river, that meanders through the earth, it slowly erodes away at rocks and dirt to create a smoother path. I feel that this represents a persons struggle. The true self can only be uncovered with hard work. Nothing that is achieved through short cuts can be truly appreciated.
When a river comes across an obstacle it's envelopes or surrounds it and continues on it's way.
I feel that this speaks to all obstacles we face. We may not be able to initially overcome them, but by working hard and searching within we can find away to move forward by incorporating the obstacle and conquering it.

I would love to hear other's interpretations of this.

Open your mind! Be formless, shapeless; like water. When you pour water into a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, or it can CRASH! Be water my friend.

Best Bruce Lee quote ever. And it doesn't just relate to martial arts.

At times I feel like I should hate being that guy, but I really can't make mysely... I mean, what Mr. Deng describes there is almost nothing like water. It's like saying blue is the colour commonly associated with planet Mars, Hell, love, fire and blood, yet somehow this is more touching and wise because an eastern fellow said it, content aside...

I really enjoyed this! It was quite inspirational! Plus it reminded me of the late great Bruce Lee. Thank you.