Date: May 8, 2026
Author: Chitra Kolluru
A blog in the series – Films that Inspire
Kung Fu Panda (2008), the beautifully animated film and the first of the series, reveals many life truths. The unmistakable charm of this film is the wisdom that is so beautifully brought forward in the story.
The Storyline
Tigress, Mantiz, Monkey, Viper and Crane – The Five, as they were called, were diligent students of the eminent and highly respectable Kung Fu school situated in Jade Palace in the Valley of Peace where the very old Master Oogway was an epitome of peace and wisdom. His student was the respectable Master Shifu, teacher to The Five. Sheer practice, ascetic approach, obedience, humility, back-breaking hard work and an unshakeable reverence for the masters and the institution characterized the environment at Jade Palace. The Five were the renowned students of Kung Fu, unmatchable in their skill and strength. Proud of their craft, they wore their badge of pride with responsibility and a sense of earned privilege; obedient and ever at the service of their Master Shifu.
Master Shifu, the gifted teacher of Kung Fu and now in charge of Jade Palace bore the burden of his position. He was in wait for his old teacher Oogway to select the Dragon Warrior, the destiny’s chosen one to bring protection, eminence and ultimate peace to the Valley of Peace. For many years, Shifu was training the Five so one of them could be chosen by Oogway and the Universal Power to be the Dragon Warrior.
The time for the Dragon Warrior was imminent. The very dangerous Tai Lung, an earlier student of Jade, after being refused the Dragon Warrior position by Oogway had turned foe and vowed to destroy the Valley of Peace. And he was now fated to break out of prison.
Below in the valley of Peace a little away from the magnanimity of the Jade palace lived Po the Panda with his adopted father making and selling noodles. He hated his mundane life and dreamed of a life of Kung Fu. There wasn’t a detail or a story about Kung Fu or Shifu or Jade school that missed him, but he was caught between his life chores and his love for food. And while he hated his life, he was resigned to it.
However, once the day of picking the Dragon Warrior was announced, none could stop Po from eloping from his noodle shop, panting his way up the thousand steps to the Jade palace — an impossible feat for him; only to find he was locked out for being late. But he was not going to miss the announcement of the Dragon Warrior for anything.
After multiple failed attempts, he finally tied himself to a chair of crackers to launch himself into the stadium with an intent to grab atleast the last part of the important show. And lo and behold, he landed right in the middle of the palace Arena and under the pointing finger of Oogway and to the shock and dismay of everyone present, was announced the Dragon Warrior.
Gems of Wisdom
Oogway, the wise old master, was deeply connected with a higher consciousness and had an unshakable faith in that higher power to do what was best in every situation. He valued goodness in the heart as the indispensable quality for a Dragon Warrior and was willing to thwart obvious expectations and wait patiently for the right time and right candidate.
Many a time in life, we have a preconceived idea of success, achievement, and are often impressed by the show; we seldom value simplicity, honesty and goodness, qualities that carry the fragrance of God. Even though the going may get tough temporarily, when the right choice is made, it ultimately leads to safe outcomes and victory at the end.
When Shifu is tasked with training the unexpected Dragon Warrior to his utter shock and disappointment, he starts with a lack of belief in the task and frustration. He first tries to use the same motivations that worked for the Five. But he realizes that Po’s motivations are different, and hence he has to employ a very different approach and method to train him.
Many a time in life, when faced with an unprecedented situation, we refuse to innovate and fall back on a method that has worked for us a hundred times before. We blame the situation rather than questioning ourselves; until we are pushed by someone or something to the brink. Nature wants us to apply ourselves to the situation; life’s predicaments are meant to teach us to change ourselves, to take risks, to innovate and to make us progress.
When Po was given the much-prized Dragon Scroll, left behind by Oogway and meant only for the Dragon Warrior’s eyes, something that would reveal the secret to becoming invincible, he was shocked to see it was empty. That drained him of what little courage his training had given him to face Tai Lung. He just left the scene. It was only when he musters courage and returns to help Shifu face Tai Lung that his hidden power suddenly makes him invincible.
Just as in the film, so in life, the only secret sauce to winning life’s situations is the inner power born of our will to do, to face, to stand, to fight, when all is lost, when we refuse to give up and run away, when we take a chance because the only thing that matters is to do the right thing.
All battles are fought on a higher plane; they are won or lost by something higher, we are meant to do our best, but not just any best, our very best, as if nothing else mattered, win or loss notwithstanding, the right thing at all costs. Our every act is a case we make before the Grace that will decide our place in life’s race. Our job is to act, even if that was the last thing we could do in life.
“Each victory gained over oneself means new strength to gain more victories.”
~ Sri Aurobindo, Thoughts and Aphorisms, No. 88