My son, Adam, took me to see Kung Fu Panda as soon as it came out. There was a great line in the movie when Oogway, the sage, was talking to Master Shifu. Shifu was frustrated about having to train Po, the panda. He didn't think it was possible for Po to become a Kung Fu Master let alone become the one who would save the valley. Oogway looked at Shifu and said, "You must let go of the illusion of control."
Let me try to remove this from it Zen concepts. I am not a fatalist who believes that everything is fated and we have no choice. There are things, however, that are beyond our control. Oogway tells Shifu the he cannot tell the peach tree when to lose its petals. Shifu responds by hitting the tree and causing some peaches to drop, stating that he can tell it when to drop its peaches. He then pokes holes in the ground and plants the pits, stating that he can tell it where to plant its seeds.
Oogway says, yes but when it grows it will be a peach tree. You may desire an apple tree, but it will be a peach tree. He then states, you cannot change the nature of a thing.
When we try to control others, we deceive ourselves. We cannot change people's natures. We may insulate ourselves from others in an attempt to control our environment, but we have not exercised control. We have simply isolated ourselves and called it insulation.
When we let go of the illusion of control, we set ourselves free. Free to allow others to be themselves. Free to interact naturally instead of manipulating. Free to be out from under the control of others. Above all, free from the need to control.
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2 comments:
Mike, as you know, I love to control! It is very difficult to "let go of the illusion of control". My thoughts...in reference to the classroom...you must be in the illusion of control. If not, your students will be out-of-control. But control is just a word. I think it is the teacher's responsibility to guide the students to make "good" decisions, whether it is to behave in the classroom, complete their homework, or in their personal lives. The teacher should be the model and "control" the students within the classroom. Making the students accountable is one great way to empower them and control them. Laura
Laura, even in the classroom there is a difference between managing and controlling your class. Control says, it is my way or the high way. You may force students to do everything your way, but you will never control their spirits.
Managing says, here is what we need to accomplish and the parameters in which we need to operate. Within those parameters is, as the jello pudding commercials say, wiggle room. This allows individuality to flourish, and spirits to soar. So, I say again, let go of the illusion of control.
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