It is
possible that there can be an act of existing in a moment as harmoniously and
efficiently as humanly possible. Irregardless of the label placed upon that
moment what we as practicioners strive for from moment to moment is now commonly
refered to as Hung Fa Yi. The self awareness necessary to command time, space
and energy in the Mind as Cha'n, in the Body as the Warrior or in Spirit
cultivating Health, this is what Hung Fa Yi strives to attain, also known as the
3 treasures of Shoalin.
I like
the fact that I am discovering with the proper guidance of my Sifu yet on my own
what Hung Fa Yi is in the true since of my own wandering. After studying HFY
for a certain amount of time it becomes easy to see the connection between Cha'n
Buddhist philosophy and Shaolin combat as well as the Shaolin Health aspects to
our training and how they are connected and interrelated with one another. The
reason is simple. To practice Hung Fa Yi is to journey back to re-examine how we
as beings function to return to those things that define us and provide for us
the tools to examine and understand truth and how that truth pertains to one's
self completely. Making the most efficient use of time space and energy doesn't
just apply to combat situations for why would beings such as we are ever want to
do anything in a manner that was counter intuitive to us and all that surrounds
us. We naturally strive to do all things most efficiently, for combat purposes
our own awareness of the fact that time space and energy used most judiciously
in battle is every warriors ultimate goal may differ in times of peace but
surely not during times of war.
Though it
would seem the warrior is the common ground for a great many of us Hung Fa Yi
would not truly constitute complete self examination and understanding without
the realization or cultivation of the mind and spirit as well. In personal terms
how I sum up my journey into self examination is by imagining that in
undertaking Hung Fa Yi's self examination I can learn everything about humans
by thoroughly and completely understanding this human called self as defined by
time, space and energy. I learn what others can and can not do by exploring the
finite contortions of my own person. I learn, understand, appreciation and am
mindful of others being through the exhausting examination of my own existance.
Through exstensive cultivation of my own spirit I can learn all that is
necessary for the possiblity of so many others to co-exist in this time and this
space. Thus allowing the hung fa yi practitioner to minimize the effort to
maximize this moment of being. This is only my knowledge and understanding at
this time and as we are taught in Hung Fa Yi with time and experience come
different levels of understanding. There is only so much anyone can get out of
reading about anything so the same can be said of Hung Fa Yi to truly understand
it you must first experience it. Anyone who has the chance to experience it
should do so to conduct their own personal examination and draw their own
conclusions.
Anthony W. Jacobs
