The (Toltec) Warrior’s Struggle

“To be a warrior is not a simple matter of wishing to be one. It is rather an endless struggle that will go on to the very last moment of our lives. Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other.” ~ Carlos Castaneda from The Wheel of Time Socrates calls it the “great combat.” Rumi calls it the “inner jihad.” Jesus has some thoughts on it and Lao-tzu talks about the egomania of thinking you’re going to reach total awareness without disciplined effort. ALL great teachers preach the power of self-mastery. A sampling of some of my favorite thoughts on the subject: Socrates (from The Gorgias): “I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can...And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all other men to do the same...I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict.” Rumi: “The lion who breaks the enemy’s ranks is a minor hero compared to the lion who overcomes himself.” Jesus: “He who rules his spirit has won a greater victory than the taking of a city.” Lao-tzu: “He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” And “Don’t think you can attain total awareness and whole enlightenment without proper discipline and practice. This is egomania. Appropriate rituals channel your emotions and life energy toward the light. Without the discipline to practice them, you will tumble constantly backward into darkness.” How’re you doing with your self-mastery? You embracing the challenge? Or letting yourself tumble constantly backward into the darkness because you haven’t created the rituals and the commitment to truly hone your consciousness? What’s ONE thing that’s leaking your power that you know you should STOP doing? Cool. Quit doing that. (Starting NOW! :) And, what’s ONE thing you know your Highest Self needs you to START doing today that’ll build your power? Nice. Excited to hear about your new habit. Rock that. :)