I’ve always admired the warrior and I always wanted to be one. Yet it’s always left me deeply conflicted. This conflict stems from the superficial concept of warrior which means “fighter” as in soldier. Certainly, there are a lot of adjectives that go along with this definition of warrior which may be honor, bravery, courage, discipline, skill etc…. All of these qualities are very admirable and anybody who attempts to cultivate these qualities would be doing themselves and their communities a big favor. This is the warrior on television and in the movies.
Yet if these qualities are not tempered or complimented with the qualities of wisdom, discernment, humility, morality, integrity, ethics, compassion, generosity, respect etc. a warrior mentality could actually create great harm to oneself one’s family and one’s community. The warrior that I was indoctrinated with through my culture did not usually have these complemented qualities, if they did they probably never would’ve gotten into a fight. Thus, my conflict.
A Warrior’s main objective should not be to fight but to protect! Protecting one’s ability to thrive as well as one’s family, friends and community. This is the objective of the warrior! This means the warrior will dig ditches, search for water, gather and hunt for food & medicine, share with others, care for others. The Warrior protects not only with his fist or a weapon but with his hands, brains, skills and intention.
How do you protect yourself your family and your community if you’re locked in jail, injured or dead? If there is a chance of any of these outcomes, then fighting and war should be the least desired path for the warrior.
Ultimately the Warrior is the protector and the ultimate protection is prevention, therefore the warrior also needs to be a leader. A true leader leads by example. This means the ultimate battle is within the mind of the warrior. As the Warrior asserts dominance and dominion over their own ego, fear, anger, desires for revenge and retribution, arrogance, vanity, machismo and ignorance! This is how a warrior leads by example and through benevolent action the Warrior demonstrates the qualities that are the greatest benefit to themselves and others and do the least harm to all beings.
A warrior is not looking for the adulation of others. It’s not to say that they can’t appreciate the adulation from others yet there’s no time or room to appreciate the adulation until everyone is safe.
A real warrior is a most difficult path. One must conquer the enemy within. The enemy of desire. Whether that desire is for adulation or riches, sex or sugar, the warrior is aware and discerning. Always steering themselves never being steered. So, the real warrior (yogi) is the spiritual warrior (the path of the yogi) the one doing the fight on the inside. If they are successful, they may never have to fight on the outside, then again, they may.
sincerely, bryan
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