User:Average/Enlightened Warrior
You're feeling powerless, a little oppressed. Happens all the time in this diseased culture of excess. Maybe it's the police, maybe it's the collection agency, your parents, your spouse. Perhaps you'd like to call the cops, or try some passive-aggressive strategy to get back at someone.
Don't be fooled with this low-hanging fruit. No, you have to step up your GAME. You have to map out the forces, whether abstract and ideological or concrete and personal that are holding you. Then you must examine which ones are fair and serve your purpose. For that, you'll probably need some reality training.
Once you've mapped these out, these forces of injustice can collectively be called "the Tyrant". You can't get rid of the Tyrant by meeting them at their own level because that's their game, that's how they got there. You have two strategies in such a situation: transcending the opponent or going to war. Now, we're not in the Middle Ages anymore. You can't just escape the problems of the world forever. Things have gotten critical. Many people have tried to escape the Tyrant, formed communes, meditation temples, healing spas, and drugs. But the world hasn't changed, because in each case these people are escaping their Karma. The larger part of humanity simply accepts the Tyrant and drinks the "kool-aid" on a daily basis. Both are failing the most precious things they have.
Don't use these principles as an imitator and try to go off on your own way. People use the axioms of math, because they were made with power. Sure, you could make some other ones up and "go your own way", but you'd have a far weaker system. But see the Snide Guide to How to be a Human and maybe you'll make a better system. :*)
So this page is for those who are going to war. "New Age"-types who are feeling afraid of that term, either consider it your koan or go back to your lattés.
NOTE: If you're in school, the school system has already gone through some of the steps below on your behalf, check the bullying page to see if that's a better strategy for you. The question here is not about your age or ability, it is Who do you want to be? This path is for those who wish to be a warrior. Exactly like in Dungeons and Dragons, there are many classes, all with great and epic possibilities. This is just ONE of them. If you want to be a master of the mind, try On Being an Academic or Zen Code.
So you've made your decision. You must remember that the war is just as much with yourself as it is your opponent. The goal is to make something better -- something that goes beyond the Self. Without a worthy opponent you will merely be playing games with your own ego at the price of some poor sap. Hence, don Juan told Castaneda that if you don't have one, you have to go out looking for one. Here, as before, you'll probably need the red pill.
As you fight to understand the below five points, you will have to re-organize yourself. They principles are perfect. You may lose many battles, but if you persevere, the righteous warrior can always win. They apply to every situation where power is concerned.
Here is the complete list:
- Ruthlessness: Being bullied? Do not react. This is what they've already planned for. Just nod your head. Don't resort to some psychobabble that "he was abused as a child". No, you have to develop your ruthlessness.
- Cunning: Now, you've got to sit back and consider your options. You've got to map out all of your limitations and all of theirs. You have to understand that there's a path of redeeming the situation. For America, it's the fact that they pride themselves as a lawful country by, of, and for the People without living it (see Hack the Law).
- Patience: Generally, you do not initiate any moves except inconspicuously as the opportunity arises, and maintain your awareness. No you go off being yourself, and wait until the bruise-fodder comes to you.
- Kindness: You're not just looking to get even, you're looking to win. But to win, you can't just be tougher or smarter than they are -- that keeps you at the level of the Bully. You have to hide a little love in there somewhere -- a lesson that will teach them how they were wrong or perhaps how they might go about redeeming themselves.
- Will: This is where you have to be fluid enough to move as you need without your mind getting in the way. You've prepared yourself with the other four crucibles, and now wait until the final moment arrives. This is saved until last. They have to set the pace. You must have discipline. At some point, there will be a window of opportunity. Since you covered all your bases in the previous steps, you're ready.
The peaceful warrior counter-balances these rules by the following counter-attributes.
- non-cruel: Ruthlessness must not transform into cruelty. If you feel that way, go meditate in the woods for awhile. Animals have been dealing with the problem of being smaller for millions of years -- and they've survived. And without the cruelty.
- non-capricious: Cunning can easily turn into arbitrary back-biting. Refrain. You can do better.
- non-negligent: Patience must not become negligence. You don't wait and do nothing, while s/he gets bigger and you get smaller. Accumulate perceptual assets.
- non-foolish: Kindness has to encode some wisdom, perhaps some you gained while meditating in the woods. Don't be a simpleton. You have centuries of ancestral history to draw from. Don't forget that.
- providence: You cannot force resolution of this problem on your own. That's what the bully does. So rather than exerting your own will, you will be expressing the Will of Man, which has an innate sense of right and wrong along with karma.
Once you reign victorious, move onto Plans.
