SIMPLICITY OF BRUCE LEE
Subject: Dragon
How can you not see the Simplicity of Bruce Lee as a human being?
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002
From: Mac

 First of all, let's get down to basic facts about Bruce Lee and the martial arts.

 1-Bruce Lee, much later in life admitted that he was a "punk" and if he had continued on that path, he would have ended up dead or in jail. This is why his family sent him to the U.S. (to give him opportunities to be a better person than the one he seemed to be becoming).

Now tell me. How many of you come to big realizations like this which
begin to dramatically change your life For The Better?

 2-the martial arts is absolutely Not about violence! If that is what is thought about it, then it has been totally misperceived by the observer due to lack of coherent information and understanding of the matter. Martial Arts was "invented" so to speak by an Indian named Bodhidharma who was a Buddhist monk. He came up with the various foundation of disciplines to help people (monks really at first) keep their physical bodies up to par with their rigid spiritual disciplines. Isn't the body "the temple" ? Well, this was not only a way to honour your body/temple/vessel but a way to honour and nurture the evolving soul that it housed. (people today do the same things with their material possessions such as the interiors and exteriors of their cars,their houses, their guitars, their shoes....). Martial Arts utilizes external principles for obvious reasons but those reasons become Enlightening only because one realizes the truth of its nature; that you are reaching far within (isn't the kingdom within?) , uncovering, and learning about your Truest Self. You also begin realize what no book, kata, person, nor guru, nor sifu can make you realize; something easily stated but rarely truly tapped with sincerity; that You can change Yourself for the better, thus help change the world around you as well (every little thing matters and you pay heed to it for fuller understanding;nothing is trivial). Every relationship becomes so focused and important that the True martial artists rarely if ever raise a finger to harm another sentient being. Evidence such as a heightened amount of hours spent early every morning in complete meditation and reduction of physical method (but of course not Intensity) in Bruce Lee's regimen also backs this up. A punk only stays in it for the physical to gratify solely his growing and insatiable Ego. A sincere human being realizes this, chooses to overcome it or not, and if he does, Transcends. We change from Within.

 In short, maybe boxing is all about biting off the opponents' ears, because that's what Mike Tyson does. Yea, maybe martial arts is violence worship, because that's what Hollywood mesmerizes us with and it's so easy to not be a seeker of human Truth (or cop out and be a punk) and an admitter of one's own failings and a darer of exploring new grounds of the soul. Maybe baseball is all about taking drugs and beating wives, because a lot of players end up in the news for those reasons. If I knew nothing about the sport than I could surely think I know what it's about and who it attracts. Do you catch my drift?

 I'll just keep this brief for now (although I'd love to elaborate). Who here has Not wanted to improve their lot in life in some personal way? Who here has not wanted a chance or more deep within beyond the ego's prideful boasts and underpinnings? Who here can admit the obvious to himself and try to dare himself to improve starting from within? Who here can then maintain that and dare to evolve ever more?

Bruce Lee was a human being first. He was a Truthseeker at heart; a
philosopher. He went to school in Seattle for it , talked about it, wrote
about it, translated Oriental versions of it as well as poems for our Western
minds to grasp, incorporated it into his life, lived it (daring to leave
space for its growth if experiences taught him something new), and sought to
Unify not separate all humans with it. Like any other man, okay, he had some
faults (the love of the spotlight which could easily get him in trouble with
jealous and envious peers and a boastful attitude to name a few (but even
these were toning down towards the end of his life)), but unlike Many men,
alive and well today, he Dared to consistently work on moderating and
overcoming them by recognizing and acknowledging them.

 I can really go on, but I dare any of you to try reading one good biography on Bruce Lee called; "Bruce Lee; Spiritual Warrior" ( you may learn what you never would have expected to learn about yourself as well as him).
Mac .
My email is ; phoenixdreamus@yahoo.com

I LOVE BRUCE LEE
Subject: Dragon
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2002
From: Conan

CHRIST AND BRUCE
Subject: Dragon
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002
From: Al

I really liked Steve's comments regarding Christ and Bruce Lee and Adrienne's comments too. After much thought (I am a martial artist who is a Christian) I can see that the plain Bible verses they queoted are easy to understand. Jesus is the only Way and really has nothing to do with martial arts ... the only martial arts that Jesus will practice I guess, will be when he comes at the Battle of Armageddon to destroy the combined armies of the world turning against Israel. Tha's why I decided to quit all the martial arts and become a true believer in Christ ... without all the anger, "self-defence" and wasted fees to the supposed 'sifus, senseis' and other false 'masters'. How do you like that DAVID? God loves you and so do we.....
WARMLY Al

BRUCE LEE: BEST OF THE BEST... ?
Subject: Dragon
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002
From: REN TAO

I couldn't help but notice how many of you took offense at my clear and plain comparison of Bruce Lee and his life with the words of Jesus. I expected this to happen anyway but if you were to ask Bruce Lee TODAY if he believed in Jesus Christ ... he would definitely say YES.

You see... there are no unbelievers in hell ... they are all believers now. If you really need to be convinced try this internet connection:
type in: Bruce Lee...Best of the Best...?
Christopher D. Hess
click on and be convinced

Best regards
REN TAO

BRUCE LEE, JESUS COMPARISONS
Subject: Bruce Lee
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001
From: Steve

Dear Readers, My comments may seem short and terse but please do not be angry with me. For the sake of brevity, I'll be academic. Comparisons between Bruce Lee and Jesus are futile and ridiculous. Jesus called himself G O D, the creator of all, he called himself Jehovah the Son. Bruce Lee never claimed to be anything more than a seeker after truth, the way. Jesus said about Himself: 'I am the WAY, the Truth and the Life...no man comes to the Father BUT BY ME." Jesus who spoke the greatest words ever, who healed the blind, lame etc is confronting us with this: HE IS EITHER A LIAR...A LUNATIC...OR L O R D . Bruce Lee did not follow the classical ethos of the ancient martial arts which espoused the 'middle way'. Lee overtrained, kept late nights, overextended himself at work, spent 'time' with other women other than his wife (died in another woman's apartment of a brain edema), had recurring headaches from overtraining and overstraining, was not....I emphasize...was NOT a good role model for youth. His films advocate wanton violence, revenge ...let's be up front about it. Jesus' life was spotless, blameless: he said...'he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword'. Indirectly that is what happened to Bruce Lee. Old-time Chinese martial arts masters have not been changed by Lee's Jeet Kune Do....they were practicing their arts peacefully before Bruce Lee...and today they are doing the same after Bruce Lee. Jesus Christ on the other hand did not seek to change Judaism or the Torah. He said: 'I came not to destroy the Torah, but to magnify the Law" and also...."not one letter shall change from the Law until everything is fulfilled'. Jesus life bore this out. With all due respect: Bruce Lee is still in his grave. Jesus Christ's grave is EMPTY. He is alive, resurrected and sits at the right hand of the Godhead WAITING TO RETURN IN THESE LAST DAYS AS HE HIMSELF PROPHESIED. A cursury glance at the whole chapter 24 of Matthew, shows you that all of His prophesies are being fulfulled TODAY AND WILL CULMINATE WITH THE RAPTURE OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE TRULY ACCEPTED HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR. This may sound 'preachy' but think for a moment...those are HIS words! Bruce never never spoke like this. Theologically, Bruce Lee will stand before Jesus Christ, possibly at the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT of the Book of Revelation, to be eternally judged as to WHERE he will spend ETERNITY. It says: 'all those whose names were not found written in the LAMB'S book of life were cast into the Lake of Fire where they endure eternal torment f o r e v e r.' I ask you...who is the Lamb? It is Jesus....:of whom John the Baptist said: BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE S I N OF THE WORLD'. Wow! No comparison between Bruce Lee and Jesus at all. No contest! And so.... I say to all as I would say to Bruce Lee today: 'for God so loved the world that he gave HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON that whosoever would beleive on HIM, should not PERISH but would have everlasting life. Bruce Lee is never coming back...
but JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK .... S O O N .
God Bless you richly.
Ren Tao

Response: So do you feel better? Did you feel you needed to do all that preaching? Your points are lost in your dogmatic tone. -David

FALLACY TO MAKE COMPARISONS
Subject: Dragon, the Bruce Lee Story
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001
From: adrienne

The movie Dragon was certainly interesting. However it is a fallacy to make any comparisons between Bruce Lee and Jesus Christ. Bruce Lee's life philosophy was based on the religion(s) of Asia ... the gospel of Jesus Christ is contrary to this.. There is a good little tract-booklet called: Why I Quit Karate by Bill Rudge available from BILL RUDGE MINISTRIES 220 North Buhl Farm drive Hermitage, Pennsylvania 16148-1718

Response: Yes, and so what and oh my gosh! The Gospel of Jesus Christ connects with all cultures. I do not buy into an "us and them" mentality. We are all the wonderous creatures of the one creator God. I see the world of Karate as an opportunity to connect. Not as another reason to build another stupid wall. I hope the book gets poor circulation. I think I would rather read a book called, "Why Jesus likes Karate." Love builds bridges. Jesus liked the Samaritians and so do I. HJ strongly recommends Karate and all other Samartians. -Warmly David

REALLY MOVED
Subject: Bruce Lee story
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000
From: Russell Catchpole

Hi, I saw this film on TV a couple of days ago & was really moved and amazed as having never watched a BL film that he would be just a thug. I stuggled a little as I have been taught to veer away from martial arts and anything oriental in spirit but this film was definitaly spiritually moving. I'm glad I found your site as this has helped me to reconcile my feeling. Of course Jesus would never have got invloved in such violence, he would have crushed his assailant's evil nature with his loving words kind regards,
Russell Catchpole (please do not release my email address)

GREAT RESPECT FOR LEE
Subject: A film that will touch you!!
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2000
From: TB

Dragon:Bruce Lee Story has to be one of my favorite films ever. Jason Scott lee plays Bruce Lee brilliantly and I think his acting brings Bruce back to life again. This film shows great respect for Bruce Lee and he deserves it. It is a film that will always touch you and make you realise what a good man he was and what a strong will he had against everything.

LIKES JASON
Subject: Jason Scott Lee in Dragon
Date: Mon, 05 Jun 2000
From:Marie

I just wanted to say that I watched Jason in Jungle Book and Bruce Lee. I thought both of these movies were excellent. His roles portrayed character and self respect as well as respect for others. His characters showed struggles a person experiences within and from without. I like how he handled the problems. I thought he did a great job. -Marie

PHYSICIAN LIKES
Subject: Thank you
Date: Mon, 29 May 2000
From: W.S. Liu

I am a physician and also a licensed minister. I have showed dragon to college students in my Bible study. Thanks for the film review.
In Christ, W.S. Liu, D.D., Ph.D., A.P. http://dr.ws.liu.com

THE FILM CHANGED MY VIEW OF HIM
June 29, 1999.
I thought that Dragon showed Bruce Lee as a loving and compassionate man. He wanted to bring all of us together and to bring peace and to change the way Asians were depicted on the screen. After seeing this movie, I was no longer scared of him...–PAMELA

SUPERBLY, PORTRAYS HIS LIFE
May 22, 1999.
This has been one of my favorite movies ever! Jason Scott Lee is an excellent actor and the karate and the way they portray the life of Bruce Lee really shows you what a life he had! –Kassie