Four Dignities of the Warrior's Path
interpretation by Rob Brezsny
excerpted from Free Will Astrology, December 14, 2010
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In Tibetan Buddhism's "Four Dignities of the Warrior's Path," courage and ferocity are absent. In fact, the qualities regarded as essential for being a warrior have nothing in common with the training regimens of Marines or football players or lobbyists.
The first dignity is often translated in English as meekness, but that word doesn't convey its full meaning. "Relaxed confidence" is a more precise formulation -- a humble feeling of being at home in one's body.
Perkiness, or irrepressible joy, is the second dignity. To develop it, a warrior cultivates the habit of seeing the best in everything and works diligently to avoid the self-indulgence of cynicism.
The third is outrageousness. The warrior who embodies this dignity loves to experiment, is not addicted to strategies that have been successful in the past, and has a passionate objectivity that's free of the irrelevant emotions of hope and fear.
The fourth dignity is inscrutability, or a skill at evading the pigeonholes and simplistic definitions that might limit the warrior's inventiveness while fighting for his or her moral vision.
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The preceding oracle comes from Brezsny's fun and wonderous book, PRONOIA Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings.
Would you like to hear me say some more about your ever-evolving destiny? Check out your EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPE. Meanwhile, to get a taste of what my audio offerings are like, listen to my free podcast, Beauty and Truth Lab.
Linda's Hearth note: I started writing a review this provokative and fun book when I got a copy, signed, at Gateways Books, which may soon close. But I didn't have the convenience of this simple-to-use blog system, nor any other computer support system, what a lame excuse for not publishing it, but there's my excuse.
It finally dawned on me that a more successful writer might better accomplish what I had been inspired to do. Above, his words. Check out this book -- feed the corners of your brain that are dank and hungry.
I will come back here someday, maybe even expand this with my words, too, once I learn how to make those Blue Words link things online.
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