Warrior of the Light -03- (05.18.09)

It has been an extraordinarily ridiculous amount of time since I last meditated on a page from Paulo Coelho's book Warrior of the Light.  But that does not matter.  All that matters is now, in this moment, I am again.

A Warrior of the Light does not rely on strength alone, he makes use of his opponent's

 energy, too.  - Warrior of the Light, p3 - 

A battle cannot be won if one burns through all his or her energy in the fight.  A warrior knows that strength is important, but it is never a deciding factor.  Intelligence is used: how to use an opponent's weakness against him, how to cater to a warrior's advantage without exhausting the warrior before the fight is over.  The crowd watches, jeers, even, as the warrior pauses to kneel and pray.  He listens to the words of his god, his inner voice, his reason.  He does not listen to the human world around him, but touches with something much deeper inside of himself.  And it is there, in that core, that he finds his strength.

In a roman coliseum, this makes perfect sense.  The implications for modern society are perhaps not as crystaline.

The idea is, in effect, not to fight the full force of life.  We find ourselves on these life paths, wandering aimlessly, sometimes hopelessly.  Sometimes we know exactly where we're going and just how to get there.  Sometimes we have no idea where we're going, we just know the route we want to take.  And some of us are content to just wander dazedly.

One thing that Coehlo expressed in his novel The Alchemist, was that even if we know precisely where a path begins and ends, we can't possibly fathom what happens in between.  It will curve, twist, and take us in directions we never thought we'd go.

Sometimes we leave the path because we don't think it is going the right way.  Sometimes we try to fight the path.  Sometimes we see it through to the end, and are pleasantly surprised with the results.  The idea is that even if everything does not work out in precisely as we planned, it still may be vital to our education.  If it is not an unusual shortcut to the finish line, then it is something very important to experience.

It does take work and energy to get to where we want to be.  It doesn't just happen. Neither, though, does it happen by brute force.  We must use some of the energy that is given to us - the circumstances thrown our way - the energy of our opponent - to get to where we want to be.  We do not need to be ashamed of asking for help, be it from a god or a guardian or a friend or confidant.  When the enemy is too strong to pass through, simply allow it to redirect you.  Take every blow as a lesson in self-defence, and see where you stand when it's over.  Take it in stride and take it with gratitude.

Peace, Love & Light be with you.

Midnight_digital, movimente, YanivG

Warrior of the Light -01- (12.02.08)

Warrior of the Light is a book - a guide, really, meant to accompany Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. Recently I read The Alchemist, and naturally went to see what was in this little handbook. Inside are proverb-like listings, some in the form of small anecdotes, some just a single sentence.

I would like to dedicate one post on analyzing one bit of knowledge from the book. Perhaps this will happen once a month, once a week, perhaps even bi-weekly. You need not have read The Alchemist to follow Warrior of the Light, though I do recommend reading the book. These are entirely of my own creation, save the quote itself. I do not ask you agree, though I do ask you respond and engage me in discussion, whether you agree or not.

For now, I will begin at the beginning.

"A Warrior of the Light knows that he has much to be grateful for."

-Warrior of the Light, Paulo Coelho (p. 1)

It's not necessarily a bad thing to be extraordinarily lucky or gifted, as long as you realize where it's coming from. All things - both good and bad - are placed in our lives for a reason. As long as we continue to ask for things for our highest good, that is all we will receive. Sometimes things will be hidden, and we'll pause to wonder 'why did this happen to me? I did nothing wrong!'

Bad things happening is not necessarily a punishment. They're never fun, and wouldn't it be lovely to reap rewards all the time? Though rewards for good deeds are often a good way to instill a sense of right-doing, the greater lessons must come to us in the form of triumph, not reward.

To be given a monumental roadblock, to the point where we pause and hesitate, think 'perhaps this cannot be right - it is too difficult', and then to decide to try anyway and succeed is the most sustaining form of growth imaginable.

Not only has the individual physically accomplished an seemingly impossible task, he has gained the mentality that he can do anything he wants, provided he sets his mind to it. He has also taken that step closer to God, to put trust in Spirit for just a moment, to suspend his beliefs while he tries with all his heart - only to succeed in the end.

They are also points of self-evaluating. Roadblocks may be placed in our lives for the very reason of causing us to pause and reflect. Are we really doing that which is for our highest good? Are we doing the thing that our heart calls us to do?

The tricky part is that it changes. What we start out looking for often changes, but not without reason. I began my path seeking a degree in science and a position as a researcher. Now, I find that it is no longer my calling. It was, most certainly, in the beginning, and because I followed that, I have learned quite a bit and met some of the most amazing people. If I had the chance to redo it, I'd do it all the same again.

Do not think that what you begin looking for is what you will end up finding. It is not uncommon or unusual for it to change. It is, however, unusual for one to realize this, and change his or her plans accordingly. Don't be afraid to listen to your heart when it tells you it wants something else.

I think the main thought Coelho is trying to get across here is the idea that we must be aware of our situation, we must be gracious for our blessings, but at the same token, not to take strife as a strike against us - that our God is punishing for something wrong. My God, or Spirit, Source, what have you, to me, is nothing but Love. I have found nothing more pure on this Earth than unconditional love. To me, it seems, that God could be nothing but that. Therefore, I choose to regard each setback in my life as God placing a challenge before me. Not punishment, but a chance to run forward and shine brightly with success.

We all have Godlight inside of us - we are all capable of love.

Shine on!




Thanks to edmittance, TechNopal.