warrior's codes

[chelidon]

Other thoughts recently have been about codes of behaviour, of the difference between a warrior of honor and the fighter or mercenary, of being right versus being righteous, considering where and when to act, when to avoid damage to innocents, and a continual, deep self-examination being at the core of moving through the world with Right Heart and Right Intent, manifesting Right Deeds.

One of the wisest people I know, marys_daughter, who happens to be teaching what will certainly be a completely kick-ass workshop on Warrior Work this coming weekend, recently posted some interesting Warrior Codes from her own life. Food for thought.

The power of the sword brings its own deep responsibilities. Many of the worst things in this world are done in the name of "right," of righteousness, of divine right. The sword swung in blind rage does no justice. What is done at random, without care, will do no good, and perhaps much wrong. As Epictetus wrote, "...For he is free for whom all things come to pass according to his will, and whom none can hinder. What then, is freedom madness? God forbid. For madness and freedom exist not together. 'But I wish all that I desire to come to pass and in the manner that I desire.'
--You are mad, you are beside yourself. Know you not that Freedom is a glorious thing and of great worth? But that what I desired at random I should wish at random to come to pass, so far from being noble, may well be exceedingly base."

What does it mean to be a warrior? What are your warrior codes -- what separates a warrior from a fighter, separates the right fights from merely fighting? What is right, and what is self-righteous? How do you know in your own life?

Comments

[anthologie.livejournal.com]

I'll need to read these tonight after I unwind a bit. Thanks for the post.

I never pick up my bokken if I'm angry or upset, and don't drink if I know I've got practice in the near-term future. (I tend to avoid tippling within 24 hours beforehand; it just feels right.)

Although given that my chosen profeesion is writing, probably my words are my weapons and I should set those aside when I'm angry. But what then? Silence isn't good, either.

Anyhow, I'll come back to this, I hope.

In another recent post you mentioned Black Heart. What's that?

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

My experience is that anger can motivate, but all too often it unbalances, and then what is done is often done unjustly. You're right, it's very hard to set aside anger, particularly if it's righteous anger, as when one feels personally wronged. Sometimes, tho', silence is golden, and I've found the best time to decide whether or not to speak or act is not when one is angry.

Black Heart == Black Heart of Innocence, a Feri tool/concept. Lots there to it, a looong conversation, for sure ;>

Some bits-- Victor Anderson: "How beautiful is the black lascivious purity in the hearts of children and wild animals..."

T Thorn Coyle definition: "the innocent, sexual state found in the child before her force was constrained and perverted, and in the animal still roaming in the wild"

In (very) brief, and acknowleging that while I've worked with it for about, hmm, 8-10 years, you I am sure would get more definitive answers elsewhere, it has to do with the free exchange of life-force energy, involving a great degree of utter openness and honesty, open connection to the world around you, without pretense or artifice.

[christeos-pir.livejournal.com]

Liber Librae

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Ah-yup.

[anthologie.livejournal.com]

What does it mean to be a warrior? What are your warrior codes -- what separates a warrior from a fighter, separates the right fights from merely fighting? What is right, and what is self-righteous? How do you know in your own life?

Back, as I'd hoped I would be.

And um. I started to write a long response, and find I'm not ready to post it in a public space. Sorry.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

No apologies necessary, and no worries. You can send in email, or not at all. I'm grateful you gave it that much thought.

[khidir.livejournal.com]

Hello

As someone who has made some terrible mistakes and run into the classic "he who would fight monsters" I take exceedingly great care as i tend to get knee-jerk reactions and have somteimes been all too willing to jump into a fight, I find being consistent (ahh consistency, that old hobgoblin!) and honest in my self examination wards off the knee-jerk bogies. I believe in invoking justice upon oneself first if one would fight. In the few times where I have done right in intervening in fisticuffs I knew 100% that I was right and that there was no way I would let this person harm the other person or me, it's a cold clinical feeling. First and foremost vigilance means watching ones thoughts, where they come from, how the choice of a particular thought comes to mind etc. Anyone engaged in true self examination is a warrior to me.

[mystfemme.livejournal.com]

I do not like to fight and will only do so when there is no other option. I generally use my sword for cutting cords.

If I can see that someone is picking a fight for the sake of fighting, or even just spinning in their own stuff, I refuse to engage.

[morrigandaughtr.livejournal.com]

1. Is this my work?
2. What does it need from me?
3. What do I need from the work?
4. What and where and how and why is the balance?
5. I act.

There is also a fear and respect practice involved for me, because fear has been an issue for me all my life, and respect and right use of my own fear has been a huge part of my work with the Morrigan. (What is this fear really about? What's the information here that I'm meant to learn? How do I turn and engage it from another angle, from a calm and centered place?)

Thanks for asking this question, Chelidon. Lots of juicy food for thought.

[threejane.livejournal.com]

Gosh. This is my life it seems and I haven't really got a coherent philosophy so thanks for an opportunity to think about it.

I don't know how it happened but I work with emotionally disturbed / behavior disordered kids. It has become my specialty. It is bizarre because conflict really disturbs me and I have to witness it on a frequent basis. You would not believe how many kids these days are angry. Or just HOW angry they are. Not just my special kids but also the ones in general education.

Many of my kids see the gang lifestyle as promising. They think a gang can replace an absent family and provide a means to earn a living. I think they are wrong (no disrespect to your friend intended.) In my opinion, gangs are too violent to be a sustainable solution.

I think people's anger has two sources: anger tries to protects hurt, and anger shields one from fear. There are many things I have to teach my kids but my primary goal is that each boy will be able to manage his anger. We have looked at things like learning personal triggers, how the body responds to anger, strategies for coping, what to do after everything falls apart. And we practice, practice, practice, practice.

The boys in my class are all preteens so our vocabulary looks something like this: what is the difference between a man and a baby? Where is the line between being a warrior and being infantile? What strategies does a baby have at its disposal? What are the strategies of men? Where are you on this continuum?

That's them. It is always easier to solve the problems of others. Obviously, the person with real power in the situation is myself. That power scares me sometimes. I am put in the situation of having to make the decisions like: does this person need to be physically restrained? And if I think so, then I have to do it. Yuk. I have anarchistic tendencies. Coercion seriously bothers me yet I have the safety of others to consider. There are laws on the issue of course. The law says I can only restrain someone if someone is in danger of getting hurt or if the child's behavior will result in serious property destruction. That sounds like an easy rule to follow but I am not an unfeeling bastard. I have to manage my emotions all day long in a volatile environment. Sometimes I am sickened, sympathetic, horrified, scared, angered, you name it. Even with all those powerful emotions I am the grownup and I have to be calm and capable without exception. It has gotten easier over time.

I think the mark of being a warrior who holds a position of power is the ability to manage a situation. One must be alert for antecedents to violence or trouble and be able to maneuver events and people respectfully so that violence doesn't need to erupt. I am always trying to create an environment where these damaged kids can feel so good about themselves and their achievements that they don't get to the point of emotional blowouts.

I think being a warrior is knowing how to act so there is no need to react. It is all about knowledge and self control.