This story was told by Sifu Sam Chin at the 2006 I-Liq Chuan Intensive retreat in NY (I recall it fairly well, let me know if I've missed something):
There are 8 brothers working together to run a store.
- The first five brothers are in charge of the inventory and customers, stocking the shelves etc. and represent the five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing.
- The sixth brother is the mind and tallys up the totals, executes the plans (the 'sixth sense' manages the other five).
- The seventh brother is responsible for judgment and feeling, helping to determine what's important, values etc. He sets the prices determines the products for sale and plans for the future.
- The eighth brother is the storage center (input/output). Whatever the seventh brother checks in the eighth brother stores perfectly and returns upon request.
The aim of mindfulness training is to kill the seventh brother.
Why kill the seventh brother? Why not simply put him in his place. Well, it's not that easy, you can't negotiate or compromise with him. He's unreasonable - all or nothing. You've got to shut him down permanently.
The seventh brother is about the past and future, never the present moment. The present moment, or 'suchness feel' is the doorway to mindfulness and is the foundation of our practice. In order to progress you must put your intention on your attention. This is why it's really difficult to reach a high level without diligent and correct partner practice. Think of I-Liq Chuan as a wonderful and sophisticated set of tools for the development of mindfulness.
