On False Humility and True Humility

There is a humility which is false.  It is humbleness that comes from misplaced pride.  A boy who is deferent to his parents, the warrior who bows deeply to his elders.  This action is performed out of politeness, and is based in a self-motivated desire to be accepted and praised.  This is false humility.

True humility can not be performed with expectation of consequence. True humility can not come from any direct action.  Bowing does not make one humble.  Being humble makes one bow.

True humility comes from the action of acceptance.  True humility is the acceptance of the wisdom of the actions of the world upon the individual.  Acceptance of fate.  Acceptance of what has come to pass.  Serenity upon reflection that the world will work its will upon the one, and to fight that will is to risk pride.

We are reminded of the parable of the fish in the stream.  The fish that fights the currents and eddies gets dashed against the rocks.  The fish that accepts his place in the flow of the stream is guided around the rocks by the flowing water.

True humility brings forbearance.  Forbearance in the service of Right Action is the wisdom to not impose one's will upon a situation before knowing the situation's nature. Every situation finds its own balance and has its own object-lesson.  Interjecting one's will into a situation destroys the balance that exists, and erases forever the object-lesson therein. You would do well to learn that lesson before you erase it by inserting yourself.

On Detachment

Detachment allows one to remove oneself from a situation and see an answer more clearly. It strips away the illusion and allows the observation of true nature.

See how the lizard protects itself from the mountain cat.  The lizard's tail is meant to be a target. It is long and bright and distracting. When caught, the lizard sheds its tail, detaching itself from its decoy.  The lizard escapes leaving the cat chasing an illusion.

The lizard will grow another tail, while the decoy keeps the lizard safe.  So the illusion of self can protect you from evil, as long as you remember to detach yourself from your illusion.  One can always grow another tail.

The danger lies in allowing yourself to be devoured by your illusion. Forget your true nature, and you become nothing but illusion; a creature that is only
tail, which is called the Serpent.

The Serpent is a creature of illusion.  Remember how the Serpent's illusions deceived Koji?  One who forgets their true nature is one who has nothing but illusion to cling to. 

But also remember that the Serpent has no power of detachment, and so he has no defense against the light of truth.  Since he has forgotten his true nature, he will dissolve with his illusions.

On Compassion

To know compassion is to have no enemies. The enlightened person is one who harbors no attachments that would interfere with Right Action. Nothing has power except what you give it. This is true with the adversary as well. To make an adversary your enemy is to give him power. Anger creates attachment, and attachment creates karma. Cling not, and enemies will disappear.

The highest form of compassion is compassion for those that would harm you or others. It takes a disciplined, humble and detached mind to achieve this level of compassion. It is a test of all the Stones then, is it not?

Remember that good and evil are brothers. Twin snakes, nipping at each other's tail. We fight evil because it is our practice, not because we will destroy evil. The important thing is that the wheel of life continues to turn. Our highest purpose is to perform right action and contribute to that motion.

To fight evil under the delusion of destroying one's enemy is to put Self first. It is a prideful notion that one can destroy any evil. Personifying evil in the embodiment of one's adversary is to transgress against detachment and humility.

If you have an enemy, it is you who made it. You elevated an adversary in your mind to this status. It is you who gives your adversary this power, not he who takes it from you. Learn this, keep it in your heart and you will never have any enemies.

On Discipline

The disciplined mind is necessary for balance. It is thus because it feeds the other Stones with its order. Once cannot properly follow any of the other stones without a disciplined mind.

A disciplined mind is without desire.

A disciplined mind is not flattered by praise.

A disciplined mind is not hurt by blame.

A disciplined mind can balance between compassion and detachment.

A disciplined mind knows that yesterday is a memory.

A disciplined mind knows that tomorrow is an illusion.

A disciplined mind knows that forbearance replaces fear.

A disciplined mind knows not to grasp for enlightenment.

A disciplined mind knows that truth can not be spoken or taught.

A disciplined mind knows that knowing is delusion.