What Kungfu Panda taught me about Inner Peace
I recently rewatched one of my favourite animation movie- Kungfu Panda- a 2008 movie by Dreamworks Animation. Besides loving the cheerful and positive personality of the main character Po, and his adorable appearance, Kungfu Panda has taught me important lessons in life on achieving inner peace.
Learning to Let Go
1. Let Go of the need for control
On two occasions, Master Oogway has imparted his wisdom of "letting go" to both Master Shifu and Po separately.
Master Shifu was worried about the return of villain, Tai Lung and how bad things will become.
Po was worried about not being good enough in becoming the dragon warrior and wanted to give up.
On both occasions, Master Oogway taught the characters to let go of the need to control how things should be and how things might become.
Indeed, life is filled with uncertainty. It's only when we learn to let go of regretting the past of how things turned out or worry about how the future might become, can we really be at peace with the present and truly experience life.
Let what might come, come.
2. Let Go of others' definition of you
Big, round and flabby - these are characteristics that we would never associate with a kungfu warrior.
No one could believe that Po was going to be the dragon warrior and save the day.
Yet, at the end of story, he defeated the villain, Tai Lang all by himself as he started to believe in himself, not defined by who he is (a panda) or what others think of him.
Our perception of self is build upon the voices we hear from what others say about us or what society tells us. However, it is important to shield away from noises that doesn't serve us and truly believe in ourselves.
3. Let Go of Undesired Wants
Because of his obsession for the dragon scroll and becoming the dragon warrior, Tai Lung's undesired wants blind him into a vicious, cruel being who even tried to kill his master, Master Shifu.
Our obsession comes from our inner desires and needs. They are not real. At the end of the story, it was revealed that the dragon scroll contains nothing at all. It was not a secret to limitless power that many thought to be and Tai Lang had wasted many years of his life being obsessed with something that doesn't exist.
We have to be mindful of our obsessions and question what inner needs or desires are we really trying to fulfil, Many times, we blindly pursue something just because others are doing it or society tells us to, without really questioning if that is what we truly want. Other times, we get blinded by the thought that only by accomplishing or obtaining something, we can be happy. Remember that these are all thoughts and not the reality. Just like how Tai Lung believe that only by obtaining the dragon scroll, can he be powerful, it turns out he was wrong.
4. You just Gotta Believe
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At the end of the story, Po's father, the goose, revealed the secret ingredient to his secret ingredient noodles- Nothing.
There is no secret ingredient. You just have to believe it's special, and it is.
It was not a dragon scroll that gave Po kungfu power, it was his belief of himself that gave him limitless power.
Our only limit is ourselves.
At the end of Master Oogway's life, his last words to Master Shifu was to ask him to believe in Po as the dragon warrior who will bring peace to the village.
Reluctant, Master Shifu promised him.
When Master Shifu started to believe, he saw the potential in Po and thought of another way to train him to become a dragon warrior- through food!
Our perspectives of life defines our reality. When we start to believe in ourselves, we see possibilities and opportunities instead of problems.
As a saying goes "There can be miracles when you believe."
When we learn to let go and start to believe in ourselves, can we achieve inner peace.
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