What do you think about this words? Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless...?

Question

Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash.

Be water my friend.

Bruce Lee (1940-1973)

Answer 1

I believe the "empty your mind, be formless, shapeless" refers to the Buddhist idea of all that exists is empty. We project our idea of what something really is, but in reality it is empty. Like this computer I'm typing on. Am I hitting the computer, keys, plastic, paint, molecules, atoms, electrons, neutrons, waves, strings, or a continually small division of what is not really there to begin with. I only through mind project or even understand there is a "computer" there.

On the other aspect of the Bruce Lee film, I believe he was referring to a way in which to defend himself by flowing with the movements of the opposer. Using his motion or form.

Answer 2

I would say it is about making yourself open to many different different views and things (hence the, water can become a cup, a bottle, teapot, etc) and that you can make choose to be easygoing and go with the flow or crash and blow. Basically to think out of the box (empty your mind, be formless, shapeless... you can assume the shape of anything) ... I like it!

Answer 3

What Bruce lee is referring too is that fact that water can become anything, it isn't fixed, but it is broken to the degree that its form becomes anything that it is put within. To Bruce Lee this was vital to his whole martial arts endeavor and philosophy, that not all forms of fighting can fit everyone, as not everyone is one size, fast, or etc, and situations that one can get into may call for an individual to break the rules of their practice in order to survive.

Water can become anything, given the objects shape that can hold it. So the object would be the event, the water would be the approach, approach things formless, not fixed or mechanical so you can better meet the needs and be what you have to be within the situation, or as the situation calls it.

That's my answer.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

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Answer 6

...like the very air around you!!! I try and tell myself that every night or when I start feeling upset or angry, it's a meditation type calming routine and has always worked for me.
It means simply to feel as one with all around you.
I've never heard it put that way before (with water etc) but I like it as it seems to mean the same.

Answer 7

The late and great matial artist, Bruce Lee, often espoused philosophies that he did not live by, including Taoism and Buddhism, as you cited.

The philosophies have great merit.

May it all be well with you.

Answer 8

It takes time BUT it can be done...you need to learn to do yoga....get yourself into a very quiet place. NO noise,lay flat..on your bed, in the dark, on your back, arms to side, legs straight, get a relaxation tape.....do what it says......you control your mind if you just clear your mind and do what they say on the tape..I've done it and it works...

Answer 9

Water is the strongest element on Earth. why? because, it can go anywhere and can shape rocks through time.

Answer 10

I think its all BS. How does one go about emptying their mind? All they end up with in their mind is "I have to empty my mind." And why do you want to empty your mind? What's so wrong with all these thoughts we have?