The warrior of light knows that it is impossible to live in a state of complete relaxation.
He has learned from the archer that, in order to shoot his arrow any distance, he must hold the bow taut. He has learned from the stars that only an inner explosion allows them to shine. The warrior notices that when a horse is about to jump over a fence, it tenses all its muscles.
But he never confuses tension with anxiety.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
030. Warrior of Light
A warrior of light needs love.
Love and affection are as much a part of his nature as eating and drinking and a taste for the Good Fight. When the warrior watched a sunset and feels no joy, then something is wrong.
At this point, he stops fighting and goes in search of company, so that they can watch the setting sun together.
If he has difficulty in finding company, he asks himself: ’Was I too afraid to approach someone? Did I receive affection and not even notice?’
A warrior of light makes use of solitude, but is not used by it.
Love and affection are as much a part of his nature as eating and drinking and a taste for the Good Fight. When the warrior watched a sunset and feels no joy, then something is wrong.
At this point, he stops fighting and goes in search of company, so that they can watch the setting sun together.
If he has difficulty in finding company, he asks himself: ’Was I too afraid to approach someone? Did I receive affection and not even notice?’
A warrior of light makes use of solitude, but is not used by it.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
029. Warrior of Light
When a warrior is the victim of some injustice, he usually tries to be alone, in order not to show his pain to others.
This is both good and bad.
It is one thing to allow one’s heart to heal its wounds slowly, but it is quite another to sit all day in deep contemplation for fear of seeming weak.
Inside each of us there lives an angel and a devil, and their voices are very alike. Confronted by a problem, the devil encourages that solitary conversation, trying to show us how vulnerable we are. The angel makes us reflect upon attitudes and occasionally needs someone else’s mouth to reveal itself.
A warrior balances solitude and dependence.
This is both good and bad.
It is one thing to allow one’s heart to heal its wounds slowly, but it is quite another to sit all day in deep contemplation for fear of seeming weak.
Inside each of us there lives an angel and a devil, and their voices are very alike. Confronted by a problem, the devil encourages that solitary conversation, trying to show us how vulnerable we are. The angel makes us reflect upon attitudes and occasionally needs someone else’s mouth to reveal itself.
A warrior balances solitude and dependence.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
028. Warrior of Light
‘When I draw my bow’, says Herrigel to his Zen master, ‘there comes a point when I feel as if I will get breathless if do not let fly at once.’
‘If you continue to try to provoke the moment when you must release the arrow, you will never learn the art of the archer,’ says his master. ‘Sometimes, it is the archer’s own overactive desire that ruins the accuracy of the shot.’
A warrior of light sometimes thinks: ‘If I do not do something it will not be done.’
It is not quite like that: he must act, but he must allow room for the universe to act too.
‘If you continue to try to provoke the moment when you must release the arrow, you will never learn the art of the archer,’ says his master. ‘Sometimes, it is the archer’s own overactive desire that ruins the accuracy of the shot.’
A warrior of light sometimes thinks: ‘If I do not do something it will not be done.’
It is not quite like that: he must act, but he must allow room for the universe to act too.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
027. Warrior of Light
The warrior of light meditates.
He sits in a quiet place in his tent and surrenders himself to the divine light. When he does this, he tries not to think about anything; he shuts himself from the search for pleasure, from challenges and revelations, and allows his gifts and powers to reveal themselves.
Even if he does not recognise them then, these gifts and powers are taking care of his life and will influence his day to day existence.
While he meditates, the warrior is not himself, but a spark from the Soul of the World. These are the moments that give him an understanding of his responsibilities and how he should behave accordingly.
A warrior of light knows that in silence of his heart he will hear an order that will guide him.
He sits in a quiet place in his tent and surrenders himself to the divine light. When he does this, he tries not to think about anything; he shuts himself from the search for pleasure, from challenges and revelations, and allows his gifts and powers to reveal themselves.
Even if he does not recognise them then, these gifts and powers are taking care of his life and will influence his day to day existence.
While he meditates, the warrior is not himself, but a spark from the Soul of the World. These are the moments that give him an understanding of his responsibilities and how he should behave accordingly.
A warrior of light knows that in silence of his heart he will hear an order that will guide him.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
026. Warrior of Light
The philosopher Lao Tzu says of the journey of the warrior of light:
‘The Way involves respect for all small and subtle things. Learn to recognise the right moment to adopt the necessary attitudes.’
‘Even if you have already fired a bow several times, continue to pay attention to how you position the arrow and how you flex the string.’
‘When a beginner knows what he needs, he proves more intelligent than an absent minded sage.’
‘Accumulating love brings luck, accumulating hatred brings calamity. Anyone who fails to recognise problems leaves the door open for tragedies to rush in.’
‘The battle is not the same as the quarrel.’
‘The Way involves respect for all small and subtle things. Learn to recognise the right moment to adopt the necessary attitudes.’
‘Even if you have already fired a bow several times, continue to pay attention to how you position the arrow and how you flex the string.’
‘When a beginner knows what he needs, he proves more intelligent than an absent minded sage.’
‘Accumulating love brings luck, accumulating hatred brings calamity. Anyone who fails to recognise problems leaves the door open for tragedies to rush in.’
‘The battle is not the same as the quarrel.’
Thursday, June 09, 2005
025. Warrior of Light
A warrior of light shares his world with the people he loves.
He tries to encourage them to do the things they would like to do but fir which they lack the courage; at such times, the Enemy appears holding two wooden signs in his hand.
On one sign is written: ‘Think about yourself. Keep all the blessings for yourself, otherwise you’ll end up losing everything.’
On the other sign, he reads: ‘Who do you think you are, helping other people? Can’t you see your own faults?’
A warrior knows that he has faults. But he knows too that he cannot do his growing alone and thus distance himself from his companions.
Therefore, he throws the two signs to the floor, even if he thinks they may contain a grain of truth. The signs crumble into dust, and the warrior continues to encourage those nearest him.
He tries to encourage them to do the things they would like to do but fir which they lack the courage; at such times, the Enemy appears holding two wooden signs in his hand.
On one sign is written: ‘Think about yourself. Keep all the blessings for yourself, otherwise you’ll end up losing everything.’
On the other sign, he reads: ‘Who do you think you are, helping other people? Can’t you see your own faults?’
A warrior knows that he has faults. But he knows too that he cannot do his growing alone and thus distance himself from his companions.
Therefore, he throws the two signs to the floor, even if he thinks they may contain a grain of truth. The signs crumble into dust, and the warrior continues to encourage those nearest him.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
024. Warrior of Light
A warrior knows that his best teachers are the people with whom he shares the battlefield.
It is dangerous to ask for advice. It is even more dangerous to give advice. When he needs help, he tries to see how his friends resolve – or fail to resolve – their problems.
If he is in search of inspiration he reads on the lips of his neighbour the words that his guardian angel is trying to say to him.
When he is tried or lonely he does not dream about distant men and women; he turns to the person beside him and shares his sorrow or his need for affection with them – with pleasure and without guilt.
A warrior knows that the farthest-flung star in the universe reveals itself in the things around him.
It is dangerous to ask for advice. It is even more dangerous to give advice. When he needs help, he tries to see how his friends resolve – or fail to resolve – their problems.
If he is in search of inspiration he reads on the lips of his neighbour the words that his guardian angel is trying to say to him.
When he is tried or lonely he does not dream about distant men and women; he turns to the person beside him and shares his sorrow or his need for affection with them – with pleasure and without guilt.
A warrior knows that the farthest-flung star in the universe reveals itself in the things around him.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
023. Warrior of Light
A warrior of light does not postpone making decisions.
He thinks a good deal before he acts; he considers his training, as well as his responsibilities and duties as a teacher. He tries to remain calm and to analyse each step as if it were of supreme importance.
However, as soon as he has made a decision, the warrior proceeds: he has no doubts about his chosen action, nor does he change direction if circumstances turn out differently from how he had imagined them.
If his decision is correct, he will win the battle, even if it lasts longer than expected. If his decision is wrong, he will be defeated and he will have to start all over again – only this time with more wisdom.
But once he has started, a warrior of light perseveres until the end.
He thinks a good deal before he acts; he considers his training, as well as his responsibilities and duties as a teacher. He tries to remain calm and to analyse each step as if it were of supreme importance.
However, as soon as he has made a decision, the warrior proceeds: he has no doubts about his chosen action, nor does he change direction if circumstances turn out differently from how he had imagined them.
If his decision is correct, he will win the battle, even if it lasts longer than expected. If his decision is wrong, he will be defeated and he will have to start all over again – only this time with more wisdom.
But once he has started, a warrior of light perseveres until the end.
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