Issue nº 22

Reflections of the Warrior of the Light

The right measure

     The warrior of the light knows how to recognize an enemy who is stronger.
     If he decides to confront him, he will immediately be destroyed. If he accepts his provocations, he will fall into the trap.
     So he uses diplomacy to overcome the difficult situation in which he finds himself. When the enemy acts like a baby, he does the same. When he calls him to combat, he pretends not to understand.
     His friends comment: "he is a coward."
     But the warrior pays no attention to the comment; he knows that all the anger and courage of a bird are of no use in a confrontation with a cat.
     In situations such as this, the warrior is patient. He knows the enemy will soon depart and provoke others.

The right time

     A warrior of the light is never rushed. Time works in his favor; he learns to dominate impatience, and avoid unplanned actions.
     Walking slowly, he notes the firmness of his steps. He knows that he takes part in a decisive moment in the history of humanity, and must change himself before changing the world. This is why he recalls the words of Lanza del Vasto: "a revolution takes time to take hold".
     A warrior of the light never picks fruit before it is ripe.

The right speed

     A warrior of the light needs patience and speed at the same time. The two greatest faults of a strategy are: acting too soon, or allowing an opportunity to slip too far away.
     In order to avoid this, the warrior deals with each situation as if it were unique, and does not apply formulas, paradigms or the opinions of others.
      Caliph Moauiyat once asked Omr Ben Al-Aas what was the secret of his great political skills:
     "I never became involved in anything, without first studying a retreat; conversely, I have never embarked on something and wanted to abandon it immediately," was his reply.

The right tolerance

     A warrior of the light always keeps his heart clean of feelings of hatred. When he goes to fight, he always remembers Christ's words: "love your enemies".
     And the warrior obeys.
     But he knows that the act of forgiving foes does not force him to accept everything. A warrior cannot lower his head - otherwise he loses sight of the horizon of his dreams.
     The warrior notes that the adversaries are there to test his strength, his persistence, his ability to make decisions. They are a blessing - because it is they force him to fight for his dreams.
     It is the experience of combat which strengthens the warrior of the light.

The right understanding

     The warrior of the light knows the importance of his intuition.
     In the middle of the battle, he has no time to think about the enemy's blows - so he uses his instinct and obeys his angel.
     In times of peace, he deciphers the signs which God sends him.
     People say: "he is mad".
     Or: "he lives in a fantasy world."
     Or even: "how can anyone rely on things which have no logic?"
     But the warrior knows that intuition is God's alphabet, and continues to listen to the wind and talk to the stars.

The right choice

     "Yes," the warrior hears someone say, "I must understand everything, before taking a decision. I want the freedom to change my mind."
     The warrior considers this sentence and questions it. He may have the same freedom, but this does not prevent him from fulfilling some duty, even if he does not understand exactly why he does so.
     A warrior of the light takes decisions. His soul is as free as the clouds in the sky, but he has a duty to his dream. On his freely chosen path, he must awake at times he dislikes, speak to people who bring him nothing, and make some sacrifices.
     Friends comment: "you are forever sacrificing. You are not free."
     The warrior is free. But he knows that an open oven does not bake bread.

The right renouncement

     "In any activity, it is important to know what to expect, the means of obtaining the objective, and our capability for the proposed task.
     "Only he who, thus equipped, feels no desire for the results of the conquest, and remains absorbed in the combat, can truly say he has renounced the fruit.
     "One can renounce the fruit, but that renouncement does not mean indifference to the result."
     The warrior of the light listens respectfully to Ghandi's strategy. And is not distracted by people who, incapable of achieving any result, are forever preaching renouncement.

Fighting the one you love

     The warrior of the light sometimes fights the one he loves.
     He has learned that silence means the absolute balance of the body, spirit and soul. The man who preserves his unity will never be dominated by the storms of existence; he has the strength to overcome the difficulties and move forwards.
     However, he often feels challenged by those whom he teaches the sword. His disciples call him to combat.
     And the warrior shows his capability: with a few blows, he throws down the students' weapons, and the harmony returns to the place where they are gathered.
     "Why do that, if you are so superior?", asks a traveler.
     "Because, in this way, I keep open a dialogue," answers the warrior.