Regarding Demons
Dec. 17th, 2005 05:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grim23Many people are fighting their demons. Queens and Generals and Champions, oh my. People are being consumed by fear and anger and failing to learn or be open. Truth, and denial, and rationalizations abound. Much drama and uneccesary energy is being spent by all sides, and very little communication.
I reread an unwritten chapter of a book written by my former Seneschal, and defensive tactics and maneuvers (the first two battles) seem to be the only pursuit. Anger blinds, and allows the demon to be stronger, and pushes you away from the lesson.
Sigh. My demons? They're still there. Many have been integrated this last month. I have been forced to face much of myself. Dissertation. Money. Academics in general. My failings as a teacher. The resulting Chaos I have allowed to be caused. Relationships. However, I breathe. I learn, I take off my armour and lay down my weapons, and I embrace. I forget, I teach. I try to remember the lessons of the Tao and of my life.
One of my students, unfamiliar with the most difficult fourth battle, wonders if I am familiar with laying down my sword. That student states that, "A warrior's ultimate act is to lay down his sword". Perhaps that student is learning to lay down their sword, and perhaps they are learning their own Demon. Perhaps laying down their sword will help me help them learn, and they will be better perpared for their life. I wonder if other people around me could learn that lesson.
"The hardest thing in the world is to assume the mood of a warrior. It is of no use to be sad and complain and feel justified in doing so, believing that someone is always doing something it us. Nobody is doing anything to anybody, much less to a warrior." Carlos Castaneda
"To achieve the mood of a warrior is not a simple matter. It is a revolution. To regard the lion and the water rats and our fellow men as equals is a magnificent act of a warrior's spirit. It takes power to do that." Carlos Castaneda
"There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within." Morihei Ueshiba
I reread an unwritten chapter of a book written by my former Seneschal, and defensive tactics and maneuvers (the first two battles) seem to be the only pursuit. Anger blinds, and allows the demon to be stronger, and pushes you away from the lesson.
Sigh. My demons? They're still there. Many have been integrated this last month. I have been forced to face much of myself. Dissertation. Money. Academics in general. My failings as a teacher. The resulting Chaos I have allowed to be caused. Relationships. However, I breathe. I learn, I take off my armour and lay down my weapons, and I embrace. I forget, I teach. I try to remember the lessons of the Tao and of my life.
One of my students, unfamiliar with the most difficult fourth battle, wonders if I am familiar with laying down my sword. That student states that, "A warrior's ultimate act is to lay down his sword". Perhaps that student is learning to lay down their sword, and perhaps they are learning their own Demon. Perhaps laying down their sword will help me help them learn, and they will be better perpared for their life. I wonder if other people around me could learn that lesson.
"The hardest thing in the world is to assume the mood of a warrior. It is of no use to be sad and complain and feel justified in doing so, believing that someone is always doing something it us. Nobody is doing anything to anybody, much less to a warrior." Carlos Castaneda
"To achieve the mood of a warrior is not a simple matter. It is a revolution. To regard the lion and the water rats and our fellow men as equals is a magnificent act of a warrior's spirit. It takes power to do that." Carlos Castaneda
"There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within." Morihei Ueshiba
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no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 12:31 am (UTC)Speaking of reading, I found a quote today that reminded me of something a wise man said to me recently.
"Fear is the true opiate of combat."
And I just wanted to share these. I like them very much. Powerful words, indeed.
"The man who can't make a mistake can't make anything." --Abraham Lincoln
"Act well your part, there all honour lies." --Pope, The Essay on Man
And this one I believe I'll tuck inside my heart and carry with me. As a constant reminder...
"To know and to act are one and the same."
And as I type this, W just gave me this one from her fortune cookie last night saying only that this was a messsage for me. Again, such a powerful message.
"If you understand what you're doing, you're not learning anything."
Jharma
no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 06:24 am (UTC)Quotes can abound to lead people on the right path, or simply help them find their own. Yet people whom are unfamilar with their own honor learn nothing from quotes but pretty words.
What I think of during these trials of chaos, fear and anger is this quote, "The Truth shall set you free." Until the truth is brought forth readily and openly by all sides and parties there will be no moving past this chaos.
Sometimes the teacher must be aware when ALL information needs to be presented, not only what one thinks needs to be shared in order to learn the lesson. For it is then that he can be the student as well.
~TigressSky~
no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 10:27 pm (UTC)Grim
no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 10:49 pm (UTC)Nin Po, the Art of Not-Fighting, is for those who prefer not to get addicted to the opiate of fighting. As a Sensei I know says, "any fool can fight, a warrior trains."
I hope you're learning.
Grim
no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 12:57 am (UTC)Aye, that is SO true about the information as well. Time, why can't I make more.
~TigressSky~
no subject
Date: 2005-12-20 04:51 pm (UTC)Grim