7
Introduction
“Success is personal. Yet so much of how someone defines it is influenced by the local, family or world events that surround
them. More so, success must be defined by the individual, for themselves in order to be accurately measured. Bruce Lee
measured his success by living his honest truth. He internalized the teachings of many philosophers and scholars from
the past and during his own time in order to understand what that truth was. We will be reading the teachings of
Jiddu Krishnamurti, one such spiritual philosopher whose writings influenced Bruce Lee. Krishnamurti did not believe in
orthodoxy or one specific way of thinking and acting. He did not believe that institutions needed tradition, just the ability
to teach a student to continually learn. This formed much of Bruce Lee’s own development of Jeet Kune Do and how he
perceived having permanent schools for its practice and instruction.”
For this lesson, assignments include reading, analyzing the effect of teachings on society, and participating in one dialogue
and one role-play activity.
(If scheduling the Bruce Lee Guided Tour at 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
Read “Developing Truth”
Read “Teachings on Success,” by Jiddu Krishnamurti
Break students into small groups. Ask them to provide responses to the following statements
and questions listed below.
1. Ask students to research or identify a major event of the 1940s, 1950s or 1960s that reshaped the conversation
of race in the United States. Research should include articles and film clips.
a. Encourage them to think of themselves as a young person during this time. Same age, same gender,
different era. What is different about being their own age in such a different time?
b. Ask them how these events would have influenced you as a young person during that era, and how that
event would have affected the choices that you make (or could not make).
c. What is your relationship to this event?
2. Bring the students back to the larger group to share their answers.
3. Now ask the students to consider what it would be like to be an adult during that same moment in history.
As a homework assignment, ask them to do some basic research on the topic, the event or era. Ask them to answer
the following questions based on their findings. They can use any books or media to conduct their research.
a. Where would you be living during this time?
b. What would be your economic class?
c. What would your profession be?
d. How would the event(s) you are researching shape your views on the world?
e. Many different influences would be telling you how to behave or what you can or cannot change in society.
How will you overcome these challenges, and make the right choices for you?
The Bruce Lee Guided Tour expands on this activity, bringing students into Bruce Lee’s era, the events happening around
him and gives them an opportunity to explore his life from several new perspectives.
LESSON 2:
DEVELOPING TRUTH
