Comments on: The Mind Like Water Myth: A Dialog Between Bruce Lee, A Productivity Guru, and Others

By: RealTime - Questions: "Mind giving me your story?"

RealTime - Questions: "Mind giving me your story?" — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:25:09 +0000

[...] The Mind Like Water Myth: A Dialog Between Bruce Lee, A Productivity Guru, and Others | Clay Collins… How To Create Your Manga Story | The Dot | Personal Development [...]

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:30:15 +0000

99.9 % of Bruce Lee`s quotes are from books of Krishnamurti, Taoism and Zen. Bedridden with a back injury for 6 months he memorized famous sayings and people thought that he was some kind of spiritual genius. In fact, Bruce Lee`s method declined rapidly after reading Krishnamurti, he thought “oh boy, I don`t need a style”, which suited him perfect as he had just learned the basics of Kung fu and tricked the Americans that he was a master.

By: pressure wall

pressure wall — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:57:20 +0000

I really like the lesson teach by Confucius because all of it is truthful (these are based on his entire lesson I’ve read already) and has basis. Like this “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated”, that is totally true that when you try to think of it deeply.

By: ipod to computer

ipod to computer — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:28:31 +0000

It's so great to read this “Mind like Water Myth”; I collected a great idea with it.
I learn and realizing something while reading each of the thoughts.

By: Those Four Little Words | SQLRockstar

Those Four Little Words | SQLRockstar — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:44:35 +0000

[...] often hear about having a “mind like water“, something that is usually talked about in a martial arts context but can easily be extended [...]

By: bonita applebum

bonita applebum — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:28:21 +0000

i’m researching a post on mind like water and found this entry. it’s AWESOME. i have been reluctant to promote GTD because i know time management systems, while well intentioned, eventually get abandoned, and you are back where you started. well slightly worse, because now you are the only loser not benefiting from GDT.

I have been struggling to clear out all the gray noise in my head. The idea of a mind like water has always appealed to me, and I will continue to work towards that state. but thanks for some common sense, that 47 folders and tons of lists are not necessarily the path to enlightenment. The folders and lists may get some there, but not me. I’m just trying to clear out all the clutter in my home, head and heart. I’m tired of over-reacting or under-reacting to everything. I want to respond with exactly the right amount of force and then return to a calm state.
cheers.

By: Accurate Psychic In Denial

Accurate Psychic In Denial — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:49:02 +0000

One quote sums it all up: The flexible man always wins.

I keep learning in life there is no cookie-cutter, no one-size-fit-all approach. There is no manual on how to do life, although so many human beings try to live this way (including me sometimes). I wonder if this economy will test our culture on flexibly and fluidness. I guess time will tell.

By: efile

efile — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:31:40 +0000

You are sitting in a boat with water leaking through a hole. The water is your workload. You can learn effective ways of clearing that water, but if you don’t stop the leak, it will replaced the space you created with more water. And this is the problem. The more effective we become, the more we take on. It is an endless cycle.

By: igre

igre — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:21:22 +0000

Indeed people often confuse karate with chinese kung fu. Karate is japanase.

By: AJK

AJK — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:10:55 +0000

I cringe every time I hear people talk about Bruce Lee and karate in the same breath. Bruce was Chinese. He did kungfu before he did his own thing.

Now I have that off my chest, back to the interesting post by Clay. Kungfu is influenced by Buddhism and Taoism and this is where Bruce’s philosophies will come from. In Taichi we are taught of the three arrivals: The mind, the feet and the hands/body. Intention leads you. Bruce Lee’s quote refers to intention.

Now we can talk for hours about The Mind, The Body, Free Will, Programs, etc. but there is only one truth; knowledge empowers. It is not about the programs and it is not about “if you can choose to have a mind like water”. Programs are support structures (it is not you) and thinking you can be like water without knowing how to do it (the knowledge), you will continue to fail.

Knowing how to do something “creates” a calmer mind, because your mind is not “running around” looking for solutions and trying to get things done. They are getting done.

Learning the skill of not taking on more things when you get more effective will be the second crucial point if you ever want to reach the point of “calm like water”.

Lets use your water analogy. You are sitting in a boat with water leaking through a hole. The water is your workload. You can learn effective ways of clearing that water, but if you don’t stop the leak, it will replaced the space you created with more water. And this is the problem. The more effective we become, the more we take on. It is an endless cycle.

You not only have to gain knowledge in dealing with work effectively, but you have to learn when to say no.

If the mind is like water, then it is calm, it is stormy, it is fast, it is cold and it is warm. Don’t get stuck in the stormy bits and don’t get stuck in the calm bits. Do what water do and flow.