What I learned about resilience and growth from the RZA.

If you like hip hop then you have most likely heard of the Wu Tang Clan. The legendary group was founded in Staten Island, New York, in the 1990s by a brilliant young man, formally known as the RZA. 

Wu Tang Clan’s raw sound and unique lyrical style attracted me growing up. Attending a predominantly white middle school in Woodland Hills, California, I found their music was different than what everyone else was listening to. I always wanted to be different growing up. This is why when I was anxious about my case in the Los Angeles County Jail back in 2022, I decided to buy the RZA’s book called “The Tao of Wu” instead of the usual recommended fantasy or fictional books. 

The book was not what I expected at all. It was not the basic autobiography about the Wu Tang Clan’s musical history I had anticipated. The RZA has so much more to offer other than a unique style of hip hop. 

The RZA uses a far eastern philosophy that was new to me at first but became so clear afterwards. Tao is Chinese for “the way” and is pronounced “dow.” In “The Tao of Wu,” the RZA shares his life experiences and wisdom through “an accumulation of songs, parables, meditations, and experiences to help manifest that truth in your life.” The RZA wrote this book with the intention to help others manifest that truth in their lives. He made this book a short and easy read, while also making it deep and impactful for your soul. 

Reading this made me realize that though prison is my island, I can’t let the culture of prison make me into someone I’m not.

Why did an unparalleled artist from Staten Island choose the Tao? The RZA grew up watching kung fu movies, which is where he got his interest in far eastern philosophy. He was especially impacted by “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin,” about a man who trains to be a monk, then leaves the Shaolin temple to teach the world their style of kung fu.

Early in his performance career, the RZA visited the original Shaolin Temple in China where he saw the real Wu-Tang mountain. As he looked up to the range of peaks called the Nine Dragons he saw three mountains forming a giant W — the symbol he chose to represent a crew of nine men. Now, the RZA wants to teach the world wisdom because he realized his life and experiences were all part of one whole.

When I read this, I was fighting a life sentence in prison. I was at a point of my life where I needed something to believe in and guide me. I needed to obtain the wisdom that led the RZA to become so insightful. Many of the parables and imagery spoke to me, but three in particular stood out. 

First, the RZA quotes the Bible’s Book of Proverbs that states how, “King Solomon chooses wisdom over the other gifts God offers him.” This is why I decided to use the time I am incarcerated to enroll in college classes and expand my education. I took a geography class which informed me about the functions of our planet. I also took a psychology class that taught me about the human mind. These classes expanded my education on the external world around me and also the internal world within the mind.

Next, there is a short story in the book called “Island: a Parable of Solitude.” The moral of this story is that an island can show the true nature of life itself. The RZA concludes by saying, “I advise everyone to find an island in this life. Find a place where this culture can’t take energy from you, sap your will and originality.” 

Reading this made me realize that though prison is my island, I can’t let the culture of prison make me into someone I’m not. For example, it’s honestly normal to use drugs and give up on yourself when you receive a life sentence. However, I pride myself in living my life sober and positive and not letting that prison “norm” lead me into a life of addiction and depression.

Last but not least, the RZA talks about 12 jewels — not actual gems or diamonds, of course, but lessons. Each one, the the RZA explains, has its own profound meaning, and each one takes work and meditation to achieve. The 12 jewels are: knowledge, wisdom, understanding, freedom, justice, equality, food, clothing, shelter, peace, love, and happiness. 

At first they just seemed like words. But on reflection, these lessons led me towards greater purpose. 

For instance, knowledge of myself has helped me in my sobriety. Before, I would fight my own nature because of my addiction and need to fit in and I would make pointless relations. I lost myself in my addiction to the point of insanity. Now, I know myself and through that realize I am a kind, humble person born for great success. Once I got my knowledge of self, wisdom and understanding followed as a chain reaction.

Peace, love, and happiness are the goals anyone would want in life and they are the final three jewels. I have been blessed with peace.

The jewels of freedom, justice, and equality resonate with how I got to prison. Freedom — my free will — is what allowed me to commit a crime. Although I was “free” to do so, I was later charged and convicted of my crime which is justice playing its role. Now, equality is the idea that every man is created equal. Reflecting on the idea of equality, now I know that I should have practiced my free will to show equality towards others and allow justice for all but my lack of wisdom led me to life in prison.

The chain reaction continues with food, clothing, and shelter. Although you physically need food for nourishment, clothing for protection, and shelter for a home, you also need these jewels mentally. You need to feed your mind with education or experiences. I have learned chess, dominoes, and pinochle in prison to keep my mind fed and active. You also need mental clothing which is the way you carry yourself. I have been working on using more educated words to talk and I show kindness in my actions so people recognize I carry myself with respect and humility. Now you need mental shelter, which will protect you from the lies and corruption of the outside world. My mental shelter consists of substance abuse classes to build relapse prevention plans and techniques to maintain my sobriety and avoid the evils addiction can bear.

Peace, love, and happiness are the goals anyone would want in life and they are the final three jewels. I have been blessed with peace — the peace of mind in an institution made to hold you in and break you. I have also obtained love — love for myself — that allows me to stay positive and sober. Finally, the 12 jewels gave me happiness. My inner happiness no one can take away and no matter where I am I’ll smile and laugh.

All these lessons have taught me that some things are inevitable in prison, but I can still be my true self and aim to be better in the end. The RZA mentions that the best tactic in chess is to never give up and that is how we should all live our lives. This is why even though I have a life sentence, I am going to play right down to the last move: never give up.

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Edwin Velez writes from Wasco State Prison in Wasco, California.