Be Water, My Friend Summary and Review | Shannon Lee

The True Teachings of Bruce Lee

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Introduction

Be Water, My Friend are untold stories about Bruce Lee’s life, along with the concepts at the core of his teachings. Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee’s only daughter, offers insights she learned from her upbringing. Each chapter reveals a lesson from Bruce Lee, expanding on the foundation of his iconic ’be water’ philosophy. Subsequently, Be Water, My Friend reveals a path to an enlightened way of being.

About Shannon Lee

Shannon Lee grew up in both Los Angeles and Hong Kong until settling back in the LA area in 1974. In 1987, Shannon moved to New Orleans, where she attended Tulane University. She earned a B.F.A. in vocal performance and appeared in many musicals, operas, and choral concerts. In 1993, Shannon returned to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. She is currently the CEO of the Bruce Lee Family Companies and Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Bruce Lee Foundation.

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StoryShot #1: The Water Way

“To change with change is the changeless state.” – Shannon Lee

When Bruce Lee was young, he would walk to the local lake to practice his martial arts. One day, for some reason, Bruce decided to punch the water as hard as he could. Crucially, though, he realized that the water simply gave way. No matter how many times or how hard he punched the water, it would give way and reform as it was before. The water was simply absorbing his energy.

Bruce’s experience with water inspired his future martial arts style of adjusting and moving according to the opponent. Bruce also applied the metaphor of water to his wider life. He better understood that humans overcome challenges when they can adapt, grow, and find the best path. This is precisely what water does when it encounters an obstacle. Water is pliable and flexible. When poured into a cop, it becomes the cup.

StoryShot #2: Empty Your Cup

“Without being open to the possibility of what there is to discover, you’ll never expand your knowledge, and your growth as a person will be stunted and slowed.” – Shannon Lee

Emptying your cup is the act of liberating yourself from the burden of your preconceived ideas. This emptiness should not be considered a negative state. Instead, it offers an openness and neutrality that allows you to consider beliefs, judgments, and preferences.

Like a virgin sheet of paper, you must be shorn of all desire for expression. This means that you should approach life with a blank slate, free from preconceived ideas and biases.  Be like an empty cup, which is receptive to new information and experiences.

As water is content to be a stream or a river, you must be content to flow in the ways of life. By being like water, one can adjust to the situation at hand and continue to flow, rather than becoming rigid and resistant to change.

To grow and learn, you must embrace novel experiences and let go of preconceived notions in order to stay flexible and adaptable in the face of change. 

StoryShot #3: The Eternal Student

Bruce Lee didn’t want to be called “Master” as he believed that if someone thinks they’ve reached the top, they can only go down. He considered himself an “eternal student,” open to new ideas, possibilities, directions, and growth. He saw himself as a “signpost” rather than a teacher, a guide to point someone towards their own truth, not a giver of truth.

Embrace a curious and courageous mindset as you seek knowledge through various means. Every day holds a revelation or a new discovery. You can only empower yourself by embracing this constant process of self-discovery. Don’t be afraid to face your fears and integrate your understanding into your life experiences.  Remember, learning is limitless, so keep an open mind and never stop growing. The key is to position yourself into curiosity, and stay in a state of coexistence with the world.

StoryShot #4: The Opponent

Bruce Lee taught martial arts in Oakland, California and broke from traditional techniques by accepting all races in his schools. This led to a fight to prove his methods, where he won but realized he needed to create his own techniques. He had a strong desire to learn and was open to new ideas to develop his personal martial art of Jeet Kune Do. To improve, we need to understand and identify our own ignorance and analyze our shortcomings. This leads to self-awareness and the ability to fix our problems.

In order to become a master of martial arts, you must first accept the concept of having an opponent. Without an opponent, You can never truly learn and grow in your ability and technique.  

When facing personal situations, attune to the energy of the opposition and adapt appropriately. Avoid anticipating the outcome and instead look through the illusion that there is someone to fight. Be comfortable in your own skin and let your true self be seen, understanding that opposites do not create distance but are instead connected in a fluid motion.

When facing a challenge, it is important to maintain the right attitude. You should remain open-minded and not become too attached to the outcome. Instead, focus on applying the correct technique and form, understanding the various possibilities of the situation, and adapting strategies accordingly.

StoryShot #5: The Tools

Bruce Lee had a definite chief aim, which he wrote in 1969, listing goals he planned to achieve in the next decade, such as becoming the highest paid Asian superstar in the US and having $10 million in possession. He believed that negativity dulls success, so he mentally trained himself through reading, affirmations, and journaling. Possibility fuels hope and supports his concept of “walking on” by continuously working, even if the end result is unsure. With the combination of possibility and intuitive action, change is inevitable.

It’s important to have the right tools to understand the opposition and to be able to adapt and grow. These tools include physical exercise, martial art techniques, and philosophy. By incorporating these into everyday life, it is possible to develop a greater understanding of the opposition and be better equipped to take on any situation.

Life is a constant process, not a goal. You should focus on the means rather than the end result. To drive this point home, the author uses the powerful imagery of a pebble dropped into a pool of water, demonstrating how one small action can create a ripple effect and impact the world around us. 

StoryShot #6: The Obstacle

Martial arts practice is very deliberate and straight-edged. It is almost like a dance routine. Conversely, Shannon talks about a real-life fight that Bruce once had. This fight’s sloppiness highlighted that even considerable practice won’t ready you for every challenge you will meet in the real world. Therefore, be prepared for new challenges and be like water: ready to adapt. Become a fluid movement within the world that can naturally engage with these obstacles.

If we respond to obstacles as water does, then we can both be shaped by and shape our world. Mastering ourselves will allow us to respond in every situation that life hands us.

StoryShot #7: The Rainstorm

Use the unexpected difficulties of a rainstorm to build character and grow as a person. Embrace vulnerability and be open to new opportunities by viewing the storm as a chance for new experiences and hidden doors. Appreciate the cyclic nature of life, including both successes and failures, as they are followed by growth and new beginnings, symbolized by a rainbow.

Be aware and accept your emotions. Use this rainstorm as an opportunity to build resilience and cultivate emotional intelligence. Utilize stormy times to grow and become stronger.

StoryShot #8: The Living Void

Embrace life without fear or confusion by exploring the living void. Let go of attachments to the past and future and fully inhabit the present moment. Your life is entirely on your own terms and you are truly free. Don’t just exist, live every moment fully. This awareness helps you to live life free of fear and confusion, and to make decisions from a place of clarity and wisdom. 

There are no boundaries to living. Use your newfound awareness to communicate authentically and cultivate inner strength and courage. The power of the living void provides clarity for honest communication. Find balance and harmony through moderation in all aspects of life.

StoryShot #9: The Way of the Intercepting Fist

Think of yourself as an artist who builds their life the same way a sculptor builds their masterpiece. This beckons you to look closely at who you are and what kind of life you want to lead. 

Additionally, live with purpose and make sure that your goals are in line with your values and ideals. You are also instructed to make conscious choices every day and to take ownership of your life and your decisions. 

Use your creativity and imagination to create your life, and don’t be afraid of failure and mistakes, as they can lead to valuable experience, knowledge, and wisdom. You are urged to keep learning and growing, and to build an interesting and meaningful life.

StoryShot #10: Bruce Lee’s Four Stages of Cultivation

“An artist of life creates his own life, creates himself, moment by moment. And in his ability to choose and create, he is powerful and free.” – Shannon Lee

Self-actualization is a common theme throughout the book. Subsequently, Shannon offers four stages of cultivation that encourage mastery of intuition:

1. Partiality (stage one) – Letting your unconscious direct your life with unskilled actions and decisions.
2. Fluidity (stage two) – A learning phase where you adopt responsibility for developing awareness and skills.
3. Emptiness (stage three) – During stage three, you have reached a stage where you have mastered skills. You can now perform these skills without even thinking. Subsequently, you can act almost entirely on intuition and become what Shannon describes as a ‘formless form.’
4. Jeet Kune Do (stage four) – This stage translates as ‘self Kung Fu. Kung Fu means a skill achieved through hard work. Therefore, in stage four, you have mastered the skill of being you, based on prolonged hard work.

StoryShot #11: The Path to Self-Expression

Liberate yourself from ego-driven pursuits and expectations to experience true freedom. Names and labels only limit your full humanity, so focus on cultivating yourself instead of living up to others’ expectations. Live in the present moment and embrace your humanity, rather than striving for labels or titles. 

Don’t get fixated on one aspect, but look beyond yourself to tap into the collective wisdom of society. The journey ahead is long, but always carry the light and use it to guide you. 

Cultivate yourself and be fully expressed, rather than fixating on external labels. The author’s words are just a guide, encouraging you to seek your own path and continue to grow and learn.

Final Summary and Review

Shannon Lee encourages readers to create their own lives, moment by moment, and to cultivate themselves to become masters of intuition. The book contains various stories, which offer powerful metaphors to emphasize the importance of change, growth and development. 

Bruce Lee’s martial arts style of adjusting and moving according to the opponent is one example of how humans can learn to overcome challenges when they are able to adapt, grow and find the best path. She also promotes emptying your cup to be receptive to new information and experiences, as well as cultivating an accepting mindset to stay flexible and adaptable in the face of change.

 Additionally, the ideas of “intercepting fists”, “the path to self-expression”, and “the living void” are all discussed to advocate for grasping life’s experiences with an open mind and to find balance and harmony through moderation. 

Finally, Bruce Lee’s four stages of cultivation provide a framework for us to create an interesting and meaningful life on our own terms and to embrace life without fear or confusion.

Rating

We rate Be Water, My Friend 4.3/5. 

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