LEAVING THE TRIBE – Ownership of concepts as spiritual practice

I want to talk about the idea of ‘Leaving the Tribe’ – of finding your own way through life as a method of strengthening your value to the tribe.

There is a Buddhist saying -

First there is a Mountain
Then there is no Mountain
Then there is

Bruce Lee phrased this idea this way-

When you first start the path of traing a punch is just a punch, and a kick is just a kick
When you are on the middle part of training a punch is not just a puch, and a kick is not just a kick
When you are at the end of training a punch is just a punch,and a kick is just a kick

In the process of learning any concept this path can be repeated. When you first learn a tool for development you just do it the way you are told. Then you begin to do it your way and learn it for yourself, the ways and reasons for how it works. Then you just use it. First you take it on faith and use the tool by rote. Then you question the reasons for why it works, and have doubts, but you slowly make it your own by fully metabolising the tool. Then you just use it.

Or not. Each tool can go through this process, but they do not have to. Consider the things you do in life that you simply accept as right, as they were given to you. Consider then the things you have questioned and discarded. Consider also the things you have questioned and modified to your own use to optimize their effectiveness. Lastly, consider what you have “given back�, the tools you have mastered and presented to others for their use.

The religious practice of retreat, and the choice of the hermit take on an interesting light when seen from this vantage.

For an individual to be as strong a contribution to the tribe as possible, you must first be that – Individual. You must digest your tools completely. Make them a natural part of your self. Just as in martial are where we frst learn the basics of technique, we must eventually add our personal flavor if we are ever to be more than robots repeating the motions of others.

To be of the most use to the tribe you must first accept the tools of the tribe and use them by rote. Then you must question, examine, own, and improve those tools. Lastly, you must give those tools of yours back to the tribe, for its benefit.

In this way the strength of the tribe will be increased, and in turn yours will as well. To be taught, and then to teach, is how societal structures evlove. And, actively looking at those things learned with an eye on improving them is the highest service a member of a tribe can perform.