Wu Shen Pai Jiu Mei

Yi 義

JUSTICE

Rules exist within the natural universe.  These rules govern the way the universe unfolds.  For every positive, there is a negative.  Positive is often associated with goodness and negative as evil.  However, positive and negative refers to energy or natural forces, which must both co-exist in order to create balance.  The control of the responses to these natural forces determines the achievement of harmony and whether there is good or evil.  Religion, society, governments, and families are all governed by their own set of rules.  It is these rules that provide the framework for life to be harmonious within these specific communities.  Then and only then, can one start to discover the "True Law."

    If these rules are broken, the balance of life is damaged and harmony is destroyed or disrupted.  As an individual member among your particular society, it is necessary to follow human morality to live an honorable life, and to further benefit the next generation.  However, these moral laws are different from the laws of the land.  When you break the laws of the land, one can be imprisoned and punished, but moral law is governed by honor.  If one commits an act, which is morally unjust, there may be no formal punishment, but the consequences can potentially be greater.  As a Martial Artist and a Wu Shen Pai Warrior, one has to be motivated by honor itself - not because of fear of punishment.  There is an old Chinese fable about a man who conceals a great fortune in his backyard to provide for his family in case of his demise.  He tells no one in his family...only his trusted neighbor.  The man goes on a great journey and dies while away.  There are three levels of morality and justice which might be realized in this story.  In the highest level, the neighbor immediately calls on the family of his deceased friend and informs them of the existence of the hidden fortune, telling them where it is.  He does this without thinking of any other option.  The lower level of morality occurs where the neighbor is tempted to keep the treasure for himself.  Ultimately, his conscience prompts him to do the right thing and he does so.  The lowest level of morality and justice is to be tempted to keep the fortune for himself...and fearing discovery, and possibly even punishment, he does the right thing.  Notice that, in our story, it is doing right for right’s sake that is most noble.  No one, no police, no government would be needed to discipline our action if everyone embraced this level of justice and morality.  Our own conscience disciplines our actions.  You might ask, then why should we do what is right, when there is no one to force upon us the consequences of our actions?  We do what is right for honor itself.  It is a lower level of morality and justice that involves us yielding momentarily to the temptation to do the wrong thing, but ultimately decide on doing the right thing.  The lowest level of morality and justice is to do the right thing for fear of being discovered and punished.  As Wu Shen Pai practitioners, we should strive to live by the higher law of morality and justice.

Furthermore, there exists a greater law than the laws created by humans.  This law is governed by a higher power.  For each of us, depending on our faith, it varies.  However, the underlying principles of conduct are the same.  It is this truth, which every individual must seek.  The Wu Shen Pai practitioner, and all true martial artists, must constantly strive to understand these truths by continued study and self reflection.  We should seek to incorporate them into our lives and uphold the value of these principles by sharing them with others.  True Martial Art, such as Wu Shen Pai, is one of the last disciplines in which honor is held in such high regard and it is our duty to ensure its longevity.  It is our adherence to these laws of society and our insistence on a rigid code of ethical conduct in doing so that ensure justice.  We seek and love justice for ourselves, and for those around us.  But beyond the laws of society, there are also laws which we must embrace and follow within our Martial Art. 

One must respectfully follow the natural laws of human morality.  It is just to do so.  As a member of a particular Martial Art society, you must also follow the laws set forth for our particular Martial Art.  Training in a Martial Art is not only about the study of fighting techniques.  Every true Martial Art has specific guidelines that reflect basic principles of human morality.  Martial Arts associations are societies.  Martial Arts Kwoons such as Warrior Spirit Martial Arts are societies as well.  Wu Shen Pai is a traditional Martial Way.  We embrace the justice and morality of requiring our members to live, to the best of their ability, within our art, Kwoon, and Association in adherence to those laws which are part of our Code of Ethics, or Wu De.  Those who live within the walls of our Association and Kwoon, protected and nurtured by their Sifu, must adhere to the rules of our family and society.  By failing to do so, they invite chaos.  Disorder and disunity also can rend apart a society, Kwoon, or Associaton.  What prompts these destructive impulses are qualities such as ego, arrogance, and the sense that someone is above the law or rules of that family or Kwoon.  No society, Kwoon, or Association can long survive without such guidelines and rules.  They are a necessary part of choosing to live in that Kwoon, Association, or family and enjoying the benefits of doing so.  Codes of Ethics have been a part of traditional martial ways for over 2000 years.   

By following the guidelines of our martial family, our Kwoon, and the bylaws of our Association, an individual will live harmoniously and honorably within this world.  The importance of Justice as one Wu Shen Pai’s Nine Virtues or Jiu De is essential to the order of human society, giving moral guidance to those who have great power over the lives of others...the modern warrior.  Be brave, modest, loyal, obedient, respectful, honest, and stay true to the principles of human morality.  That is living justly.