“The RZA” is a celebrated hip-hop artist, and founder of the Wu Tang-Clang, but he is also a deeply spiritual man; someone who’s perspective of the world boarders on the mystical at times. This becomes most evident in the words (and silences) he has written in The Tao of Wu, a series of meditations interweaving stories from RZA’s personal journey, Islam, math, Kung Fu, music, chess, poetry... His audience is a particular one: the youth of our city streets, the ones living in poverty, uncertainty, caught in a schizophrenic economic system. He can speak to these youth (and adults) with honesty and respect, because he knows where they come from, what they endure, what their fears are, in a way that others could never do. But he also knows that wisdom lives in each of us, no matter what our living conditions. That if we look closely enough, wisdom can be found anyplace, even in death and disease, even in a culture of violence, perhaps even in the darkest alleyway in the neighborhood. It is our relationship to our conditions of suffering that offers a window into wisdom. And the quality of our relationship with others:
“…knowledge means knowing, but wisdom means acting—acting on what you know, seeing the person who’s drowning right the fuck in front of you, and stepping in… My mom’s death ripped something from me that isn’t coming back. But it forced my mind and heart to remember, to accept what I can’t change and get the freedom that comes with that…When we neglect others out of superficial wisdom, fake respect, phony knowledge—we tell ourselves it’s their life; we say it’s not our responsibility…Fuck that. Get involved. Or we’ll all feel the pain.” (p.171)
Amid quotes from masters such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jesus, Lao-Tzu, Rumi and Aristotle, RZA breaks down his insights into the ancient seven pillars of wisdom, getting real about the issues that afflict our spiritual maturity, from materialism (especially in rap culture) in the chapter entitled “Bling and Nothingness,” to drugs, to vegetarianism. Though RZA incorporates many wisdom traditions in his work, clearly Islam and mathematics within Islam, has had a profound significance on his own spiritual journey and comes up often in his writing; not in an evangelical way, but just that it is deeply rooted in his perceptions of life and the world, and to share one, he must share all. I admit to knowing almost nothing about this spiritual tradition but found it both intriguing and complementary to the ways I often see hidden connections among the details in life.
The details of RZA’s life have been complex and challenging; he makes no excuses but employs wit and humility to offer guidance from his experience. This combination is powerful. And although I think I missed some of his meaning simply because our backgrounds differ so greatly, I found affirmation of the wisdom I have cultivated in my own life, albeit under different conditions. Reminding me that no matter where we come from (or where we’re going), we are each a spiritual being traveling an individual path—a path that demands the wisdom and love of others.
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