The True Warrior

We see them everywhere today- the men in masks, the men sporting uniforms with old insignias of doomed fascism and thoughtless populism; men waving guns in the air, chanting whatever slogan feeds their false sense of “power”, fed back to them by toxic “leaders” who use such gullible, weak men to gain power and control over people, political parties or nations. The men so easily led by cunning and vicious political candidates, false prophets and religious charlatans, and unworthy men seeking power over the group or tribe. The men who see themselves as warriors for their cause or group, as they proudly march together down streets held open for their demonstration by police, and point themselves out to their fellow “warriors” and family members. The men who band together and play war games on weekends, bragging amongst themselves how they are the “protectors of freedom when the government collapses” (or sometimes against the government)- ideologies vary, character seldom does.

“He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.”  Confucius

But here is the Truth: these men are not warriors; they are frightened boys who yearn for a return to a time when they were given power they did not merit, authority they lacked the wisdom or self-restraint to yield and privileges they had not earned. They have done nothing to be worthy of power or authority and few have exhibited the excellence of character that might lead to any special honor, position or recognition. They claim privileges based on either the color of their skin, where they come from or to whom they were born, the language they speak or the god they worship- none of which give any man or woman the right to special consideration, place or privilege. ). In reality, these frightened, frustrated men are the very men people would have to protect themselves against in the event of chaos… because these are the men who have not understood the meaning, purpose or function of the True Warrior- they see themselves as worthy of holding power, having control over others, being the lawmakers and law enforcers, yet never question their own natures.

These men are not free. Indeed, they fear freedom so much that they require a higher voice of authority to hold themselves in check- they lack the self-discipline and self-restraint to choose the better way of their own volition. A true warrior holds himself or herself to a higher standard of self-restraint and proper conduct than the enslaved, who are prisoners of their baser instincts or their immaturity.

“A warrior takes responsibility for his acts, for the most trivial of acts. An average man acts out his thoughts, and never takes responsibility for what he does. “     Carlos Castaneda

Responsibility. The True Warrior knows that he and he alone is responsible for every word he speaks, every action he takes, every moment of influence he has, every deed he undertakes. He knows that his success or failure, his rise or fall, his thriving or declining, is his own responsibility. Yes, outside influences can challenge a warrior’s position in life, his finances, his place in class levels designed by artifice and false values- but nothing in life outside himself can define him to the world: his own words and deeds tell the world what he is as a man and a human being. Every man shows his nature to the world; the warrior’s nature stands apart from the dross, he speaks and acts with honor and accepts responsibility for every word and action; he takes upon himself responsibility for how his words and actions influence the words and actions of others. The man who acts and speaks irresponsibly and sees his  words and actions seduce others into evil or cruelty, spite or viciousness,  is not a warrior, however much he will shake his fist and cry “I am a man” to the sky; he is a frightened boy who wants to blame everyone and everything for his fear.

“There’s more to being a warrior than killing. A true warrior the best warrior isn’t cruel or mean. He doesn’t claw an enemy who can’t fight back. Where’s the honor in that? “
Erin Hunter

 Kindness. The True Warrior understands that kindness is strength; he is steadfast in his compassion towards the weak and the frightened, the needy and the vulnerable. The true warrior recognizes that his strength is why he can be kind; he looks upon all those around him as his charges. Like the leader of the wolf pack, he protects and guards, he sets the example of proper speech and conduct.

 “Every great warrior must learn to endure and overcome the adversities of life.”
Lailah Gifty Akita

Endurance.  The True Warrior endures the vicissitude of life with stamina and stoicism. He does not weep or moan about his condition but sets about determining how he can make the best of a situation, what he can learn from it, what skills or knowledge he can gain from his present circumstances. The warrior teaches himself to endure and learn.

“To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life.”
Chogyam Trungpa

Authenticity. Trustworthiness. A True Warrior can be trusted to be honest not just in words but in his actions and thoughts. His very life is an example of honor. His words will be grounded in veracity; they will be reliable and accurate. His actions will be legitimate and lawful. His thoughts will analyze and assess until truth is discovered. And when the warrior understands and comprehends the full truth, he does not cling to comfortable lies and deceptions, but steps into the truth, ready to embrace it.

“Whatever you are physically…male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy–all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside.”  Cassandra Clare

Courage.  The True Warrior shows boldness and determination when faced with the challenges and struggles of life. Courage does not mean to be ready to attack your enemy at every turn; it means to be willing to confront each moment, each situation, each day with a willingness to do what must be done, even if there is fear.

Fortitude. The True Warrior shows strength of spirit and courage when faced with pain or grief. This does not mean to withhold tears, but to not let grief overwhelm your nature. Tears can express love, profound gratitude, a deep humility of spirit- tears are not the measure of a man. The determination to endure in life with honor and courage is the measure of a man, measured against the struggle he has endured.

“If you are a warrior, decency means that you are not cheating anybody at all. You are not even about to cheat anybody. There is a sense of straightforwardness and simplicity… That makes it very beautiful: … therefore a sense of genuineness comes through. That is decency.”
Chögyam Trungpa

 Morality. The True Warrior shows a decency of character, word and action; his life is shaped around virtue rather than vice. He rejects the false morality of the hypocrites and fanatics who are obsessed with the sexual acts of consenting adults, but holds to the morality of honor, justice, integrity, veracity, fidelity, and rectitude. The moral warrior is straightforward, free from pretense, deceit or treachery.

“When they … come for you… Wear your strength like armour, fight like a beast. Do not let them tell you that you belong to them. Be fearless. ….And when you are done, tell the world that you belong to no man. That you are a lady, a warrior…and you belong only to yourself.”   Zaeema J. Hussain

 Gallantry. Which brings me to this important point. When it comes to being a warrior, there is no gender. Outside of a common (though not absolute) greater physical strength in the male form), which a person can lose overnight or in a rash moment or to an accident, there is no difference between men and women of noble spirit and disposition or temperament. Though history often forgets, diminishes or dismisses the stories of the women warriors amongst us, those who persevere in courage, determination and moral strength against vast odds (including from society, churches, the law, custom, and so on), they break through and defy treasured prejudices and assumptions. It can be challenging to acknowledge that physical form has nothing to do with the warrior spirit and the inherent quality and excellence of a person, but this recognition must become part of achieving the warrior spirit. There are few enough True Warriors in the world; the warrior knows the value of his allies, partners and Companions.

Courtesy. Recognizing women can be warriors too, does not mean courtesy is discarded. Warrior women are not competition for the male warrior; they are an alliance of quality and nobility. Courtesy entails respect, civility and politeness to all, not because they are “less than” but because the giver of the courtesy is measured by his or her own character and their treatment of others. Nobility calls to nobility, honor to honor. The True Warrior exhibits courtesy and manners to all he or she meets.

“The hardship of the exercises is intended less to strengthen the back than to toughen the mind. The Spartans say that any army may win while it still has its legs under it; the real test comes when all strength is fled and the men must produce victory on will alone.”  Steven Pressfield

Self-discipline. Self-mastery. Resolution. The True Warrior trains himself to master his will, to overcome his weaknesses. He shows determination to overcome all obstacles and calls forth self-restraint in all things. In every aspect of his life- skills, knowledge, choices he might make, the True Warrior shows thoughtful self-discipline.

“Fighting isn’t all there is to the Art of War. The men who think that way…are mere vagabonds. A serious student is much more concerned with training his mind and disciplining his spirit than with developing martial skills.”  Eiji Yoshikawa

Honor. Self-restraint. The True Warrior understands what is right, knows the right thing to do, and does it. He does not twist with every wind that blows, leaning first one direction than another, nor does he kneel to any master in exchange for favor, power or status. The warrior first determines what is right, then stands firm. The True Warrior represents and symbolizes the best and finest attributes of humankind; he or she is prepared to fight if necessity demands, but prefers not to fight- the True Warrior understands the all too real cost of war to the individual, the nation and the world.

 A warrior of light who trusts too much in his intelligence will end up underestimating the power of his opponent.      Paulo Coelho

 Modesty. The True Warrior is reserved; he lacks the pomposity so often found in the arrogant; he does not hunger for praise and applause from the crowds. The True Warrior is not arrogant; though he takes pride in his reputation, he does not wear his pride to demean or diminish others, nor does he demand reward or notice.

“Fate whispers to the warrior, ‘You cannot withstand the storm.’
The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.’ Unknown”

While a storm can destroy, it can also cleanse. The True Warrior is the storm of honor, justice, compassion and righteousness. He stands as an example to all around him. The warrior sets himself to a high standard and lives to it. In this way, he lives as an example to all ages, all people. He says “Yes, we can reach high, higher than some would have you believe- and in reaching, we can build a better world.”

© 2019