The Zen of Kung Fu Panda
I watched Kung Fu Panda last weekend. It was fun. I laughed throughout the movie.
There was a phrase that I remembered from it:
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.“
In one movie commentary, it was stated that this was considered lame attempt at Zen philosophy. I disagree. I believe it is a simple insight on the reality of life.
A lot of people dwell too much in the past. A typical example:
This girl falls in love for a guy. They have great fun times. Guy turns out to be a loser. Breaks her heart. They split up. Now she just cries every time she remembers him.
It happens right? It’s alright to feel the emotions when it comes. However, some people just can’t seem to move on. This girl will remember the fun times, then remembers him breaking her heart, and then cries again. She vows not to fall in love ever again.
Other people worry too much about the future. Another example:
Guy will take entrance examinations to a top, popular college next week. He constantly worries on whether he will pass. Keeps asking himself - “Will I pass? Will I pass? I hope so! What if I don’t pass? What now?”
Heck, you can plan and dream about the future but you shouldn’t be too stressed by it, right?
Instead of thinking about that guy who broke your heart, why not just think about what you want to do right now? Live like it were your last day. Meet new people! Enjoy life!
Instead of worrying about the exam, live now. Read a book! Take review lessons to prepare for it. Review and when you’re feeling too stressed.. Relax. Let the lessons come to you naturally.
Look at your emotions. It is your GUIDE to what you should be doing right now. If you feel anxious, stressed or harassed, then that’s an indicator for you to change your environment. Breathe… then look for something happy to do first.
Remember. NOW is a gift.
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Comments
If you think that Kung Fu Panda is the original origin of that quote (“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.“) then you are very sadly mistaken.
RE: the quote
i don’t think Bok/Ely said that the movie was the “origianl origin” (as you so eloquently put it) of the quote. It is just something that he remembered from the movie.
First thing that popped into my mind was the whole “time waits for no man” quote that i encountered when i read a piece by Alice Morse Earle.
Was the quote cheesey? yes. (but i like cheese. it goes well with bread)
Was the movie horrible because of it? Nay, in fact, the cheesey-ness of the quote, and the way it worked into the movie was what made the experience a bit more campy than i expected. I went into the theater completely expecting to hate it.. and yet i left with a great big grin…
Skadoosh!
Hahaha. Nice one Mike! Ey. Would you be dropping by Manila this Dec-Jan by any chance?
not likely. We might be in tokyo sa new year though. (although if you want to sponsor my trip from tokyo to manila, sige ba!! hehehe)
We might be in manila next summer.
Yes I agree this was funny, Jack Black was so funny in this move. It seemed like this movie was written just for him.
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