4
Introduction
Ask a student to volunteer and read the following:
“Bruce Lee was as much a philosopher as he was an actor or martial artist. It is his beliefs that still resonate with millions of
people today. We will be reading verses from the Tao Te Ching, a document of proverbs written by Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu was
a philosopher and teacher who lived in the 6th century BC. In Lao Tzu’s time, he taught people one-by-one. Bruce taught
classrooms of students and through his films, millions of people understood his lessons.. Yet when someone was inspired
by what they read or watched, it was through word-of-mouth or through fan clubs that his teachings spread.
In 2014 when we see something that inspires us, or when we want to share ideas with our friends, we turn to social media.
Social media is fluid—like water. People reach notoriety and then fall by the wayside; few reach viral status. The proverbial
“15 minutes of fame” has gotten even shorter. Yet there are people or issues we find interesting and websites and feeds we
return to on a regular basis, much the same way students throughout history have returned to listen to the teachings of a
mentor or very trusted friend.
Like Bruce Lee, consider what kind of legacy you would leave, what kind of advice or teaching, if you were your own idol.
Bruce Lee never meant to become a singular hero. He meant to be an example so others would be inspired to find their own
truths. What would you do? How would you speak your own truth?”
For this lesson, assignments include reading, analyzing, writing a brief statement and participating in two dialogue activities.
(If scheduling a Bruce Lee Guided Tour at the Wing Luke Museum, let the students know that the visit will expand on this
lesson, and provide an in-depth view of Bruce Lee and how he shaped himself, his family, community and society.)
Activities and Readings
Pre-Reading Discussion:
Materials
• Chalkboard or white board
• Dry erase markers or chalk (reserve one color for the stacking exercise)
1. Break students into small groups. Ask them to provide responses to the following questions listed below.
As a group, have them select two or three responses to each to share with the class.
a. How has my hero/icon changed the world?
b. In what ways has your hero made life better for you and others like you?
2. Bring the students to report back to the larger group for a stacking exercise. After writing the responses on the board,
ask each student to use a marker and place a star next to three of the responses from other groups with which they
connect or agree.
3. Have them look at the most popular responses. In a simple writing assignment, ask students to list one icon,
celebrity or hero to whom they would attribute those qualities, and why.
Readings
“The Formlessness of Water”
“Notions of Water” by Lao Tzu
LESSON 1:
THE FORMLESSNESS OF WATER
