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| Warrior Work Week 19 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Philosophy of Life and Death The way of the warrior is a philosophical, pragmatic paradigm. Philosophy literally means the love of wisdom. Philia is love denoting a choice between various options i.e. Do I choose to be a republican, democrat, independent - a Christian, Buddhist, Moslem or atheist? People who choose may then say they "love" the party or religion of their choice because they chose it over other party/religion options. Sophist or Sophia is wisdom and wisdom comes from experience, knowledge and "hindsight", thus philosophy can be described as choosing between different paths based on the experience and knowledge of those who have traveled the path before. If you look at different people's paths', you see in their actions their "philosophy" or the meaning they give to their life and the world in which they live. For instance, contemplate the philosophy of Hitler as opposed to the philosophy of Ghandi, the philosophy of mother Teresa as opposed to the philosophy of Donald Trump, the philosophy of Napoleon as opposed to the philosophy of Jesus. In doing so, you start to realize that you are responsible for the philosophy of your life, what you believe it to mean, and the actions you choose on a moment to moment, day to day and year to year basis. The first premise of the warrior's way is that warriors are responsible for their thoughts, feelings and actions. You carve out your world with your actions and your words. This is the core of the warrior philosophy. You may have heard of the Nobel peace prize. The founder of that prize was a dynamite manufacturer and was known as a "merchant of death". When his brother died, a newspaper reporter thought it was him and wrote an obituary talking about all the evil things he had done and how the world was better off without him. He read the article, "saw" what he had been creating with his actions and chose to change his philosophy or view of life and he set up the Nobel peace prize as a way to make amends for his past choices and spent the rest of his life contributing to education and peace thus changing his "philosophy". Pragmatic simply means practical and paradigm means "world". Doctor's, for instance, have their "own world" filled with language, tools and techniques that are often foreign to the average person. The warrior looks at the world around them and uses common sense (practical knowledge) to navigate or move through the roles and worlds they traverse. They build their power mentally, emotionally and physically through any opportunity that presents itself and in turn serve the community they are in. They are much better suited to handle or deal with stress because they use it to build their inner and outer skills. They see situations not as problems holding them back but as challenges and puzzles to solve. They do not see themselves as victims who have no control, someone who is always having something said about them or done to them. They always have control over their intent, their perception and their behavior regardless of what others around them do or do not do. They stretch out their arms and embrace life with all it's diversity. Contemplate the "victims" of society, those who have no "power" and feel that they are like a leaf tossed and thrown about by the wind versus the "warriors" of society who move forward with their intent, focused on what they are creating and building, being and becoming and do not allow themselves to be pulled off task by the actions or words of others. This reminds me of Howard Roark in the "Fountainhead" by Ayn rand. When his "character and career" are destroyed by a journalist by the name of "Toohey", Toohey asks Roark what he thinks of him and adds that he can "take it". Roark responds, "i don't think of you." Toohey has no power over Roark's intent, perception or behavior. Roark moves to his own drum and follows his heart regardless of the outcomes of fame or misfortune. You too, ultimately choose which paradigm/world you live in and the philosophy/truth that is your life and what you carve out of the world with your actions and words. You decide your philosophy of life and death. By Peter Hill, Copyright 2004 www.getittogether.net Week 20>> |