I think the present group of students in the sihing class is going to achieve something that has not been achieved often in the recent past. It sounds like we are all going to test for black belt - has that ever happened before? But that's not the special part. The special part is that slowly but surely, we are all coming together, rooting for eachother, helping eachother and getting to really appreciate how we can help eachother out through our individual strengths and weaknesses - each and everyone of us.

I think as a school, we have been a little hesitant to explore what we can achieve as a group of students. The 'personal journey' is emphasized and we tend to overlook the fact that groups of people can do alot more than isolated individuals. Master Brinker has often said that the road to black belt is a lonely one - I don't think that is neccessarily true.

I would like to quote something that I read a while back and got me thinking about how, as a group, the present class of sihings can make a contribution to what we learn and experience at Silent River Kung Fu.

From 'The Knowing Heart: A Sufi Path of Transformation' the following excerpt was written by Kabir Helminski and is entitled, 'The Premises of a Sufi Education'.

1. The soul itself needs to be educated and trained. The soul needs knowledge and practice in the areas such as self awareness, attention, will, relationship, service and worship.

2. This education and training is best conducted together with others - not just for the sake of convenience, but because of the opportunities to know ourselves through relationship and because the quality of energy that is generated and shared in a group.

3. There are people who have experience and knowledge in this area . . . to provide wisdom, guidance, and inspiration. We resist the idea of such a relationship because relationships demand something of us; honesty, commitment, change. Even if we consider ourselves on a spiritual path, we would rather commit to a technique, such as meditation, which preserves our imagined autonomy and freedom, than to a relationship and a spiritual family.

Its something worth mulling over. However we interpret the above, I believe that the present class of sihings can provide an example and leadership in the area of working together as a group.