The Warrior Within — The first book of 2022. Bruce Lee is everyone’s hero. I don’t think there is a soul on this planet that can NOT admire him. As much as Bruce Lee is a hero, he’s also a bit of a mystery. His strength, speed and his aura are unlike anyone ever saw. 

I only knew him as a fighter, a martial artist, when I was younger. But, last year, I started studying him as a person. Because he intrigues me. Imagine, a person who lived only 30 years achieving so much mentally, physically, and spiritually. 

I watched his interviews, then I got this book — The Warrior Within by John Little. 

In all honesty, it felt a bit complex at first. And most of what Bruce Lee said, I had to read it twice to fully grasp the depth of what he meant. But it’s worth all the effort. 

While reading ‘The Warrior Within,’ I found some utterly inspiring lessons which I couldn’t have found anywhere else. 

Let me share them with you. 

What made Bruce Lee so strong?

Be water, my friend.

A popular dialogue of Bruce Lee. Yet it’s not the only gem he had said. I believe his strength comes from his strong mindset and deep-rooted values in mastering his art. 

1. Self-Expression 

Bruce Lee said that whatever you do must ultimately be a form of self-expression. Now that is not easy at all. 

You might think that, of course, everything we do we feel. But it’s not true in all cases. We don’t express ourselves honestly at all times. We can’t. Our natural expression is always veiled by something else. Sometimes by our consciousness, sometimes by fear. 

And according to Bruce, it is important to master self-expression. An honest one at that. 

2. Self-Knowledge

All knowledge ultimately means self-knowledge. 

Know yourself — How you are feeling, what you are thinking, what do you believe, and overall, what makes you, you. I realized that we spend years with ourselves but there’s always more to know.

3. Yin and Yang

Balance. Yin and yang represent balance. And as many may think Yin and yang are not two things but two parts of one whole. Understanding this has been one of the greatest lessons. 

Quoting from the book…

If a person riding a bicycle wishes to go somewhere, then he cannot pump on both the pedals at the same time or not pump at all. In order to go forward, he has to pump on one pedal and release the other. So the movement of going forward requires ‘oneness’ of pumping and releasing. Pumping is the result of releasing and vice versa, each being the cause and result of the other. 

4. Tao — The spontaneity of the Universe

The Natural Flow of things. It’s not to be questioned. 

The centipede was happy, quite,

Until a toad in fun

Said, “Pray, which leg goes after which?”

This worked his mind to such a pitch,

He lay distracted in a ditch,

Considering how to run. 

5. The truth

The real truth according to Lee lies not in the process of accumulation, of adding to your inventory of more and more factual knowledge, but rather in elimination. 

There is a deeper meaning in this. 

6. Liberation

Bruce said, “it all boils down to liberating yourself from whatever it is that binds you.” Like all types of knowledge is self-knowledge, there is no help but self-help. 

Now read it again. This is what I did most of the book. And believe, I’m going to read it again. 

Self-knowledge, self-help, I think the gist of it all is to rely on yourself. Maybe, become enough to rely on yourself. 

7. Empty Mind

Again quoting a story shared in the book.

A zen master who received a university professor who had come to inquire about zen. It was obvious to the Zen master from the start of the conversation that the professor was not so much interested in learning about zen as he was in impressing the master with his own opinions and knowledge. As the Zen teacher explained, the learned man would frequently interrupt him with remarks like, “Oh, yes, we have that, too,” and so on. 

Finally, the Zen teacher stopped talking and began to serve tea to the learned man. He poured the cup full, then kept pouring until the cup overflowed.

“Enough,” the learned man once more interrupted. “The cup is overfull, no more will go in!”

“Indeed, I see,” answered the Zen teacher. “Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions and speculations. If you do not first empty your cup, how can you taste my cup of tea?”

That’s the warrior within.

What about Bruce Lee inspires you?