The author states the following:
....in which each person of whatever degree should strive to achieve the very highest standard so that they will be of greater worth and will live more happily and honorably.
Yet you my readers will ask the question: "What is the standard to gain honor and happiness?" The author gives the following answer:
You can and ought to know that the best qualities that anyone can aim for ad achieve is a man of worth, according to what is required to attain this completely.
The author then explains the qualities of a man of worth as the following headings:
1. Simplicity of Heart
2. A Generous/Devout Appearance
3. Acting and Serving with Loyalty
4. The Danger of overt Ingenious & overt Subtlety
5. True Wisdom
6. Thoughtless Courage & Skill
7. Great Achievers but not Leaders
8. True Men of Worth, Courage & Good Counsel
Simplicity of Heart
The author defines "simplicity of heart" with the following:
....one can well hold to be men of worth for their pure simplicity of heart, and they would scarcely know how to do wrong, even if they wanted to do so, for they are themselves innocent. And because good actions are easier to do and to control than are evil ones, these simple people set out to perform them all; all the same, in doing this they behave wisely, for it is better to hold to the good.
For the Warrior, this statement means that in one's inner self there must be a simplicity of heart that allows freedom of the desire to do good or to do right so that there is no impulse of wrong blocking the free flowing of one's desire to do good because of the desire to be good. Thus the Warrior is a free good man because he/she allows goodness to be the main desire of their inner self.
A Generous/Devout Appearance
The author defines a "devout/generous appearance" with the following:
.....those who give alms freely....may be concealed in their hearts greed or envy of others or hatred or ill or many other things that detract from a great part of the good characteristics mentioned above.
For the Warrior, one must give freely one's time, energy and monetary sources that are in dispose to the service of devout, discerning generosity. However, one must be vigilant against the inner vices of greed, envy, hatred (even causeless hatred), ill towards an individual as these vices will degrade one into an individual no different from the criminal or robber which plague society today.
Acting and Serving with Loyalty
The author defines "acting and serving with loyalty" with the following:
....and who have within them such steadfast qualities that their way of life cannot be criticized for any vile sins nor for any shameful reproach, and thus live loyally and honestly.
For the Warrior, acting and serving loyally is action that shows the internalization of the qualities and virtues of the Warrior in his/her actions that their lifestyle and actions will have no foundation for slander or reproach. Thus the Warrior is one who practices what he/she studies and preaches.
The Danger of being Overt Ingenious or Overt Subtlety
The author defines the "danger of overt ingenious or overt subtlety" as the following:
...there are others whom some consider wise, but they put all their intelligence and concentrated effort into such cunning schemes that their great subtlety sometimes turns them aside from reaching a true, loyal, and sensible conclusion, so that these subtle people are out of step in all undertakings.
For the Warrior, one must never rely on cunning intelligence that subtlety makes one stumble in their enterprise. For when one schemes and carries out a plan that makes one loose focus on the desired goal or objective, that individual is lost in their madness which is rooted in the scheming process. Thus a Warrior is not one who schemes with plan or ideas rooted in fanciful wishes; rather he/she is one who plans and acts according to the dictates of Warrior Wisdom.
True Wisdom
"True Wisdom" is defined by the author as the following:
It is those who, from their youth, strive diligently to learn what is best to do, to distinguish good from evil, and to know what is reasonable to do; and because they recognize what course of action would be against reason, they endeavor to behave loyally, confidently, and according to what is right. And in their dealings with others, such people do not seek to take away the rights of others, but want above all to protect such rights for them and their honor as well. And in addition, these people know well how to advise others honestly and wisely, without any evil malice, not using excessive subtlety, and without incurring shameful reproach.
For the Warrior, the marks of True Wisdom lie in the action or deed that utilizes wisdom that is meant to be applied in the present moment and not within one's mind. Wisdom lies not in the aspect of knowing much, but rather in doing much that all people can see Wisdom in the deed. The Warrior is an individual of Wisdom and is a doer of good and wise deeds. The fruit of Wisdom is not just in good deeds alone, rather in the upholding and pursuing of justice and honor for all people who look up to the one who lives by Honor and Wisdom: you.
Thoughtless Courage & Skill
The author states what is considered "thoughtless courage and skill" as the following:
...there are some who are skilled in handling weapons, brave, and adept, but their way of pursuing a career in arms is always such that when they are in action, they do not consider the benefit or advantage for their friends or the harm done to their enemies, but without giving or taking advice, they spur forward in a disorderly way and perform personally many feats of arms.
For the Warrior, one must always take into the mind consideration for both friend and enemy before making a strategic move. Even before the attempt at a Deed of Arms or a martial deed, the Warrior utilizes his/her most important weapon: the sharpened and disciplined mind. Both Prowess and Courage are two branches that ought to be rooted into the tree of Wisdom. For without Wisdom, one's courage or action will be seen as thoughtless and thus will make oneself a fool for not thinking with discernment in advance.
Great Achievers but not Leaders.
The author defines those individuals who are "great achievers but not leaders" as the following:
....those who have gone in search of military undertakings in many places, in distant lands and foreign parts, and have found them where another is in command, so that they have no responsibilities of leadership, and they have not involved themselves much in leading or in giving advice, but have undertaken whatever fighting has presented itself to them in an honorable way and without reproach.
For the Warrior, there is an appropriate time and place when to act as the servant or to act as a leader. In the case of being lead by a leader, it is wise to act with humility but not in a degrading or belligerent manner, one must perform the appropriate tasks set before you. In the case of being the Leader, one must be humble as a gate sealed against the vices of vice and arrogance. For as people who look up to you who seek guidance and have the desire to be lead by your example, the vital importance of vigilance against vice is greater.
True Men of Worth, Courage & Good Counsel
Finally, the author defines what is a "true man of worth, courage and good counsel" as the following:
....those who in their youth, in the places and the battles in which they have taken part, have risked their lives gladly and boldly and without any thought or fear of death, or prison, or of the expense which might be incurred in seeking these adventures.....when these young men learn what the practice of arms involves or what it can mean in terms of honor and danger, these good men at arms acquire wisdom and understanding which lead to full knowledge....they begin to act wisely on their own behalf when the need arises in their wars, and all goes well for them because of their good sense and the way they know how to conduct themselves; they also know well how to help and counsel others in their wars....The quality of these good men at arms thus fully proved through their good sense and wise counsel, through their great acts of true valor and their fine words, which are indeed fitting in relation to such deeds.
For the Warrior, one who has worth, courage and good counsel is one whose actions, deeds and knowledge are a reflection of his/her journey into learning, self growth, adventures, deeds of prowess and acquired wisdom built over the years. These qualities are not in a night, instant characteristics that can be granted through a wish or a fanciful thought, but rather in years of hard work, commitment and humbling that comes from trials and adversity.
Thus we can see that for a Warrior, much is required but not impossible to achieve in the course of many years. For the Modern Warrior, the calling for living by the standard of excellence may seem a burden as the demand for pure commitment but with vision, the Warrior has the motivation, alacrity and fire which are seen in his/her actions.
The calling is high o Warrior, but the Path is there, for the qualities of Wisdom, Courage, Discernment, Alacrity and Commitment to the Way of the Warrior are it's fruits. Strive forward Brave Warrior!
