Be An Action Hero: The Philosophy of Bruce Lee | Bruce Lee's daughter Shannon Lee | TEDxLimassol

Summary

The speaker, a child of Bruce Lee, reflects on the multifaceted heroism of his father, who was not only a martial arts icon but also an innovator in fitness, health, and film. Lee's impact extended beyond his physical prowess and signature moves to his ability to break barriers in Hollywood and elevate the status of Asian men globally. The speaker outlines a 'recipe' for heroism that Bruce Lee once wrote, emphasizing the importance of self-cultivation, sincerity, and extending one's knowledge. The essence of being a hero, according to the speaker, involves spiritual realization, personal effort aligned with one's heart, and living in harmony with the world, making a positive impact without seeking reward or praise. The speaker encourages everyone to tap into their inner power, be true to themselves, and express their uniqueness to the world, just as Bruce Lee did, leaving a lasting legacy.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Bruce Lee is viewed as a hero for his innovative contributions to fitness, health, martial arts, and action films.
• 💪 He brought realism to fight choreography and broke barriers as the first Asian leading man in Hollywood, raising the profile of Asian men globally.
• 📚 Lee was a teacher and philosopher whose messages and philosophies have inspired countless people to change their lives.
• 🦸‍♂️ His physical appearance and abilities, including signature moves and a signature weapon, contributed to his superhero-like image.
• 💌 Lee's own words provide a 'recipe' for being an action hero, emphasizing self-cultivation, sincerity, and extending knowledge.
• 🧘‍♂️ Spiritual realization, or 'don't just think, feel', was a key phrase Lee used, indicating the importance of being in touch with one's inner energy and potential.
• 💭 Personal effort is crucial, with Lee stressing the importance of aligning one's thoughts, heart, and actions, and seeking self-knowledge.
• 🌈 Harmony is essential, and Lee believed in operating in unity with nature and the world, making a positive impact without competition or aggression.
• 🌟 A hero, according to Lee, is someone who expresses their heart and acts with sincerity and connected harmony, making a unique and positive impact on the world.
• 🔥 Lee's legacy endures because he started from his core self and expressed his uniqueness, inspiring others to do the same.
• 🚀 The message encourages everyone to tap into their own hearts, express themselves, and make a difference in the world, just as Lee did.

Q & A

Why is Bruce Lee considered a hero by the speaker?

The speaker considers Bruce Lee a hero because he was their father, but also acknowledges his heroic status due to his innovative contributions to fitness, health, martial arts, and action films, as well as breaking barriers in Hollywood and inspiring countless people with his philosophies.

How did Bruce Lee bring realism to fight choreography?

Bruce Lee introduced a more realistic approach to fight choreography during a time when it was not the standard, enhancing the authenticity of action sequences in films.

What was Bruce Lee's message to his students?

Bruce Lee was a teacher who helped change the lives of his students by sharing his philosophies and teachings, which focused on self-improvement, sincerity, and extending one's knowledge.

What does the speaker believe is the 'recipe' for an action hero according to Bruce Lee's own words?

The speaker refers to a letter Bruce Lee wrote, where he outlined steps for personal development and heroism, emphasizing sincerity, self-knowledge, and aligning one's actions with their heart and mind.

How did Bruce Lee's physical appearance contribute to his superhero-like image?

Bruce Lee's physical appearance, including his muscular physique, signature moves, sounds, and even a signature weapon, contributed to his superhero-like image, making him appear as a fighter with almost superhuman power and strength.

What is the first step the speaker suggests to access one's own heroism?

The first step is spiritual realization or 'don't think, feel,' which involves getting in touch with one's inner energy, potential, and will to live.

What does the speaker mean by 'personal effort' in the context of becoming a hero?

Personal effort involves aligning one's actions with their heart and thoughts, seeking self-knowledge, and making a conscious effort to live authentically and in accordance with one's values.

How does the concept of 'harmony' play a role in the speaker's view of heroism?

Harmony is the third step towards heroism, where one operates in unity with nature and humanity, making a positive impact without competition or aggression, and following the will of nature.

What does the speaker believe is the key to achieving peace of mind?

Achieving peace of mind comes from performing one's own mission in life without thoughts of aggressiveness, competition, seeking reward, praise, or fearing blame, and by being in harmony with oneself and the world.

Why is Bruce Lee still talked about 42 years after his passing?

Bruce Lee is still remembered and talked about because he started from the root of his being, expressing himself sincerely, and making a unique impact on the world through his passion and dedication.

What does the speaker suggest as a method for everyone to become a hero?

The speaker suggests that everyone can become a hero by tapping into their own hearts, expressing themselves from a place of sincerity, and making a positive impact on the world in areas they are passionate about.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Bruce Lee's Heroic Legacy

The speaker, presumably Bruce Lee's child, acknowledges the bias of considering their father a hero but outlines several reasons why others might share this view. Bruce Lee is recognized for his innovative contributions to fitness, health, martial arts, and action films. He introduced realism to fight choreography and broke barriers as the first Asian leading man in Hollywood, elevating the status of Asian men globally. As a teacher, he influenced the lives of his students and inspired countless others through his philosophies. The speaker also highlights Bruce Lee's iconic appearance and abilities, suggesting that his external image and achievements are a reflection of his inner heroism. They reference a letter written by Bruce Lee, which they interpret as a 'recipe' for becoming an action hero, emphasizing self-cultivation, sincerity, and the expansion of knowledge.

05:02

🔥 Tapping into Personal Potential

The speaker delves into the first step of Bruce Lee's 'recipe' for heroism, which involves a spiritual or emotional realization of one's inner power. They share a personal anecdote about practicing an acceptance speech in childhood, indicating a belief in one's own potential and creativity. The importance of aligning one's actions with their heart and thoughts is emphasized, as is the challenge of doing so. Bruce Lee's personal efforts and desires at the age of 21 are discussed, illustrating how he knew where to focus his efforts despite uncertainty. The speaker encourages the audience to make their own list to discover where their personal efforts should be directed.

10:05

🌈 Achieving Harmony and Heroism

The final paragraph focuses on the third step towards heroism: harmony. The speaker interprets Bruce Lee's philosophy of oneness with the world and the importance of living in harmony with nature and other people. They explain that a hero operates by making a positive impact and engages in change for the greater good voluntarily. The speaker also discusses the concept of discarding thoughts of reward, praise, and blame, suggesting that a hero acts from the heart and is in tune with the ecosystem. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of being true to oneself, as exemplified by Bruce Lee, and encourage others to express their unique power and make an impact on the world.

Keywords

💡Innovator

An innovator is someone who introduces new ideas or methods. In the video, Bruce Lee is described as an innovator in fitness, health, martial arts, and action films, highlighting his role in bringing realism to fight choreography and breaking barriers in Hollywood.

💡Martial Arts

Martial arts are various sports or skills, mainly of East Asian origin, that originated as forms of self-defense or attack. Bruce Lee revolutionized martial arts by integrating different styles and philosophies, making it more realistic and accessible through his films and teachings.

💡Hollywood

Hollywood refers to the American film industry. Bruce Lee broke racial barriers by becoming the first Asian leading man in Hollywood, thereby raising the profile of Asian men worldwide and challenging the industry's stereotypes.

💡Philosophies

Philosophies are the study of fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. Bruce Lee's philosophies, which inspired many, emphasized self-expression, self-knowledge, and the harmony between mind and body, as reflected in his teachings and writings.

💡Spiritual Realization

Spiritual realization refers to becoming aware of one's spiritual essence and potential. Bruce Lee described this as 'don't think, feel,' encouraging people to connect with their inner energy and potential, a key step in his 'recipe for an action hero.'

💡Personal Effort

Personal effort involves putting in work towards self-improvement and aligning one’s actions with inner beliefs. Bruce Lee emphasized that knowledge of self is the ultimate form of knowledge, and personal effort is necessary to align thoughts, feelings, and actions.

💡Harmony

Harmony is the state of being in agreement or concord. Bruce Lee believed true heroism involves operating from a place of harmony with oneself, nature, and others, discarding thoughts of reward and acting sincerely from the heart.

💡Hero

A hero is someone admired for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Bruce Lee's heroism is portrayed not just through his physical abilities and accomplishments but through his sincere, heartfelt actions and impact on others' lives.

💡Self-Knowledge

Self-knowledge is understanding oneself, including one's desires, feelings, and potential. Bruce Lee believed all types of knowledge ultimately lead to self-knowledge, which is essential for personal growth and aligning one's actions with true self.

💡Expression

Expression is the process of making one's thoughts or feelings known. Bruce Lee valued authentic self-expression, urging individuals to 'be always yourself' and not mimic others, which he believed was crucial for personal and artistic authenticity.

Highlights

Bruce Lee is considered a hero and an innovator in various fields such as fitness, health, martial arts, and action film.

He brought realism to fight choreography at a time when it was not the norm.

Bruce Lee was the first Asian leading man in Hollywood, breaking barriers for Asian actors.

He helped raise the profile of Asian men globally and inspired countless people with his philosophies.

Bruce Lee's physical appearance and abilities contributed to his superhero-like image.

His heroism is attributed to his personal development and philosophical approach to life.

Lee outlined a 'recipe' for an action hero in a letter, emphasizing self-cultivation and sincerity.

He believed in aligning one's inner thoughts with outer expression without contradiction.

Lee's approach to life involved spiritual realization, personal effort, and harmony with the world.

At 21, Lee recognized a great creative and spiritual force within himself, which he described as greater than faith, ambition, or vision.

Lee's personal effort was directed towards self-knowledge and aligning his actions with his heart.

Harmony, according to Lee, involves operating in the world by making a positive impact and being in tune with nature and humanity.

Lee's goal was to find the true meaning in life and achieve peace of mind, which he believed was possible through harmony and sincerity.

He encouraged others to be themselves and express their uniqueness, rather than copying others.

Lee's legacy continues to inspire because he started from the root of his being and expressed his heart's desires into the world.

The speaker suggests that everyone has the potential to be a hero by tapping into their own hearts and expressing themselves.

The concept of a hero is redefined as someone who acts from a place of sincerity and connected harmony, making a positive impact on the world.

Transcripts

thank you everyone

bruce lee is considered a hero and

arguably so of course i think he's a

hero because he's my dad and but i may

be a little biased but bruce lee did a

lot of heroic things we can see what

those things are here we are standing 42

years after he passed away and we can

look back and we can say he was an

innovator he was an innovator in the

world of fitness in the world of health

in the world of martial arts in the

world of action film he brought realism

to fight choreography at a time when

that was not the case he was a person

who broke barriers in Hollywood becoming

the first Asian leading man in Hollywood

he was a person who helped raise the

profile of Asian men around the world he

was a person with a message he was a

teacher he helped change lives of his

students and he's inspired countless

people since then with his philosophies

so he's done many heroic things we can

all see that and let's not forget he

looked like this he looked like a

superhero he is wearing a graphic

one-piece costume he is a fighter with

almost superhero power and strength and

speed he had signature moves he had

signature sounds he even had a signature

weapon but if you ought to ask me why do

I think Bruce Lee as a hero and people

do ask me that it's for a very different

reason actually I think all of those

things all of the way that he looked and

all the things he accomplished in his

life are the results of where his true

heroism came from so when I think about

what makes Bruce Lee a hero I think

about his own words so he wrote at one

point in time

as a young man a letter to a friend of

his and in that he laid down what I'm

going to call the recipe for an action

hero he said in that letter wishing to

cultivate yourself first rectify your

heart wishing to rectify your heart seek

to be sincere in your thoughts wishing

to be sincere in your thoughts first

extend to the utmost of your knowledge

this lies in the investigation of things

then discard all thoughts of reward all

hopes of praise and fears of blame all

awareness of one's bodily self and let

your spirit out as it will pretty cool

but what does it mean it's kind of hard

to penetrate right it's kind of hard to

take in and apply to yourself so I have

taken these thoughts and I've broken

them down into three simple steps so

that we all can see how we might be able

to access our own hero step one and this

is his word that he used as well

spiritual realization sounds kind of out

there so I'm going to use another phrase

of his which is don't think feel at the

age of twenty-one so think about that

he's 21 years old he's a college student

he's trying to figure out what he wants

to do with his life he loves martial

arts he's teaching gongfu lessons to

some people he wrote a letter again

another letter at the age of 21 to a

family friend and in that he said I feel

I have this great creative and spiritual

force within me that is greater than

faith greater than ambition greater than

vision it is all these combined my brain

becomes magnetized with this dominating

force which I hold in my hand whether it

is the Godhead or not I feel this great

force this untapped power this dynamic

something within

this feeling defies description and no

experience with this feeling may be

compared it is something like a strong

emotion mixed with faith but a lot

stronger now what does that mean that

means he can feel something inside

himself he's in touch with his energy

he's in touch with his potential so how

do we do that we can look inside and we

can get in touch with that place that is

our will to live we can get in touch

with that part of us that gets excited

about something that part of us that

dreams that part of us that loves and we

can feel inside of us that energy and we

can feel that we have a dynamic

something as well an untapped power when

I was a kid I used to sit in my bathtub

and I used to practice my Academy Awards

acceptance speech now I don't have an

Academy Award yet but why was I doing

that what was I doing I was reaching

inside and I was tapping into my

creativity the fact that I might have

something to contribute that I might in

some way be special and that's all step

one is just feel inside yourself get in

touch with your heart step two personal

effort yes unfortunately there's effort

involved and as my father would say all

types of knowledge ultimately mean self

knowledge so remember he said first

rectify your heart that was step one

then he said be sincere in your thoughts

and extend to the utmost of your

knowledge so where do we place our

personal effort he also said man's mind

and behavior are one your inner thoughts

and outer expression cannot contradict

each other now we all know how hard that

is right how many times have you said

yes when you really wanted to say

No or you've decided to do something

because someone else said that it was a

good idea it's really hard to align your

heart with your thoughts with your

actions out into the world that takes

effort he said in that letter at the age

of 21 a list of things that he knew

about himself just happened to feel

these things inside of himself and he

said I'd like to let the world know

about the greatness of Chinese martial

arts I enjoy teaching and helping people

I like to have a well-to-do home and

family

I'd like to originate something now here

he is at 21 he doesn't know how he's

going to do this but he just knows he

wants to he just knows that that's where

he should start putting his personal

effort that's the type of knowledge he

should start to gain that's the

investigation he should do now why is it

so hard to be who we are it's because

it's uncharted territory there's no one

to tell you whether you're right are you

doing it right there's no one to say

whether you're on the right path you

have only yourself you have only

yourself to believe in and to have faith

in but it is where you put your personal

effort in alignment with your heart that

is the next step so check in with your

heart make your own list and see where

you should start to put your effort step

number three now step number three to me

is actually the most important step it's

really where the heroism comes in and

that is harmony as my father said under

the sky under the heavens there's but

one family now what does this mean it

means that in that same

letter age 21 where he's saying I want

to do all these things have this

untapped power he said the goal of my

planning and doing is to find the true

meaning in life peace of mind now you

can have peace of mind if you're always

in judgment you can't have peace of mind

if you're going around telling everybody

else they're doing it wrong he said also

you have only to perform your own

mission in life without any thoughts of

aggressiveness or competition follow the

will of nature and coordinate your will

and your mind to become one with nature

now it's easy to think of nature as the

earth as the sky as the water the trees

the animals that's nature but let us not

forget that man is also a huge and

integral part of nature and so to be

able to operate the hero operates by

making a positive impact the hero

engages in this voluntarily because it

comes from their heart the hero causes

change for a greater good so you don't

have to worry about what everybody else

is doing just be in harmony with man

with nature and with the world it's all

one system so I like to change that last

part that last part of his recipe to

discard all thoughts of reward all hopes

of praise and fears of blame all

awareness of one's bodily self has

separate from the ecosystem and let your

hero out as it will as I was doing

research on giving this talk I looked up

the word hero and I said what images

come up when I see the word hero and

this one image came up and I thought yes

this is the quintessential hero image

right Superman pulling back his shirt

and

feeling his identity and I thought yes

that's exactly it that is exactly what

we should be doing it's like this we're

opening our hearts and we're acting from

that place so to me a hero is one who

beams his or her heart out into the

world and acts from a place of beautiful

sincerity and connected harmony or as my

father said in his own words when I look

around I always learn something that is

to be always yourself and to express

yourself to have faith in yourself do

not go out and look for a successful

personality and duplicate them like they

always copy mannerisms but they never

thought from the very least of it being

and that is how can I be

move out

this is why we're still talking about

Bruce Lee 42 years after he passed away

this is why there will never be another

Bruce Lee because he started from the

very root of his being and he asked how

can I be me and he operated from that

place of his heart and what he wanted to

create out in the world and he gave it

to us he expressed that out into the

world we've seen so many people on this

stage today who are doing exactly that

they're being heroes they are operating

out in the world through what they care

about through what they're passionate

about and they're looking to make an

impact so I say this is what we all can

do this is how we too can touch into our

own hearts and express out into the

world and be uniquely that dominating

power which we all hold in our own hands

thank

you