The Path of the Spiritual Warrior – What is your Spiritual Path?
Does the term “spiritual” seem inappropriate combined with the idea of a warrior? There is a spiritual tradition in many cultures that describes the warrior of the higher path. The Tibetans, Buddhists, and Yaqui Indians are best known for this description of the spiritual journey. In today’s New Age, Daanan Perry writes and talks about the Warrior of the Heart, this very concept, and so does Dan Millman in his “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior.” I love that book! It’s the book that started me on this path of mine and it’s a HUGE reason why I do what I do now: to share the greater light and wisdom that is available to all of us.
The Spiritual Warrior defies hardship, loneliness, and ridicule to help others, improve the world, and live spiritually. The path of the Spiritual Warrior includes having the courage to know yourself, to look or look into the dark sides of yourself and its hidden shadows. Being a Spiritual Warrior means having the courage to face our own fears and create change in our lives. Buddhists know that it takes courage to stay committed and follow the eightfold path to enlightenment. American Indians make decisions for the tribe by remembering and being responsible for seven future generations.
The average human being lives by avoiding conflicts in order to maintain a pleasant and pleasant life or, “fighting for the control of life”, trampling others, beating them and obtaining the treasures of the Earth for the ego. This fight-or-flight response to life’s situations has created victorious tyrants and abused victims who are also unhappy, complete, and satisfied inside. We see this in our homes and around the world among nations and races. Doing what “seems” right at the moment, hitting someone emotionally/physically or withdrawing and avoiding the conflict, just allows the problem to continue. The spiritual path includes working to solve problems forever!
But don’t be fooled into thinking that we will get rid of conflicts in our learning path. Conflict is a constant challenge that we all face. It will remain so as long as we have something to understand and learn or until we no longer wish to give the gift of helping others. The conflict is especially pronounced in the life of a Spiritual Warrior because he or she has chosen and is committed to a life of growth, transformation, helping others, and creating a higher quality life. Being on Earth is a conflict: we are powerful infinite spiritual beings experiencing an infinite and limiting physical world. If the darkness does not exist, there will be no great appreciation of the Light. The conflict between dark and light will always “be”, but only you and I can choose how we want to feel.
If there is one thing you will remember and integrate into every cell of your body and mind, it is this: “LET’S STOP EQUATING CONFLICT WITH SUFFERING.” Conflict in life is a way of stretching our spiritual, mental, emotional, and even physical strength. It is a call to growth and learning. A warrior responds to the challenge and advances despite apparent difficulties. If we say that we want to learn, we have taken the banner of the warrior. But let us be wise and loving warriors who work (not fight) for the good of all until the seventh generation.
To eliminate suffering, we can follow the Eightfold Buddhist Path of Right Views, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Lifestyle, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.
Buddha taught: “Now, the cessation of suffering is to cease clinging. Clinging originates in craving, and craving originates in ignorance. To cease suffering, cease clinging; cease clinging, cease craving; cease craving, cessation of ignorance.”
The eternal conflict is to learn and grow or suffer. The path of the spiritual warrior includes the surrender of the personal ego to spiritual direction, the surrender of what no longer serves you or Spirit, the surrender of what is no longer true, the surrender of what is not loving and surrendering ignorance so that we can be wise. On this path we will run the risk of being misunderstood, hurt, not looking good or even feeling foolish. It means being willing to be a “learner” or “beginner” in life regardless of our earthly age.
The Avatars of this world were (and still are) spiritual warriors, as are our cultural heroes of every age. By joining the group of spiritual warriors today, we work to help our own progress, support others in what is good and bless the world (and the entire Universe).