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Conservatism, Reaction, and the Elder's Responsibility: A Message to My Age Grade

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Conservatism, Reaction, and the Elder's Responsibility: A Message to My Age Grade Great Day, Fam. This one right here? It’s not for everyone. If you’re not at or approaching Eldership—defined in our tribe as about 55 years old and up—you might not feel all of this. But if you’re curious, or if you’re one of those younger souls already walking with wisdom, you’re welcome to keep reading. This message is for the Elders. For those of us who should know better. And yes—I’m including myself. Let’s Start With the Mirror I’ve got to confess something. I’ve been guilty. Guilty of being reactionary. Guilty of falling into the trap of conservatism. Guilty of romanticizing the past. Guilty of looking at our young people and calling them “soft”—as if we were born warriors, as if we didn’t have to become who we are through fire, failure, and guidance. Many of us Elders are stuck in a loop. We remember only the highlights of our youth—the toughest times we survived, the boldest moments ...

"It Is Time For You To Leave"

Before you read please check out the video so that you will not get lost, some of my readers are to young to remember the show Kung Fu, and will not understand my references.



 What I loved about Kung fu was that it introduced me to different way of thinking. The scene that I am discussing today is the test that was set up in this fictional shaolin temple that determined when it was time for a student to leave. The test was basically the head monk (Master Khan) standing before the student every so often, and challenging the student to snatch the pebble from his hand. When the student missed he went back to his daily practice in the temple as a student. When he was finally able to snatch the pebble he and the master knew that it was time for him to leave. In other words it was made clear to the student and the teacher that student had no more to learn in the temple and it was time for him to continue his studies in the world.
If only real life was this simple, and clear cut. Today people need to learn when to move on, but the problem is that in modern society the master and the student become attached. The student is to scared to snatch the pebble or even try, and the master is to connected to his ego to even let the student attempt. Modern life has ruined the master student relationship.
The student after years of preparation fears the next step because it is a mystery. They doubt their abilities  and cling to their master as if their life depends on it. They do not want to face the world as the hero Kwa Chain Caine in Kung fu the series did. The unknown and instability that is in the world  scares them deeper into their temples, and they refuse to leave not knowing that they are robbing the world of the gifts they have been blessed enough to receive.
The master holds on to the students in order to boost their ego, and to fill the void of emptiness that occurs naturally when we release someone or something we care about, also unaware of the damage that they inflict on the world or themselves. By not releasing the student on their Journey the master robs themselves of the opportunity to instill their teachings on someone new. This only occurs when the master is able to face the void of emptiness and trust that the universe will fill it.
Although all this talk about masters and students may throw you off, please understand these are dilemmas that happen everyday in this society. Although the titles have changed the idea remains the same. We all need to learn when it is time for us to leave a person, relationship, partnership, business, job, and etc.. We need to be willing to take the test of snatching the pebble from the hand of our teachers, and go out into the world and share our gifts. Yes it is frightening, and it is supposed to be. The  mystery we feel are further lessons that will move us to Mastery. As teachers we also need to know when to test our students and if need be force them into the world so that they can test their skills. We must be able to face the void that is left welcome it and wait for our next journey with a new student to begin.
So going back to the clip "when you are able to snatch the pebble from my hand it will be time for you to leave" years of study and achievement happens, and you stand before your boss, partner, emotions, and you snatch the pebble. Don't fear be confident in what you have learned and Know that " it is your time to leave!!"

Comments

  1. I want to apologize to readers who checked out this post and didn't get to see the video, I have reposted it.

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