Like the candle, iam my own fuel, consuming myself.

This is a line from a poem by Bruce Lee, the famous martial artist and actor. The poem is called "The Silent Flute" and it expresses Lee’s philosophy of life and self-actualization.

Introduction

The Silent Flute is a poem that Bruce Lee wrote as part of a movie script that he co-wrote with Sterling Silliphant, the screenwriter of the Oscar-winning In the Heat of the Night¹. The movie was never made, but the poem survives as a testament to Lee's vision and wisdom. The poem is about a hero named Cord, who embarks on a quest to find the ultimate truth and enlightenment. Along the way, he encounters various challenges and temptations that test his resolve and character. The poem is also a reflection of Lee's own journey as a martial artist and a human being, who sought to transcend the limitations of his body and mind.

Analysis

The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB. The meter is irregular, but mostly iambic. The tone is solemn and introspective, with occasional flashes of humor and irony. The imagery is rich and symbolic, drawing from various sources such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Western philosophy. The poem can be divided into two parts: the first two stanzas describe Cord's quest and the obstacles he faces, while the last two stanzas reveal his realization and transformation.

Stanza 1

> I wish neither to possess nor to be possessed.
> I no longer covet paradise.
> More important, I no longer fear hell.
> The medicine for my suffering I had within me from the very beginning,
> But I did not take it.

The first stanza introduces Cord's detachment from worldly desires and fears. He does not want to own anything or anyone, nor does he want to be owned by anything or anyone. He has transcended the dualistic concepts of heaven and hell, which are often used to manipulate and control people. He has realized that the source of his suffering and happiness lies within himself, not outside. He has the power to heal himself, but he did not use it until now.

Stanza 2

> My ailment came from within myself,
> But I did not observe it,
> Until this moment.
> Now I see that I will never find the light
> Unless, like the candle, I am my own fuel,
> Consuming myself.

The second stanza explains the cause and the cure of Cord's ailment. His ailment is his ignorance, his lack of awareness, his attachment to illusions. He did not observe his own mind and body, he did not pay attention to his own thoughts and feelings, he did not question his own beliefs and assumptions. He was blind to his own reality, until this moment of awakening. Now he sees that the only way to find the light, the truth, the enlightenment, is to be his own fuel, his own source of energy and inspiration, his own teacher and guide. He has to consume himself, to burn away his ego, his ignorance, his delusions, his impurities, until nothing remains but the pure essence of his being.

Stanza 3

> The sage dresses in rags,
> But carries a jewel in his heart.
> He knows the outer world is a dream,
> And the inner world is reality.

The third stanza contrasts the sage, the wise man, with the fool, the ignorant man. The sage dresses in rags, he does not care about appearances, he does not seek fame or fortune, he does not chase after material things. But he carries a jewel in his heart, he has a priceless treasure within himself, he has the wisdom and the compassion that make him rich and happy. He knows the outer world is a dream, he does not take it too seriously, he does not get attached to it, he does not suffer from it. And he knows the inner world is reality, he pays attention to it, he cultivates it, he enjoys it.

Stanza 4

> He has seen the end of the rainbow,
> And found there is no pot of gold.
> He has seen the face of God,
> And found there is no face.

The fourth stanza reveals the ultimate discovery of the sage, the end of his quest. He has seen the end of the rainbow, he has reached the goal of his journey, he has fulfilled his desire. And he found there is no pot of gold, he found there is no reward, no prize, no satisfaction, no fulfillment. He has seen the face of God, he has encountered the supreme reality, the ultimate truth, the highest power. And he found there is no face, he found there is no form, no name, no concept, no definition. He found that God is beyond all words and images, beyond all dualities and distinctions, beyond all limitations and boundaries. He found that God is everything and nothing, everywhere and nowhere, everyone and no one. He found that God is himself, and he is God.

Conclusion

The Silent Flute is a poem that expresses Bruce Lee's philosophy of life and self-actualization. It is a poem that challenges us to look within ourselves, to question our assumptions, to transcend our limitations, to find our own light, to be our own fuel, to consume ourselves. It is a poem that invites us to join the quest of the hero, the quest of the sage, the quest of the poet, the quest of the human being. It is a poem that inspires us to be ourselves, and to be more than ourselves. It is a poem that speaks to us, and to the silence within us.