Strong

Dangerous Wolf

Po looked around as his crossed legs bounced on the ground. His fingers formed rings on his lap, but he still felt on edge sitting in the Hall of Heroes. The glossy floors cooled Po's fur, but not his anxious twitching. Sitting beside him, Shifu opened his eye a little. "I'm sorry!" Po exclaimed, "But I thought we were going to... you know... train. You know, weights and running and stuff like that. Don't you like torturing me?" Shifu glared at the panda. "I mean... don't you want to... train me?" Po sheepishly grinned. 

"Panda, strength is like an umbrella... actually that's not the best analogy," Shifu stroked his beard. "It's like making a dish. There are different ingredients, all having different tastes. It's when they're combined that they have the best outcome."

"Woooooww! You totally just blew my mind," Po said in awe. Shifu smirked and closed his eyes again.

"From what I've heard," He continued, "You've already taken it upon yourself to train your body physically. If that's the case, your body needs rest. It needs to heal."

"Which is why we're doing this?" Po asked. Shifu nodded. 

"Meditation helps with emotional strength. Our thoughts are often charged with emotions. Taking control of our emotions helps us better understand our thoughts and ourselves."

"Awww man!" Shifu's eyes shot open, looking at the upset panda. "So I have to be like Tigress? Totally devoid of emotion?" Po asked in a huff.

Shifu cocked his head. "What do you mean?" 

"I mean... I don't mean that Tigress isn't caring or has feelings. H-her anger definitely shows it," Po nervously chuckled. "I'm just saying that... other than a small smile or a pat on the shoulder, she's your star pupil on controlling feelings, right? No emotion or earthly attachments? So I have to have no feelings, too, right?"

"I never... does she tell you this?" Shifu asked incredulously. 

Po rubbed the back of his neck. "Not in... not with... words. I mean, sure she's awesome and hardcore as ever, but... Okay, great example. I asked her whether it's okay for masters to like each other or be a relationship."

"Like Crane wants with Viper?" 

"Yes just like," Po's head snapped to his master. "WAIT! You knew! HOW?"

The red panda chuckled, "Po, I'm not blind. I can see when someone's in love."

"Are you sure? Because there are times when I pass by and you don't see me coming." Shifu narrowed his eyes and gave a small grunt. "But but but but! I was just saying uh..."

"What does this have to do with Tigress?" Shifu recovered.

"Well, she... she said it would be a distraction. That it would put the people they love in danger and that people... change if they're in a close relationship with someone," Po sighed, staring at the ground. "So... she said it would be better if they just focused on Kung fu and not on 'earthly attachments'." 

"I didn't know she thought that way," Shifu said, making Po look at him. 

"Really? I thought you taught her that."

"Maybe," Shifu breathed out, "Maybe I taught her without explicitly saying those words." The red panda sighed heavily. "Po, you're going to have emotions either way. Meditation helps you to look AT your emotions, not be attached to...not to let them control... ugh, this is hard to explain for you."

"Master?" 

"Let's say it like this," Shifu bounced back, "Meditation doesn't help you make bread without mistakes. It helps you to make the bread without caring about the mistakes. It helps you focus on serving the customer instead of caring what the customer is saying for you, about you, or against you. It doesn't control your emotions. It allows your emotions to be while you aren't affected by them. So you can feel hunger, but not be driven mad because it's just a feeling. It comes and goes."