Issue nº 29

Discovering true fear |  Reflections of the warrior of the light

Accepting pardon

     The warrior of the light has learned that it is better to follow light. He has betrayed, lied, strayed from his path, courted darkness. And everything continued to work out - as if nothing had happened.
     However suddenly the abyss comes. One can take a thousand safe steps - and one single step too much can destroy everything.
     It is this consciousness which causes the warrior to change the course of his steps.
     Upon making this decision, he hears four comments: "You always acted wrongly. You are too old to change. You are no good. You are not worthy."
     So he looks skywards. And a voice says: "well, dear friend, everyone has done wrong. You are forgiven, but I cannot force this pardon. You must decide."
     The true warrior of the light accepts the pardon.

Like a child

     The warrior of the light behaves like a child.
     People are shocked. They forget that each one of us must have fun, play, be a little irreverent, ask importune and immature questions, and say foolish things that we ourselves don't even believe.
     People are outraged: "Is that the spiritual path? He is simply not mature! He's more like a child."
     The warrior is proud of this comment, because he knows that the logical consequence of maturity is decay. Thus in nature, so it is in life.
     And he preserves his innocence and joy, without ever losing sight of his mission.

Knowing when to say "no"

     "Hitler may have lost the war on the battlefield, but in the end he gained something," says M. Halter. "For in the 20th century man created the concentration camp and revived torture, and taught his fellow men that it is possible to turn a blind eye to the misfortune of others."
     Perhaps he is right: there are homeless children, innocent men in prison, lonely old people, drunks in the gutters, madmen in power.
     But perhaps he is not right at all: there are warriors of the light.
     And warriors of light never accept that which is unacceptable.

The moment to decide

     The warrior of the light is terrified when faced with important decisions.
     "That is too great for you," says one friend. "Go on, be brave," says another. And his doubts only increase.
     After some days of anxiety, he withdraws into a corner of his tent, where he usually sits to mediate and pray. He sees himself in the future. He sees the people who will benefit and lose out because of his actions. He does not wish to cause unnecessary suffering, but nor will he abandon the path.
     So the warrior allows the decision to appear. If he must say yes, then he shall bravely say it. If he must say no, then he shall say so without fear.

About cowardice

     Anthony Williams says that the world seems threatening to cowards. They seek the false security of a life void of great challenges, and arm themselves heavily in order to defend that which they think they possess. Cowards are victims of their own egos, and in the end erect the bars of their own prisons.