Obedience to authority is compulsory for a soldier. Commitment and dedication are mandatory as well.
For a spiritual warrior, obedience to the voice of higher wisdom within (another form of self-control,) or adherence to a spiritual Master's advice in a spirit of humility and devotion are essential.
"True greatness lies in humility."
"He who exalts himself shall be humbled; he who humbles himself shall be exalted."
We normally think of a warrior as being proud, but in fact he could not become a great soldier unless he had the humility to subdue his ego and follow orders.
In spiritual life, pride can be a great enemy. A humble attitude is essential to eliminate self-importance and false identification with the limited ego.
Persistent Awareness of Impermanence and Readiness for Death
A soldier is ready to die for a higher ideal beyond his personal scope. By witnessing death and destruction, he is constantly aware of our ultimate impermanence and inevitable demise.
A spiritual warrior knows when the peak of the spiritual mountain is reached, we have to die to ego and ultimately give up attachment to everything. He maintains awareness that worldly things like wealth, fame and achievement, family and relatives, property, possessions, etc. are all ephemeral and will one day be gone.
He may interact with any of those things with love and affection, but will not cling to them or expect them to last forever. He always discerns between what is ephemeral and what is eternal, and zooms the lens of awareness on the latter.
We might cry during sad scenes in a film, even though aware it is only a drama.
Historic events, famous people, and entire civilizations from the past now exist only in books or in collective memory. From the airplane perspective, a towering mountain appears as a tiny hill.
We should be like a bird on a twig. Though resting comfortably, the bird knows the twig may break and is prepared to fly at any moment.
Inner peace stems from 'detachment' and is like the sky---not upset by rain clouds, not thrilled by rainbows. Simply an observer.
Persistent pondering of impermanence fashions a readiness for death that ironically allows more joy in living, because one's heart is lighter when each breath is free from fear.
If you enjoyed this post please help increase the people that see this and feel free to comment, rate, share on Facebook or any of your favorite Social Network Many thanks
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave your comments here