What we understand by observation is only outward form and colour, name and sound (or image in one’s memory) and we think that we have got it (Dao or anything else). Form, colour, name and sound, or mental images, don’t reach to reality. That is why – “ he who knows, does not say; he who says, does not know”. So by reading and copying the photo image, or video moving image, to learn Nei Jia Wu Shu (near Dao) is a farce … yet a person as I am, not able to write in any language, is qualified to convey this truth!
A learned person and a learning person means two different
persons to me (this is the way I understand the English language - I create my own way of understanding!)
I recall: with my eyes closed I can visualize my teacher sitting there with a pipe, and watching me practicing. He sometimes stood up and gave me a push and shake, or twist, or anything, to correct me. He knew if he would explain, perhaps I couldn’t know, because of our age difference. Now it took me a long time before I knew where my leg was, even though he often praised me that I had a strong back and legs! Yet his teaching is still correcting me.
I recall: with my eyes closed I can visualize my teacher sitting there with a pipe, and watching me practicing. He sometimes stood up and gave me a push and shake, or twist, or anything, to correct me. He knew if he would explain, perhaps I couldn’t know, because of our age difference. Now it took me a long time before I knew where my leg was, even though he often praised me that I had a strong back and legs! Yet his teaching is still correcting me.
I’m afraid if we try to learn from words or video images,
many of them will contradict one another and make confusing images in the
learner’s mind – the more the better ... confusion! The modern world might call me
narrow minded and limited, but with what written records we have, unless one
has the basic knowledge and understanding, plus the technique and knowledge of
research, the written records will cause disaster instead of blessing to the
Art.
