Part Twenty-Three

The Warrior's Mindset

Joan Ann Lansberry

Jan 3, 1998

A weird thing happened on my surfing explorations today. A news article on Starnet claimed the nazis are a growing force on the web, with more than 600 web sites to date. I am not one to believe such things without proof, and so I set metacrawler to search for "nazi". A window was indeed found to some of their web sites. A "white pride" site under the name of Stormfront did not show their ugliest colors on the opening page. But a visit to the links page turned up some really dirty things. They really do hate blacks, jews and gays. One group using the Bible as its supporting weapon called itself S.T.R.A.I.G.H.T. : Strategy To Remove All Immoral Godless Homosexual Trash.

Reeling from the nauseous horrors of such sites, I nevertheless found one site curious and bookmarked it. It was called Celt and Saxon Homepage. At first glance, it looked like an innocent ethnic heritage page. But the message of the animated JAVA banner at bottom center gave me an eerie chill.

Celts and Saxons of the world,
Study your heritage!
Draw strength from self-identity!
Embrace the history and uniqueness
of your ancestral peoples
and be
PROUD.
This page is for
...us.

I shuddered at these words. The author of this page is setting up a us vs them mentality. When does ethnic pride go bad? It is good to study our heritage. I like to learn about my czech and irish ancestors, for these are the people I came from. Part of spirituality is a sense of connectedness to all life. A sense of connectedness to my ancestors increases that sense of greater connectedness to "the big picture." There is a sense of strength that comes from this knowledge. The time before you were born loses the grayness of the unknown. Also, in order to better learn what we may BECOME, we must learn what we WERE!

It was this sense of connectedness to his roots that gave Alex Haley, the author of ROOTS, a sense of pride in himself. He investigated the tales passed down from his ancestors of the mandingo warrior Kinte Kunte. When he went to Africa and learned there really was a Kinte Kunte, the pride he felt was clean and redeeming.

What is the sort of pride that the author of this celt-saxon page is advocating, however? The hard, cheerless implications are there. It is not simple joy in who you are. It is from that us vs them mentality. It comes from the "we are better than them" mentality.

It is possible to celebrate the joy of who we are without casting a shadow on anyone else. The healthy person desires for each person on the planet to do that. The world is big enough to hold all our wonderful tales of diversity. What perverted person thinks the world isn't? Who feels so threatened that there are people in the world different than him, that he must declare his "superiority"? These Nazis do.

A while back I was frightened to learn from a Starnet article that East Germany is still a hotbed of Nazis. These people have declared certain areas "liberated zones". These neighborhood areas are "free" of jews and homosexuals. To redefine the word "liberated" into such an ugly concept is a perversion that boggles the mind of justice. When I told Laura of it, she said "Oh, that is only in East Germany. They are no threat here. We have worse dangers." I'm not so sure. I'm not so sure.

January 4, 1998

1:45am

I am awakened with chilling thoughts and images. I can not go back to sleep. Memories of horrors haunt me. And I can not chase these spooks away.

I was so horrified when I read the words of those hate filled people. What thoughts generate their words? What actions will those thoughts generate? How will they go about "removing" homosexual "trash"? Knowledge of what people like them did in the past rips the veil from my eyes. Who can think it will not happen again?

January 5, 1998

I often play computer games to relax and get my mind off my troubles. For instance, I enjoy the challenge of a fantasy scenario, in which I am a gallant hero. My strategy defeats the foe every time. Should I succumb to forces greater than my own, there is always the "quit" and "reload" option, whereby I return to battle again with enhanced troops. My favorite game scenario in Heroes of Might and Magic II is called Arrax the Jerk. It begins with this long message that gives me chuckles every time I play it.

Over the mountains to the south lies the Lord of Arrax, vassalage of the loathsome House Arrax, ancestral enemies since Bumpo Arrax did not invite your great - great - great - grandpap Lord Miko Pratsworth to the Great Summer Solstice Shindig back in 67 B.H. Besides, they smell. Even now, as you begin a new day, a peculiar odor wafts over the mountains, spoiling your breakfast. "No more," you shout, "Today I vow revenge!"

Periodically, A courier arrives from Arrax:

His Sublime Magnificence Lord Arrax wishes to inform thee that thou art scum!

What fun it is preparing your troops to wage ultimate defeat upon the ''jerk''.

There are lessons to be learned from games such as this, however.

In the greater game of life, it is good to visualize yourself as a hero. If one strategy doesn't work, try another. Perhaps you can mentally "quit" a problem, and "reload" it when you are fresh.

Also, it may be true experience that inspired the writer of this scenario. Family feuds really do begin over such petty things. One of Laura's uncles would not speak to his brother George over a ruined raincoat. In their youth, Woody accused George of wearing his raincoat, and making it unwearable. Laura's father tried every way he could to explain that he did not ever touch the coat. He even offered to buy him a new one, anyway. This didn't satisfy Woody, for '' It was the principle of the thing.'' It escalated back and forth to the point that neither one wished to be present if the other was there.

Yes, we humans can really be that petty. We really are not so far from the primitive days of the barbarians. In fact, we are still as the fearful, leaf-munching gorillas. To approach the gorillas of a different clan, the newcomer must proceed very slowly. He first sits a good distance away from them. Then he starts munching leaves. After a while they get the idea he won't be a hostile danger, then they let him come closer. To do any different, the newcomer would issue a challenge to ''WAR!''

We must learn the art of leaf-munching on the sidelines in order to win over a new group of people. For instance, every person who begins a new job does this. The first few weeks are ones of testing. The already-established clan of workers wait to see what type of person you are before you are accepted as part of the group. Once you've proved yourself to be hardworking and possessing integrity, they relax.

To expect strangers to be any different is to ignore our basic, primitive animal natures. We can not expect instant acceptance. Only we humans with our slightly larger brains complicate things a little bit more than the gorillas do.

We hear from our fellow clan members that the neighboring tribe is composed of suspect critters. It is usually over something petty. Your clan doesn't like their religion. They pray to strange gods. They have strange rituals. Whispered about are tales of just how strange. They have an ugly skin color. They do weird things in bed. Besides, they smell.

Them critters is just plain ODD!

We human gorillas, we do this. Only too often this basic animal nature becomes something sadly unique to humans . Sometimes we become so afraid of the neighboring tribe, that their very existence is a threat. They are more than just suspect, they become ''THE ENEMY''. We put up web sites where we declare our superiority over The Enemy. What causes this?

We in our great philosophizing ponder our fear of the unknown. Often it is while imbibing a drink made from grapes, and left to ferment a long time. What is that mighty terror that fills us? Maybe it's a message from the gods. So we bow down and worship the messenger of fear. Something this big has got to be there for a reason. So, it becomes a litmus test. If we fear it, it must be bad.

And thus it has ever been since the first cave man ever poked his head out of the cave, scratched himself, and looked at his surroundings.

January 7, 1998

12:45 am

Laura has found a book that so impresses her she has read late into the early morning. She came to bed telling tales from it. And now it through her lips has so moved me that I rise from bed and must see for myself this marvelous wisdom.

From FLASHING STEEL: Mastering Eishin-Ryu Swordsmanship

By Masayuki Shimabukuro and Leonard J. Pellman

From the dedication:

If you were to ask Miura Hanshi what has been the guiding principle of his life, he likely would answer ''shisei'' -- SINCERITY. He has found that sincerity is the secret to success in all areas of life. Sincerity must begin with ATTITUDE, then it will flow naturally into your words and deeds. As a tribute to the example and leadership of Miura Hanshi, we complete his biographical sketch with the word ''shisei'' in his own calligraphy.

Thus ends the dedication to the grandmaster of Eishin-Ryu iaijutsu.

Iaijutsu is the art of swordsmanship in face - to - face combat, as practiced by the samurai of feudal Japan. A samurai was typically a master of many arts -- not only the arts of combat, but also of poetry, literature, and philosophy. A samurai was truly a ''renaissance'' man.

From Budo no Arikata, Purpose of Martial Arts:

So, the higher purpose of iaijutsu is to develop the mind and spirit of a warrior, an attitude and strength of character that wins the battle before it begins. This is no simple matter to achieve. It takes years of daily training to cultivate these attributes and to rid oneself of attitudes and reactions, such as anger, fear, selfishness, jealousy, and hate, that are counterproductive or self-destructive.

Further, the author says:

However, iaijutsu training demands a still higher and more noble purpose than merely winning (or not losing) battles. The great Chinese tactician Lao Tsu said that the highest principle in the Art of War is to win without a battle. This is the true ideal of iaijutsu, as embodied in the Chinese ideograms for ''martial art'':

"Martial" . . . . "art"
The symbol on the left, above, which we translate as "martial" (the "bu" in budo) was formed from the two characters below:

"Prevent". . . . "Conflict"

Thus the term ''martial arts'', from the earliest of times, has truly meant ''The Art of Conflict Prevention''. . .

The words of Japan's most famous and revered samurai to his young disciple:

''You should train to become like this boulder,''Musashi told Jotaro, ''With most of your strength hidden, and so deeply rooted that you are immovable. Yet, so powerful that what can be seen will make men cringe to walk in your shadow.''

Yet the Art of War is more than just that. The tales of Mushashi show him in the mountains with a friend and mentor, the priest Soho Takuan. He grieves because his aura is so intimating that all living things, in particular a snake, fear him.

''I saw it,'' the priest said. ''Since it dared not attack you, you defeated it without striking a blow. and because of your great skill, both you and the snake are alive now.'' Although he already knew the answer, Takuan asked, ''Why does that sadden you?''

''Because I am so strong that no one can ever grow close to me. I can never have true peace.'' Musashi pointed a finger at the priest, ''Not like you,'' he said with admiration. ''You did not fear the snake, nor did the snake fear you. Your spirit is so calm, so natural, that the snake treated you no differently than the rocks, the trees, or the wind. People accept you that way, too.''

Takuan only smiled, pleased that his friend had made such an important self-discovery.

This heijoshin, peace of mind, that all martial artists aspire to, is a life-long goal. The body weakens with age. Everyone's body does. But this need not be a stumbling block.

. . .The key to life long fruitfulness and happiness, then, is not in our physical skills, but in our mental development.

This is why cultivating heijoshin is far more important to the martial artist than merely perfecting skill with a sword. Furthermore, heijoshin is an unlimited quality. There is always room for more knowledge, greater compassion, stronger love, and a higher level of character development.

Yet, this goal is not sought for with striving. It must be spontaneous. The teacher within the book allows there are many ways to it, and each warrior must discover his own path.

The awareness of the nearness of death is also a part of the warrior's mindset. Having been so near death, even to the point of actually dying on the hospital table, Laura is acutely aware of this. While returning home from Tucson this evening, she asked Julia and I this question: ''If you knew you had only one week to live, what would you do?" Julia, who was driving, calmly answered first, ''I would suspect I would just do as I do now.''

I pondered a bit. Surely wouldn't I want to do something better than just what I ordinarily do? I thought out loud as I answered Laura. ''I would write or call everyone I know and tell them I love them. I would spend much time with both of you, hugging close and looking deep into your eyes, so that our spirits can connect deeply on that special plane for which we have invented a word to express that which far surpasses love, * * * * * *. . .'' Laura, taking advantage of my pause, said she would go bowshooting as always. I asked myself out loud, would I still continue to take sewing customers? Yes, I would, for I would be glad for the opportunity to prove once again my skills and be of service. I would relish those last sewing jobs. I would take extra time with each one.

''So you too, would essentially do the same as always?'', asked Laura. I was disappointed to also answer as Julia. Yet it is what I ultimately would do. I would listen to all the music I cherish most, the Capercaillie albums, the Silly Wizard albums, the Andy M. Stewart albums. And I'd have to listen to Clannad, and that Narada compilation Celtic Spirit. And I would hear again the Bach Goldberg Variations. . .

And I'd read the on-line newspaper, and let everyone reading the Community Front Page have a piece of my mind. Yes, to my somewhat disappointed dismay, essentially what I always do!

Laura's next words were surprising. In that we would do nothing differently than always, we, in fact, are living as the samurai warriors! For this is part of what heijoshin means. Both startled and comforted at the same time, I rejoiced again in the richness that is my life.