One Tail at a Time

Rules

So far I have been here as a full time Disciple for three months and in all that time, the rules are what I am struggling the most with.  There are just so many, and though I have touched on some of them, there are others that just seemed so ridiculous, that I didn't even bother to learn them, and one of those is rule number 22 which is 'When bowing, toes must be overlapping behind.'  Actually there are several rules pertaining to bowing alone that I am currently in front of Buddha learning each of them while also contemplating on why I must bow with my knees touching, my thighs in perfect alignment with my shoulders, my fingers straight and overlapping while also ensuring the tips of each do not overlap my knuckles while also maintaining perfect posture and on top of all of that, my hands must be held up at chin level and exactly one head length from my chin before lowering myself into a spine straightened bow which should end with my forehead resting on my perfectly straight fingers.

And to ensure that I get the bow right, Shanhu has been allocated the duty of ensuring that I learn it and as quickly as possible.

"Seventeen, you are exceptionally flexible, so this should not be so difficult." he groans seeing as I have transgressed for the umpteenth time because I fogot to cross my toes over each other.

"But why is this so important?  I don't even bow like this to father." I groan louder and making him sigh impatiently at me.

"How we bow, determines the weight of our reverence.  If we just lower ourselves into an ordinary bow Seventeen, then the reverence that Buddha and such people like Shifu deserve, would not be high enough.  In our minds and our thoughts, Buddha and all deities that have contributed to the overall well being of others despite their own discomfort, means that the debts we owe and are continuously repaying, should also include the most highest form of bowing." he explains most authoritively, so in other words, boringly!

"Alright, I get it.  But I think that as long as our thoughts convey our true intentions, then it shouldn't matter how we bow, after all, not everyone is as you say, flexible or even capable of such reverent bowing." I insist, seeing as our elders would actually curl up and die if they had to fold themselves in half  like I am doing right now.

"That might be true away from Kunlun Mountain, but you are no elder and the rules you follow do not apply to them either.  So stop whining, and get it right!" he says seconds before I feel a sharp tap on the undersides of my toes which have fallen apart.

"You're not allowed to strike me.  I'll tell Shifu!" I squeal and completely giving up on the bowing seeing as none of them are allowed to discipline me and the look on his face has him realizing his mistake too late, because he is now quickly scanning our surroundings for Shifu while waving both hands in the air to keep me quiet.

"I'm sorry Seventeen, it's just that we've been here for almost two hours learning just the bow, and I've missed out on my own training...." he says which kind of makes me mad, because he knows I feel guilty about that.  

Shanhu loves sword training, its his favourite subject, so I do feel guilty and so I take it as payment for striking me and let it go, but I've had enough of bowing, and Im sure Buddha has had enough of looking at the top of my head too.

"Fine, but I just don't get why we have so many rules.  Shifu never bothered with most of them before." I whinge as I shake the gravel and dirt from my hands.

Sitting down beside me, we both face Buddha and for the first time since arriving, Shanhu talks to me about the rules, life on the mountain and what is actually a fun life so long as I learn to fit in and follow the same examples that they do.  Shifu has a way of explaining things that are always fun and interesting most of the time, whereas Die Feng and Chang Shan just tell me what's what with no chance to question anything.  Shanhu on the other hand, talks to me like Zhen Zhen does, like an older brother would, so I easily fall into the same kind of situation as I would with Zhen Zhen.  And that is, I ask, and he just explains without any restrictions in regards to my age or what others might think is appropriate.