David Carradine Found Dead
Posted: Friday, June 05, 2009
by Gregory Lewis
PopGnosis
http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/actor-david-carradine-found-dead-bangkok-ap
David Carradine was found dead, hanged, in a Thailand hotel room.
I can name, off the top of my head, three meaningful influences that shaped the direction of my life at a critical period, during my early teens. One of these was a September, 1974 National Geographic article about drugs in nature. Another was a book by Adam Smith titled "Powers of Mind." The third was David Carradine as Kwai Chang Cane in the unusual television series Kung Fu.
At that time I was undergoing some profound personality change, where I became interested in esoteric philosophy, spirituality, and in general, the supernatural; interests that have not diminished in the 35 years since. I had begun my rejection of conventional and institutional "American" religions, namely Christianity, due to my general disagreement with the environment I was growing up in, rural Massachusetts, surrounded by bumpkins, Puritans, Baptists and backward hillbillies, most of them my aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, mother, and father.
I had always been an avid reader, and joined the Science Fiction Book Club by age 14. But, in the evening my family gathered around the television, and when Kung Fu made its debut I was immediately and irrevocably hooked.
Here was the story of a Shaolin Buddhist monk, "The most unlikey hero the west has ever seen," went the advertisements. Kwai Chang Cane was a half-Chinese raised in a Shaolin temple. During a pilgrimage with his blind and ancient Master Po (Keye Luke), a prince's entourage crossed their path. "Even the Prince should not strike an old man twice," said Master Po, as he defended himself against a guard who went to strike him a second time for not moving out of the way fast enough.
From inside his palanquin the Prince loaded a pistol and shot Master Po. Enraged, Cane threw a spear through the palanquin, killing the Prince. Now a wanted man, Cane's graduation from Shaolin was expedited, with the help of Master Kan. Cane escaped to 19th Century California, during the time of the wild west. He traveled simply with a rucksack and flute. Carrying no weapons besides his own human body, Cane often engaged in physical confrontation in order to protect innocents. More often, he promoted peaceful resolution.
The show was also famous for its trademark use of the flashback.
Kung Fu impressed me more than the karate movies from Japan or the Hong Kong kung fu flicks. I even preferred Carradine over Bruce Lee, who seemed too focused on the physical manifestation of kung fu, but deficient in the spiritual. Even though David Carradine's kung fu motions were slow and amateurish, there was a bigger point to the show that transcended the actual fighting. It was the spiritual-minded man, whose training was exotic, unorthodox, and humanist. Cane came to symbolize the emerging human potential movement. This was the early 1970s, post-Vietnam Conflict.
It wasn't just kung fu I was interested in, but Taoist philosophy, the inherent magical power of the human being, and learning ability that went above and beyond conventional wisdom. Undoubtedly there was a component of rejection of parents and tradition, at least the traditions I grew up with. So much more, and it's hard to remember all the reasons for my original fascination with Kung Fu.
Eventually I went on to study martial arts, many different styles, Chinese kung fu, and Japanese karate. My quest for meaning and what lies beyond the ordinary did not stop at kung fu, and I eventually moved on to more intellectual pursuits.
Carradine also starred as a kung fu master in Circle of Iron, a cultish movie from the late 1970s that I used to watch with my like-philosophical minded college buddies. You probably knew us, we were the nerdy, socially inept outcasts who couldn't get dates.
Apparently Carradine (also the son of Gothic horror staple John Carradine) lived a life style in accord with that of Kwai Chang Cane. He still sets something of an example for me, personally, an ideal of the kind of vagabond seeker that has an appeal to me in a social world governed by superficial and material values.
Farewell, Grasshopper.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hello GregoryA great man, I mean Carradine, well you too. Anyway the teachings (I believeall things in life have a messgae or teaching when they present themselves into one's Real-ity, "real-is-to-you")) that stick with me from the series Kung Fu and Cane was his ability to always present a calm demeaner regardless of circumstances and the mental picture I have retained is always of him sitting in zazen in the middle of a road while his enemies stand around thinking to kill him and his "conquering" them without moving a muscle. Both being what I aspire to. He was a teacher that did embody what a human is capable of. His "renegade" lifestyle in many ways fits my own and I admire him greatly for the influence he had upon me. Saddened me very much when he died and when many seemed quick to redicule him for the ways of his death.A great article, well-written.Many BlessingsPlease log in to respond to this comment.You've hit the sweet spot, Goshwin. Thanks for reading. I was really into the non-muscle man, arcane spiritual side of the man. Today's Americanized "tough guy" perversion of martial arts and the absence of its connection to spirituality makes me sad.
When you said he embodied what a human was capable of, that was it exactly for me during the 70's, as I explored the human potential movement in the form of martial arts, zen, taoism, Gestalt, Alan Watts, Buddhism, Castaneda, shamanism, Gnosticism, Jung, and yes, even psychedelics. 35 years later, I am still on the quest. I see the ongoing slide into materialism and capital conquest as a world I'm not really excited about. Everywhere there is a paradise on earth, land speculators, developers and money have paved over it, just like the Joni Mitchell song.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Hello again GregoryI am very much into the study of true human empowerment. I believe we are capable of SO much and I am in awe of the mind's ability and of the body's miraculous workings. The people who furthered and some who pioneered the human-potential movement that you listed above were/are huge contributers on my path of learning. I also am very sad that people will not "wake-up" and see the true miracle and abilities of the human being. As you said, consumerism/materialism, need to conquer and control and seeking to satisfy the desire body keeps humans in bondage that they believe is a good thing. Never realizing that these things they seek are the very tools that are used to keep them in servitude to the "power-brokers". Spiritual Empowerment is so very important. Hope soon to see more wake up as the truth of the human condition continues to come to "light".As to destroying our paradises with the proclaimed dogma of "progress",I abhore. Many call me "Tree-hugger", most not in a complimentary manner, although it contains many more facets than just our trees.In Gloucester, Mass I was so saddened at the amount of land and ocean being bought out from under the native people, being developed/paved. The people who have lived for generations in Gloucester seemingly have no control over whether they wish to lose their lands or not. The fishermen can no longer provide sustenance for themselves and their families. Some are selling out and moving to Florida but the issue is much more than just loss of ancesteral lands/lifestyles. It is about a beautiful island with magnificient beaches that are barren. All due to the illusion of "progress". I am still amazed that "a person" can buy a piece of an ocean for personal gain. That "right" pretty much sums up the rediculouness of most workings on this beautiful planet. The Joni Mitchell song is a favorite of mine and spoke the truth musically.Here on my little piece of paradise I hear the big log-trucks with their loads of downed trees and it hurts to the core that people cannot see the tree without seeing the dollar. I pray, wish, hope and intend for people to realize (real in one's eyes-perception) to see the situation change soon. My joy in life, the birds singing, seeing Nature in all her forms sustains me in my sadness though sometimes the grief for what is already lost and the continuance of the losses can darken my days if I fail to be diligent enough to allow this.The days of the "tough-guy" mentality in ALL it's facets I hope is on the way out. The martial arts, as you said, are NOT about muscle and brawn but the media and people's adrenalin addiction/craving love the violence angle. Again, SAD.Have enjoyed your wrtings and your viewpoints and your wisdom very much. Thank youMany BlessingsPlease log in to respond to this comment.
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