August 8, 2009 was my 60th birthday. This is an auspicious day according to Chinese tradition since it is the completion of a single 60 year lunar calendar cycle. Sixty years of life. A special day to reflect and commemorate my status on becoming a martial arts “old master”.
Sadly, on this same day, a helicopter carrying a pilot and five Italian tourists collided with a piper plane carrying three. All perished. Disasters occur everyday yet this tragedy had a profound affect on me. To commemorate my “big six zero,” Toni – always with creative surprises – arranged something distinctive: a helicopter tour of Manhattan. Imagine a bird’s eye view of the Empire State building, Central Park and Ground Zero.
But flights were rescheduled. No matter, we would go a day after my birthday. It was spectacular as Toni anticipated. It was also haunting. We took off from the same heliport as the unfortunate tourists. Hovering above the Statue of Liberty in the harbor, we enjoyed the same breathtaking sights that they experienced – before fate intervened. Fortunately, we landed safely.
Because our celebration was tinged with this tragedy, my 60th year reflections concerned life and death. And fate. What if we had been on the helicopter on my birthday as initially planned? Why does fate decree that one helicopter crash today and not another? Or as a martial artist, who will be victorious in battle? In pursuit of mastery, I’ve endeavored to develop the warrior’s skilled body, the scholar’s insightful mind and the monk’s peaceful heart, to protect my life against an unknown opponent.
In the end, was I unconsciously aspiring to take control, to squeeze to the minimum the element of chance, to master the unknowns of fate itself? I believe that through a lifetime of self discipline, I have created miracles in my life. We attempt to control destiny by choosing to take a helicopter ride today or reschedule tomorrow. But who knows?
As I approach the inevitable unknown that all are fated to encounter, I become sensitive that no matter how many push ups, how much meditation, vitamins, and positive thoughts I do to prepare, ultimately, fate – not I – prevails. So do we throw up our hands in resignation? Absolutely not. Wisdom teaches we cannot control what happens to us, but we can learn to control how we respond. Let’s awaken that spiritual awareness underlying the martial way that savors the ordinary moments of daily living. So the parting thoughts of an old master: live today and prepare for tomorrow.
Lawrence Tan
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Tags: evolving martial artist, jeet kune do, JKD, kung fu, Martial Arts, sixty, tandao
This is one of most impacting posts I have ever read on TanDao.com . While I was reading your posts, many visuals from my past, where like you, sometime I encountered death itself or some pretty life changing situations (for the worse), ran in front of me like a movie but all in the flash of some seconds. That gave me a deep touch of fate and that disturbs me actually.
What if a Martial-Artist gets trapped in a concentration-camp , what if Bruce Lee at the age of 3 could have gotten in there. What if Huo Yuanjia couldn’t have died at the age of 42 but lived to a longer life like you. May be he could have opened Chin Wu Athletic School in India and may be I could have been there and then I could have been meeting you as 6 years of practitioner of Mizongyi. What is you never across my blog, what if you have never searched the internet that day. Or what if some years ago I went to Itlay (to one of my closer relatives) and saw one of your students there.
But here is the truth, here I am and you, never met but I feel you intellect, your understanding and mastery of Kung-Fu. Sometimes I really think, I was very lucky that you read my blog and we start talking but then what is fate anyway……….
Reading the title of your post ”
The Master’s Reflections at Sixty” .. the very first thing came to my mind… “You look like 48 or something..”
2nd, whoever took your picture..really knew where it was going to be posted. Finally, Belated Happy Birthday. I wish you live longer and change people’s lives for the better, like you affected mine.
Thank you for your birthday wishes and kind words. It is my intention to continue to explore innovate as a cyber space sifu.
What if? Wouldn’t it be nice if? In the end who knows?
Karma is a profound spiritual notion that contiues to unfold as we age.
Keep seeking. Live today; prepare for tomorrow!
Hi Arnuld — this is Toni….I took the photo precisely at midnite…
it is the moment of turning 60! : ) All the best to you!