‘It’s just a storm in a teacup,’ someone says to the warrior of light.
But he never exaggerates his difficulties and always tries to remain calm.
And he never judges someone else’s suffering.
A small detail – which does not affect him in the least – could serve to ignite the storm brewing in his brother’s soul. The warrior respects the suffering of others and does not try to compare it with his own.
The cup of suffering is not the same size for everyone.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
116. Warrior of Light
Before making any important decision –declaring a war, moving with his companions to another plain, choosing a field in which to sow seed – The warrior asks himself: ‘How will this affect the fifth generation of my descendents?’
A warrior knows that everything a person does has enduring consequences and he needs to understand what kind of world he is leaving behind for that fifth generation.
A warrior knows that everything a person does has enduring consequences and he needs to understand what kind of world he is leaving behind for that fifth generation.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
115. Warrior of Light
All warriors of light have heard their mothers say: ‘My son wasn’t thinking straight when he did that; deep down, he’s a very good person.’
Although he respects his mother, he knows that this is not true. He does not waste his time blaming himself for his rash actions nor does he spend his life forgiving himself for all the wrong he has done – doing that would never set him back on the right path.
He uses common sense to judge not the intentions of an action but its consequences. He takes responsibility for everything he does, even if he has to pay a high price for his mistake.
As the old Arabic proverb says: ‘God judges a tree by its fruits and not by its roots.’
Although he respects his mother, he knows that this is not true. He does not waste his time blaming himself for his rash actions nor does he spend his life forgiving himself for all the wrong he has done – doing that would never set him back on the right path.
He uses common sense to judge not the intentions of an action but its consequences. He takes responsibility for everything he does, even if he has to pay a high price for his mistake.
As the old Arabic proverb says: ‘God judges a tree by its fruits and not by its roots.’
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
114. Warrior of Light
The warrior knows an old saying: ‘If regrets could kill…’
And he knows that regrets can kill; they slowly eat away at the soul of someone who has done something wrong and they lead eventually to self destruction.
The warrior does not want to die like that. When he acts perversely or maliciously – because he is a man of many faults – he is never too ashamed to ask forgiveness.
If possible, he does his best to repair the wrong he has done. If the injured party is dead, then he does some good turn to a stranger and offers up that deed to the soul that he wounded.
A warrior of light has no regrets, because regrets can kill. He humbles himself and undoes the wrong he has done.
And he knows that regrets can kill; they slowly eat away at the soul of someone who has done something wrong and they lead eventually to self destruction.
The warrior does not want to die like that. When he acts perversely or maliciously – because he is a man of many faults – he is never too ashamed to ask forgiveness.
If possible, he does his best to repair the wrong he has done. If the injured party is dead, then he does some good turn to a stranger and offers up that deed to the soul that he wounded.
A warrior of light has no regrets, because regrets can kill. He humbles himself and undoes the wrong he has done.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
113. Warrior of Light
A warrior sits around with fire with his friends.
They spend hours criticising each other, but they end the night sleeping in the same tent, having forgotten all the insults that were bandied about. Occasionally, a new member joins the group. Because he does not yet share a common history, he shows only his good qualities, and some see in him a master.
But the warrior of light never compares him with his old companions in battle. He makes the stranger welcome, but he will not trust him until he knows his defects too.
A warrior of light does not go into battle without knowing the limitations of his ally.
They spend hours criticising each other, but they end the night sleeping in the same tent, having forgotten all the insults that were bandied about. Occasionally, a new member joins the group. Because he does not yet share a common history, he shows only his good qualities, and some see in him a master.
But the warrior of light never compares him with his old companions in battle. He makes the stranger welcome, but he will not trust him until he knows his defects too.
A warrior of light does not go into battle without knowing the limitations of his ally.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
112. Warrior of Light
A warrior has no ‘certainties’, he just has a path to follow, a path to which he tries to adapt depending on the season.
During battles that take place in summer he does not use the same equipment and techniques that he would use during battles that take place in winter. By being flexible, he no longer judges the world on the basis of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, but on the basis of the ‘the most appropriate attitude for that particular moment’.
He knows that his companions also have to adapt and is not surprised when they change their attitude. He gives each one the necessary time to justify his actions.
But when it comes to treachery, he is implacable.
During battles that take place in summer he does not use the same equipment and techniques that he would use during battles that take place in winter. By being flexible, he no longer judges the world on the basis of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, but on the basis of the ‘the most appropriate attitude for that particular moment’.
He knows that his companions also have to adapt and is not surprised when they change their attitude. He gives each one the necessary time to justify his actions.
But when it comes to treachery, he is implacable.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
111. Warrior of Light
There are times when the warrior’s path becomes merely routine.
Then he applies the teaching of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov:
‘If you cannot mediate, you should repeat one single word, because this is good for the soul. Do not say anything else, just repeat that word over and over, innumerable times. Finally, it will lose all meaning, but take on an entirely new significance. God will open the doors and you will find yourself using that simple word to say everything that you wanted to say.’
When he is forced to perform the same task several times, the warrior uses this tactic and transforms work into prayer.
Then he applies the teaching of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov:
‘If you cannot mediate, you should repeat one single word, because this is good for the soul. Do not say anything else, just repeat that word over and over, innumerable times. Finally, it will lose all meaning, but take on an entirely new significance. God will open the doors and you will find yourself using that simple word to say everything that you wanted to say.’
When he is forced to perform the same task several times, the warrior uses this tactic and transforms work into prayer.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
110. Warrior of Light
The warrior of light lets go of the idea of days and hours in order to pay more attention to the moment.
Only in this way can the warrior resolve certain problems before they occur; by focusing on the small things, he manages to avoid larger calamities.
But thinking about the small things is not the same as thinking small. Over-anxiety ultimately banishes every trace of joy from life.
The warrior knows that a great dream is made up of many different things, just as the light from the sun is the sum of its millions of rays.
Only in this way can the warrior resolve certain problems before they occur; by focusing on the small things, he manages to avoid larger calamities.
But thinking about the small things is not the same as thinking small. Over-anxiety ultimately banishes every trace of joy from life.
The warrior knows that a great dream is made up of many different things, just as the light from the sun is the sum of its millions of rays.
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