I had to learnthis lesson of the butterfly the hard way when I was a young girl studying with
my Master in Korea. For many weeks I had
been watching a cocoon, waiting for the butterfly to emerge. It was hard to believe that there was any
kind of life in there, and I even wondered if maybe the cocoon was dead. My master assured me much was happening that
I couldn't see. "Learn to be
patient...watch," he said.
One day I
thought I saw the tiniest of movements.
Putting my ear up to the cocoon, I was startled and thrilled to hear the
small scratching sounds of the butterfly within. After so much waiting, it was happening! Finally I was going to see a butterfly
emerge. But it seemed to be taking
forever. Although I waited for many
hours, it still didn't seem able to break out of its cocoon. I decided that it must be having trouble and
that I'd better help it. Very carefully
I peeled away the outer layer of the cocoon to set the butterfly free. The butterfly did step out, but, it couldn't
fly! It was just able to walk and
flutter. When I called to my master for
help, he saw at once what I had done without me telling him. I had interfered with the butterfly's
process. The effort--the work--to
break out of the cocoon was a necessary part of the butterfly's
transformation. In my ignorance, I took
away the work necessary to prepare for a life of flying.
Inself-discovery, work is a joyful process!
Yes, it involves effort, and it involves changing yourself. It may involve doing "scary" things
for the first time, and it involves some sacrifice. But the word sacrifice comes from a
root that means "to make holy."
Sacrifice is not real loss. In
discovering your true self, you will never lose anything you need, and you will
gain only what makes you more pure and more free!
Your work is uniquely yours. No one can do your work or your living for
you--no one can know your truth. Even
the blade of grass must move the earth by itself. But the single little blade does move
the earth! The truth is, all your
struggles, all your obstacles, all your mistakes, are destined to end in
victory, not defeat. The powerful
presence within you--your Silent Master--is the force of Love. And this Love desires above all to bring you
to your highest potential. Love brings
you every situation, every obstacle, and every lesson that you need to create
your greatest growth.
My own life
certainly has not been free of obstacles.
To reach my goal of becoming a Grandmaster, I had to overcome the
hardships of war and many centuries of limiting prejudice towards women living
in the Orient.
Today, and every
day, I still have many problems to overcome in continuing my work to train
others in the art of Jung SuWon. One
purpose of this book is to share with you the action steps that have helped me
win my goals. I have never regarded
defeat as an acceptable alternative. If
defeat has any purpose, it is only to act as a guidepost, as feedback, while
you keep moving toward your goal.
If you have tried before--and failed--try
again! In this book I will be asking you
to try it my way. I can only tell you
that my principles have worked for me and worked for my students. If you are willing to take action, they will
work for you too. I have included many action steps in this book to help you
create your own path. Keep a pencil
handy as you read, and give some of these exercises a chance. You can always go back to your way.
Remember that
you are not alone. Like the single blade
of grass, you are one with the Life Force of the universe, and you have the
power and ability to fulfill your dreams.
My greatest wish is to help you discover the true Love within you, and
show you how to use It in creating a life of fulfillment, peace, and joy.
