Shannon  Lee (t:@bruceleeFDN) is an American actress, martial artist and businesswoman. She is the only daughter of martial arts film star Bruce Lee and author of “Be Water My Friend”.
A crisis led her to Shannon to her father’s philosophy – her brother was killed on a film set when she was 24 (her father died when she was four)
The tragedy sent her to a dark place – she was bewildered and wondered how to go on
Shannon realized she’d been mildly depressed her whole life
Filled with grief, she went through the motions of life for a few years
After getting photocopies of her father’s writings, his thoughts on life turned her, especially this quote: “The medicine for suffering is within, but (some) do not take it…”
Don’t ignore suffering, explore it
Bruce’s philosophy centers on self-actualization: fulfilling your potential in your job/role and as a human being
He believed everyone should be the best at what they do
Bruce called himself an artist of life
As a philosophy student in college, Bruce found that for him, philosophy explained the why of the martial arts movement
He tried to put his philosophy into action, not just studying it as theory
Bruce had this revelation when he was 17 when he unsuccessfully faced off with an opponent
His teacher told him to take a week off and “get out of your head, be more fluid. Be gentle.”
Taking a boat out to Hong Kong harbor, Bruce started punching the water out of frustration
He had an epiphany- the harder he punched the water, the more it just moved out of the way
Bruce thought: “My mind should be like a bird’s reflection on water” – gentle, fluid
He believed that when people are faced with obstacles in their lives, they should flow with them and move forward: Be fluid when responding to life’s challenges
Bruce said the cup is like a mind. If it’s full, it’s useless. Let it be empty to allow for maximum learning and input
The “empty cup” represents the notion of being aware of what’s happening now
Let go of your judgment – meet each moment with openness and awareness and allow for new perceptions
Bruce liked to move and meditate: “let the mind be loose”
Bruce had an ability to assess himself even when he won a contest
Bruce would have “moral reminders” turned into plaques
The Stages of Cultivation
  • Partiality
  • Fluidity
  • Emptiness
He created a medallion like “No limitation as limitation” and often carried affirmation cards in his pocket
Bruce did not keep a standard journal – he wrote whatever he thought on anything, any time
His inspirational writings were done through multiple drafts which illuminate his thought processes to the reader
Bruce had no negative writings – only constructive ones full of problem-solving
If you must “rage on a page”, do it, then throw it away
Bruce used the time to read about anatomy, hoping to expedite his recovery
He also used the bed-ridden time to write extensively
Walk On – the written card he kept next to his bed for encouragement