Episode 5: Making Moves
Peace
For this exploration, I wanna stray from what we have done in the past
I want to take you outside and literally explore
To be mindful you don't have to be still
Your eyes don't have to be closed
Meditation just means you are aware of your inner and outer self
So put on some kicks and let's go outside
To a place where you can stretch your legs, move around, you know
If you need to, just hit pause, and I'll wait for you
Are you ready? Let's do this
I want you to start walking
A little slower than normal
Try to keep yourself in a straight line
As you walk, focus on your breath
In through your nose, out through your mouth
Feel your chest rise up and fall
Flow in, flow out
Keep breathing
Before Wu-Tang was Wu-Tang, I walked all over Staten Island
I mean I walked the Parkhill Projects to Stapleton to New Brighton
I took the long route to up Targee Street, down Van Duzer
And then up the big hill on Ceber Avenue
Those walks in Shaolin built wisdom in me
And they revealed to me what I wanted to do and what I could do
And most importantly, what I should do
How to take on a obstacle or avoid a trap?
How to build Wu-Tang?
How to launch a label?
How to create music not only for the children of my generation
But even the children of future generations
I want you to find wisdom in your walk
Slowly let your focus drift to your legs
Be mindful of every step, lifting each foot up
Moving your leg forward, placing it down again
Feel every part of every step
As you do, look around you
Slowly take in the sights
Are they new?
Or have you been looking at these things your whole life?
Look closer
Is there something there you've never realized?
And let your mind become more focused
Think about the goal that lies ahead
Analyze it, then start to form a plan
Continue this
Think about the obstacles and the opportunities on your path to that goal
Now assess them
Turn these ideas over in your mind as many times as you like
Again and again and again
Multiplying, adding, subtracting, divide them
Don't stop walking until you feel settled
It could take hours and that's cool
The great Indian monk who helped found the Shaolin, he walked from India to China
That's a lot of miles
When I was stuck trying to figure out my screenplay for my movie
I walked through the streets of Pittsburgh
It was the steel heritage of that city that gave me the inspiration
To think about making our character have iron fists strong as steel
When your mind feels clear, turn around and head back
Take the same path
This time look at your conclusions from a different perspective
What is the flip side of each obstacle, each opportunity
Pressure test your plan
When we change our surroundings, we open up new perspective and higher levels of thought
That's why I take walks to this very day
What can you use from this walk to move forward in your life
Maybe it's a tangible plan
Maybe it's just the awareness you've created
My walks lead me to the Wu-Tang and remain a vital part of my creative process
Where will your walks take you?
We're approaching the end of our exploration, and as you press stop on this
Just remember that you can return whenever you want
And the RZA will be here waiting to explore with you
Peace
Bong Bong
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Making Moves - RZA
