Men are Warriors

Summary

The text discusses the concept of the warrior archetype in masculinity, emphasizing the balance between destruction and creation, and the importance of honor and self-awareness in a true warrior.

Abstract

The article "Men are Warriors" delves into the nuanced role of warriors throughout history, acknowledging their capacity for destruction while also highlighting the constructive outcomes of their actions. It suggests that destruction is a precursor to creation and that warriors are pivotal in building new civilizations from the remnants of the old. The piece addresses the modern discredit of the warrior archetype, particularly by women who have suffered as its victims, but it argues for understanding the dual nature of the warrior, with its potential for both light and shadow. The text distinguishes between noble warriors who act with dignity and for the greater good, and "shadow warriors" who are driven by narcissism and a desire for destruction without creation. It calls for the transcendence of the hero complex, advocating for warriors to be aware of their limitations and to live with the awareness of their mortality, which sharpens their clarity and commitment to a cause beyond personal desires.

Opinions

The author posits that destruction by warriors can lead to the emergence of new civilizations.
There is a critique of the modern view that discredits the warrior form of masculine energy, particularly from women who have been victims of its shadow side.
The concept of the "shadow warrior" is introduced to describe those who misuse their power for harmful ends, lacking honor and the capacity for creation.
A true warrior is defined by dignity, honor, and the protection of the weak, fighting for a greater good rather than personal gain.
The text suggests that to become a true warrior, one must overcome the hero complex by recognizing personal limitations and maintaining clarity of thought, with an awareness of death as a constant companion.
A parable of a samurai is used to illustrate the importance of acting from a place of commitment to an ideal rather than personal anger or ego.
The article encourages embracing the warrior archetype in a way that contributes to the creation of a just, free, and wonderful world.

Men are Warriors

Now I become death, the destroyer of worlds

-Bhagavad Gita

A warrior is often a destroyer, but destruction doesn’t always have to be negative. Every destruction leads to a new creation. In the very act of destroying, new civilization emerges. The king becomes the authority of the new civilization, but it was always the warriors who build the empire from the rubles.

But the warrior form of masculine energy is highly discredited in modern times. Especially in the case of women, who feel uncomfortable with it, because they have often been the most direct victims of it. But, what must be understood is that there is always a shadow side to every aspect of light.

The Shadow Warrior

Among the warriors, there are those who exploit the power and the honor of the warriors. They are the shadow warriors. The immature men. The adult child. The narcissist hero. He destroys for the sake of destruction. His end goal is never creation but only total destruction. He takes pleasure in abusing women, children, and others who are inferior to Him. He is a pathetic coward who hides behind the mask of righteousness and excuses. But in spite of his layers of excuses and self-pitying, He knows deep down that he is a true coward. His wretchedness eventually catches up to him.

Kill the Hero

To be a true warrior is to have dignity and honor. He who doesn’t despise the weak but rather fight for them, help them to grow, and know the worthiness of being a true man, is a true warrior. He is the defender of light and the protector of his people. For him, every action is for the greater good.

But to become a true warrior, you must eventually kill the hero.

The difference between the warrior and the hero is that the hero doesn’t know his limitations; he is romantic about his invulnerability. But the warrior, however, through his clarity of thinking realistically assesses his capacities and his limitations in any given situation. What enables a warrior to reach clarity of thought is living with the awareness of his own imminent death. The Warrior knows the shortness of life and how fragile it is. For him, death is his eternal companion. And so he follows a transpersonal commitment and doesn’t let his personal and emotional desires cloud his judgment.

There is a story about a samurai attached to the household of a great lord. His lord had been murdered by a man from a rival house, and the samurai was sworn to avenge his lord’s death. After tracking the assassin for some time, after great personal sacrifice and hardship, and after braving many dangers, the samurai found the murderer. He drew his sword to kill the man. But in that instant the assassin spit in his face. The samurai stepped back, sheathed his sword, and turned and walked away. Why? He walked away because he was angry that he’d been spat on. He would have killed the assassin, in that moment, out of his own personal anger, not out of his commitment to the ideal his lord represented. His execution of the man would have been out of his Ego and his own feelings, not out of the Warrior within. So in order to be true to his warrior calling, he had to walk away and let the murderer live.

Become a warrior who is energetic, decisive, courageous, enduring, and persevering. Be loyal to some greater good beyond your own personal gain. Become the annihilator for the sake of creating something new, just, free, and wonderful. Fight good fights in order to make the world a better place than it was yesterday.