Dao (of Law School)

For nearly a decade, I pursued a life in accordance with Tao. While in college, I woke up early every morning and performed Taoist energetic, calisthenic, meditative, and preservative exercises for at least two hours. In the afternoons and evenings, I would practice martial arts and fighting techniques for another couple hours. On every break from school, I traveled to the mountainous regions of southern California to train with my traditional Taoist and martial arts instructor. While I was there, I devoted 10 to 15 hours a day to such training. I loved this pursuit. I experienced changes to my mental, physical, and spiritual capacities that are beyond even my own belief. My physical movements became pre-cognitive, my mental state was like a pool of ancient undisturbed, unpolluted waters, and I entered spiritual realms and states that priorly never existed for me.

The pursuit of law, and especially the study of Law in law school is quite Taoist in nature. Tao reaches into eternity. Its principles are etched onto the very structure of the universe. Law has ancient roots as well. In the study of law, it sometimes seems that we must reach deep into the bowels of the earth itself, in order to extract a jewel of knowledge. Most days the answer is that there are no hard and fast answers. There is only the pursuit. The endless pursuit, to gain some understanding of what is law. But, if you follow a stream long enough, the primary source will soon reveal itself.

Similar to my pursuit of Tao, my pursuit of Law has caused immense changes in my being. I used to have difficulty putting certain things in order (hence my difficulty with multiple choice questions), which is evidenced by my getting lost every time I drive an auto. Lately, I have noticed I can analytically work my way through problems that I was unable to priorly. No more getting lost.

The key attribute being engrained on my spirit through the pursuit of law is EFFICIENCY. I never really understood the pressures of time until I entered law school. Efficiency is a philosophical principle. Bruce Lee revolutionized martial arts in the 1960s-70s, through stressing economy of motion. Flowery, fanciful movements were replaced with whatever got you from point A to B the quickest. That which has truth is often revealed in combat.

All disciples are vehicles to higher levels of existence. I did not come to law school for the almighty $, I came to reach a higher plane of understanding. If you reflect, perhaps you may see that you boat is riding down stream next to mine.