“In the first stage, man & sword become one and each other.
Here even a blade of grass can be used as a lethal weapon.

In the next stage, the sword resides not in the hand but in the heart.
Even without a weapon, the warrior can slay his enemy from a hundred paces.

But the ultimate ideal is when the sword disappears altogether.
The warrior embraces all around him … Only peace remains.”

~ Zhang Yimou (from the ethical genius of the movie “Hero”)

It is our fear that is the source of all our anger … It is our fear and our fear alone that stokes the subtle-yet-raging blaze within us that is so very hard to quench; an inferno of “self-defense” & “constructive criticism” & “healthy boundaries” & “deserved gossip” & “justice” — all those justified & “reasonable” forms of hatred & condemnation & judgment that have us teetering on the brink of our collective extinction.

And it is this very fear that might indeed succeed in extinguishing us completely; that might very well succeed in having our species crumble and collapse in a smoldering heap of violence & callousness & savagery.

It is true that this fear is eons-old …
It is true that this fear is stronger than steel …
And it is true that this fear might indeed be our ultimate demise.

And, if we as a species are to succumb to this most insidious of enemies, then at the very least let as many of us as possible choose to LIVE while we still can — and let as many of us as possible choose to die with arms open wide and Hearts filled with LOVE.

Amen … Let it be so.

 

Filed under: Wisdoms from the Journey by Scaughdt