The spiritual path I walk is the path of the warrior (add the `ess' .... if you like ... to represent the feminine version), Natural Healer/Physician and Priestess. What does this all mean, really? As this is a topic with much depth, we will visit it briefly and look at each aspect as an introduction to the three aspects.
THE WARRIOR
What does it mean to be a Warrior? One may see images of a person doing battle with weapons and fancy movements ... vanquishing the forces intending to do harm to the innocent. While this is true in a simplistic view of the word, Warrior training involves so much more than combat skills, and fighting. However, in a metaphorical sense, we are certainly doing battle on some level ... with ignorance ... with the darkness - within.... always within first. As a warrior we work to bring more light into our own life in order to be a brighter light in the world. This isn't always a pretty picture or an experience of ease and bliss for many.
Growth and evolution can often be an experience with periods similar to that known as the dark night of the soul. While we certainly experience fun, bliss, and pleasure on our path, it would be an illusion to imagine we can walk in this way always - life is simply not like that right here and now ... where we are at (externally and internally ... and this is different for everyone). We can enter ... connect with ... experience blissful states, yes. For the majority of us, there is much to face and transform/transmutate and until we reach a certain place in our Work, it is certainly not always blissful! There is a saying that ignorance is bliss!!! True - if one takes that to mean the bliss of ignorance ... when we do not know something (for example, the darker aspect of ourself .... it is far easier to be blissful) ... want to be ignorant?
A warrior is prepared to See, Feel and Look inside and out ... and if one embarks on the path and realizes that one does not possess this quality, one is able to Work to attain it. Without first seeing oneself as one really is, there is no room to Work.
I recall speaking with a woman once who had tumours removed, an eye surgery, joint issues, eczema and was obese. When I asked her how she felt inside her body, she said, in a huff, "Oh, I feel just great ... why? There is nothing wrong with me." This is an example of ignorance is bliss: she was so insensitive to herself inside and out that she could not feel her body crying for help and change - though it was plain to see. She was the type to work to keep herself in a positive mental state ... by not Feeling ... very dangerous. She also had other issues which she was unwilling/unable to acknowledge or see and was therefore stuck mentally and emotionally in her relationships as well. Years later, she had hip surgery and bowel impactation which also required surgery. Working to keep ourselves in a positive mental state is useful; however, not at the expense of the other aspects of ourself working together.
A Warrior is prepared to See what IS - to truly KNOW and is prepared to Work in order to See and KNOW. To see what IS means we give up illusions - some of those illusions trick us into adopting a belief that if `I do not go there, then all is well '- baloney ... one does not go there and so `There' is never brought to light ... and lies covered up in whatever one does to protect one self from feeling these places and moving beyond them ... most of this can be read in people's bodies quite easily. So the work of the Warrior is to face all, transform and transmutate ... and overlook nothing. This takes bravery, determination, impeccability and consistent effort over time (remember?).
In times of peace, the Warrior returns within and continues in her/his spiritual refinement and development - the focus within. If war is brought to one's homeland and the peace and well being of one's people and one's family is threatened, the Warrior may decide to do a different type of battle. What type and how/when is very relative to the situation. Even Warriors run and hide if that is the best option in the moment - there is no glory in death that is avoidable. Many warriors in the past ran from danger and so the arts survived and were able to be passed on - even though there were deliberate measures taken to try to wipe out these teachings over the centuries - all ancient teachings hold stories of this tragic truth, as many cultures rich with spiritual truths and gems were persecuted in our history.
For our ancestors, battle and warrior training was certainly applied in combat situations as the world they lived in was different than the one we experience in the Western world today. For these people, combat skills were a matter of life and death - often, peaceful agricultural communities would be ransacked by travelling bands of thieves and murderous individuals. The training these people had was skillfully disguised in regular farming tools - as well as in their full body movements (their body was a weapon). Having warriors trained in these ways was often the determining factor of survival of a village in difficult times.
Some of the movements we have learned have their roots in these times. Some of the same movements were used to cultivate spiritual awareness and meditative states ... purifying the meridians of the body and leading to higher states of awareness and consciousness.
In fact, the art we teach does have combative elements, but we do not currently engage in tournaments - nor have I ever personally done so. To me, the art has always been very personal and spiritual in focus - with additional healing and practical philosophical aspects.
I have never felt the need or desire to perform and/or compete in a formal tournament. My arena is in the real world and in my day to day life. The opponent I have to face with all I have learned and experienced is usually myself. Though we all face experiences in life where another person feels like an opponent, in one way or another, our own inner challenges are definitely there along the Way. Many students of Kung fu (as well as various other arts) find an interest in tournaments; this is neither good or bad ... simply something they may feel to do at some point in their training and path of study.
We were trained to always be prepared as though we were going to a tournament in every class. In every class, I felt an internal element of working towards my own personal best. This has become a lifestyle now. Life is a tournament - every day we are performing ... there is no preparation ... only NOW, and so we are always in training and always ready to do our best. This is impeccability. This is the path of a warrior.
In everyday life we encounter situations in which we can utilize the skills and attributes of a warrior. What might some of these be? Start up a list ... write them down in your journal.
SPIRIT ... not enough can be said about the cultivation of SPIRIT in an individual - a true requirement, actually! Flexibility and fluidity, strength (inner and outer), power, control (remember that power and control are not over others, but over ourselves and our own life ... in our use of these words ... and our use of the word Spirit in the above sense is imparting a zestfulness where one's Spirit is shining through in all one does), discrimination, determination, mental/emotional balance, transformation and transmutation, extra-ordinary abilities, intuition, clarity of mind, sobriety, peace, calm, contentedness, sharp wit, higher intellect, personal brilliance, stick-to-it-iveness, commitment, greater will to do things ... and more...! What qualities have you come up with in your list?
As you Work in this Path, you have ample opportunities to see and feel for yourself where your own Work lies. You also have the time and space in which to cultivate that which you can further develop.
Notice perfection was not on the list? We will make mistakes ... even at higher levels ... there is always room to learn more and to better ourselves; perfection is not required! Doing your best (impeccability) is.
And we can really develop these qualities through the arts of Kung fu, Chi Kung and Yoga? Most definitely.
So Warrior training is more than mere physical training, ... this is the part that is often misunderstood and not applied. We all know that physical training is not to be overlooked! At higher levels of training we finally not only realize that all of life is our training ground - we are actually living this. We are not merely filled up with concepts, information and knowledge; we are a living example of the benefits of a spiritual practice and its practical application to life here and now. We are extra-ordinary due to the extra-ordinary things we have done in our training and Work. No one can give this to us and so we all develop these things according to our own consistent personal efforts over time. In this Way, a most serious mind and commitment is required ... while being able to have fun!
Every day we are presented with various challenges and perhaps difficulties (as we view them). Walking as a warrior, we have tools we can use in any given moment to deal and cope with what is presented to us in a balanced way; this is how we maintain high levels of energy and harmony in our life. We are not only able to manifest and maintain abundance on the physical level, but continue to progress spiritually. This is the Walk of the Warrior in balance and control of him/her self. This, we can call Mastery.
THE NATURAL HEALER/PHYSICIAN
The aspect of the Path that we call Natural Healer/Physician refers to the training which involves both technique in the Healing Arts and higher level healing which moves beyond technique and operates on the level of energy itself. Over the years of our journey along this Path, we learn and can apply both ... eventually also attaining mastery in the Healing Arts.
Today, on our path, Healers/Natural Physicians specialize in certain things like Herbs and Flowers or Traditional Chinese Medicine or acupressure, Arts such as Jin Shin Jyutsu, Naturopathy, Aromatherapy, Massage, shamanism and so on. All healing work involves a deep understanding of the mental/emotional aspect. Most begin with technique or pick up techniques later (and there is nothing wrong with technique; however, the physical manifestation is not the level at which disharmony originates) - eventually all must come to KNOW and experience that all disorders, dis-eases, illness etc. are energy related first. Mastery in the art of Healing requires working at the level of Energy ... which is what we are.
We still seek out medical attention for emergencies like broken limbs, serious misalignments, accidents or other similar situations; however, we do not require medical attention when we are at higher levels of health and wellness: spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.
We realize that we can experience challenges either metabolically, structurally or mentally/emotionally. The modalities we learn assists us in learning how to address these issues we may experience as they arise. We seek out natural interventions first and give ourselves the space and time to heal ... rather than looking for a quick fix or a pharmaceutical option which often treats symptoms only ... leaving the individual with the root of the problem unaddressed as well as having to deal with the many side effects that often come with the pharmaceutical route.
We look at all factors when faced with health and healing: spiritual, emotional/mental, physical, environmental, familial/ancestral etc. An individual must be prepared to do their part in the healing process. It has taken many years of sustained imbalances of various sorts for someone to manifest an illness ... being prepared to walk the road to vibrant health and well-being is a requirement for sucess!
On this path, we Work to be a living example of health. Prevention is key. Mastery (in this Way), includes the ability to heal one self and be the living example of a level of health and well-being others can attain with Work. Thus, it is vital to study health and healing principles on this path in order to be able to assist one self and others to regain inner balance and control of vitality, health, energy and well-being.
MONKS, PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES
As a Monk or Priestess in this Art, one is first a Monk or Priestess in one's own life. This requires dedication in the practice and experience of developing a connection with what is referred to as the Divine ... within one's self, in and around all things. This individual no longer requires an intermediary between themselves and what they view as Divine, Spirit, God, Universal Energy, The Source, the All That Is....however one views it. They now embody it and impeccably bring this into their everyday life .. sharing this with others and assisting them to learn how to do the same.
As is seen in many religions - with their altars and rituals, prayers, blessings, sacred rites/ceremony and divine connection, anyone can learn to be a monk, priest/priestess in their own right and in their own life ... applying these principles into their own life and later offering service to assist others with theirs ... later teaching and mentoring (if called to do so) to those who also wish to do the same.
Throughout time, the Shaman, Monk, Priest, Medicine Man/Woman etc. were the intermediaries between man and Spirit or God. As priests/priestesses, individuals were skilled in the handling of a troubled individual - Knowing and having a deep understanding of the delicate workings of the human psyche/soul. These people were able to assist others in many ways: making their way through delicate transitions in life; they offered comfort, guidance or a swift kick in the butt during difficult times (and having the wisdom,experience and skill in determining which is called for in every situation); they provided assistance in the interpretation of dreams; guidance in finding their own unique place and fulfilling their personal destiny in life; heal from troubling ailments and understand the nature of their suffering ... and so on.
As a Monk or Priestess, you become this intermediary. Not only do you attend to the service of others who come to you for assistance - you first have developed the ability to assist yourself. Once again, the importance of walking your talk is vital.
One can see how this is a personal journey which lasts a lifetime - there is always room to grow and learn in Wisdom. We do not break down this path into three distinct phases of training - they are really interwoven and developed simultaneously over time ... though there are periods when one aspect may be focused on more than the other two. This is a path we walk our whole life - we are dedicated to this path and commit to continue to grow and learn ... Working through difficult times ...celebrating the breakthroughs and times of peace and joy ... and grinning and bearing the many inescapable challenges that one is bound to face on such a journey.
