“Grasshopper” is Dead

Young Kwai Chang: “Master, how is it that you hear these things?”

Master: “Grasshopper, how is it that you do not?”

Actor David Carradine, star of the 1970s TV series “Kung Fu” who also had a wide-ranging career in the movies, has been found dead in the Thai capital, Bangkok. 

Despite the fact that death is an illusion we often feel emotions when we part with certain people in our lives. These emotions vary from dismay to disbelief and often sadness. I am naturally not above these emotions. I grew up on Kung Fu series and watching the show strongly enhanced my interest in Eastern thinking and philosophy.

I could even say, it was my early wake up call about the timeless wisdom I embraced many years later.

Of course when I was in my youth I mimicked much of the surface, the veneer that we became so fond of watching “Kung Fu”. The graceful movements and dance like acts were nice to watch and they imbued power and strength. Later, I realized that fighting in kung fu is the least interesting part. The non-fighting that the warrior spends most of his time is what’s important. The fighting part is mostly for show. But back then I enrolled in martial art training and was watching other Bruce Lee movies. I was hooked on the whole scene.

The reason I am writing this is twofold. Reminiscing about the past, realizing how much the stories of Kung Fu taught me subconsciously and sadness of the final days of the men, the star of the series. Apparently David had his daemons that he could not shed even in his declining years of 72.

How is that a person who apparently knows right from wrong cannot incorporate this knowledge into his own personal life? The answer is simple and a little frightening. Knowledge of something is not enough. We must live (and often) die by our own actions and thoughts. Attachments, instant gratifications and living superficially from day to day are the attachment that we all must fight and eventually conqueror if we ever want to move foreward and progress. 

In closing here is the episode “All creatures are one with nature.” courtesy of youtube.com

My favorite is about the Chi, that will always last. Indeed like most successful pop culture venues, Kung Fu was incredibly well researched.