The age of heroes is not over. But we are not born heroes. People become heroes.
That takes three things:
1. Mission focus
We train determination. We stay focused on what we need to do, every moment in class. We face distraction from our bodies, minds, training partners and environment. We take note and stay focused.
We face obstacles to training – schedule conflicts, family, work, injuries, sickness, car trouble – we improvise and prevail. We find time to train, a place to train, a way to train that matches our life. We let nothing stop our training.
2. Courage
The more urgent the task, the more danger we face. In the beginning we overcome small threats. We succeed. Our capacity increases.
3. Virtue
We learn the difference between right and wrong. Between arrogance and humility. Between honesty and deceit, generosity and exploitation, effort and laziness. We learn why these traits work, and how they make us stronger, individually and together.
The Alternative
We all know people who have given up. Or who have given their lives to cunning, sensations, or trivia. We see the result: fear, craving, and failure. The antidote is training.
Here’s a Threat:
If we put our hard-earned power, skill and determination in the service of a corrupt institution we will become corrupt.
If, in the name of professionalism, out of false modesty that delegates our decision-making – about the choice of our mission, the means to achieve it, who we should fight, what interests we should further – to people we do not know, do not trust, do not admire, do not agree with – we lose everything.
If we make excuses then our dreams, potential, nobility and freedom will be lost.
The world needs you.
In training we have a way to purify our heart and mind. To make ourselves resolute and able.
It is not being dramatic to say that we are now in the age of heroes.
It is not an exaggeration to say that this is your time.
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Post and karate photo Copyright © 2023 Jeffrey Brooks
Man and sun photo: Javier Garcia via Unsplash
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read True Karate Dō
“One of the best books I’ve read in years, inviting and compelling. Jeff Brooks moves effortlessly from martial arts to Buddhism to consciousness studies, self-transformation, and related fields in this wide-ranging and Illuminating study that has much to offer both novice explorers and veteran practitioners. A splendid achievement.”
— Philip Zaleski, Editor, The Best Spiritual Writing series
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