Saturday, August 28, 2010
Zen Master Teaching #84
Zen Master Teaching #84: Pace yourself. Injuries and times of relaxation take devastating toll on cardiovascular abilities. Attempting to ruckmarch at old pace after six months of inactivity will result in near-death experience.
Zen Master Teaching #83
Zen Master Teaching #83: Do not question training. One should only take apart pieces of weapon one has been shown how to take apart. Losing tiny spring to weapon will cause rifle to function as well as blind, deaf, 3-legged cat.
Zen Master Teaching #82
Zen Master Teaching #82: Be on guard for foolishness always. When team leader decides to let unarmed personnel into unsecure complex in middle of warzone, best to advise them otherwise. Better to be cautious as nervous chipmunk than risk being ambushed by insurgents.
Zen Master Teaching #81
Zen Master Teaching #81: Danger is best teacher. It is when one faces fatality that one's mind becomes clear. Deployment to warring country, though not reccomended for general populous, is highly educational; it makes all insignifacnt worries melt away like snowman in mid-August.
Complacency
We soldiers have a phrase: "Complacency kills." And it's true. We let the vast complexity of life and drama grip us and pull us into a fatal vice. We seek out the pursuit of pleasure and the absence of pain, and do not allow ourselves to even be aware of these actions. We ignore everything and work in disharmony with our own well-being.
I have been complacent. It incites me to fury that I have been so foolish as to allow the petty events around me to distract me from what is necessary.
No longer. I impart this one small piece of wisdom to you all: do not get complacent. Harden yourselves and sharpen your minds, so you may better enjoy life. The fat wildabeast may be content, but it will always fall pray to the cheetah. Choose which you shall be.
I have been complacent. It incites me to fury that I have been so foolish as to allow the petty events around me to distract me from what is necessary.
No longer. I impart this one small piece of wisdom to you all: do not get complacent. Harden yourselves and sharpen your minds, so you may better enjoy life. The fat wildabeast may be content, but it will always fall pray to the cheetah. Choose which you shall be.
Zen Master Teaching #80
Zen Master Teaching #80: Dress wisely. One who does not think ahead and prepare does so at one's peril. Wearing short sleeves and shorts on cold rainy night will make one feel as comfortable as turtle without shell.
Zen Master Teaching #79
Zen Master Teaching #79: Be wary of natural elements. Man-made objects do not do well in environments where forces of nature exist. MP3 player will be as successful in survivng washing machine as swine is in flight.
Ripples
I want you all to take a short voyage with me. Some of you may need life rafts along the way, as the sea of my thoughts can be overwhelming at times, so I will do my best. However, I want the rest of you to just cling to the raft and let the current of my musings take you where you need to go.
I have often wondered whether or not anyone actually reads my writings. After all, most of the world is too busy in their own lives, trying to keep their head above the tide, to even take notice of anyone else or their thoughts. I see it everywhere: relationships, cultures, political parties, institutions, religions, corporations, militaries, focus groups... all of these gatherings of people are not really a way to connect to one another. They are simply a way to raise our own Jolly Rogers, a way to voice our own opinions and be heard above the crash of the waves. Speaking specifically for first world countries, very few among us actually wish to cooperate with each other as we go about our daily lives. We want what is best for us: an escape from pain and the pursuit of pleasure. We want to feel good, to feel loved, and to feel wanted. Our desires are those of the sharks and the killer whales; we need to feed, to breathe, to live, and to repeat the cycle. Individual motivations are what make the tides of the world move.
However, like the tides of the ocean, our actions have effects that are both far-reaching and invisible to the naked eye. And, as the predators in this sea, those who are from first world countries take little notice of those in third world countries. And why should we? They are the tuna and the sea bass. They are beneath us, there only as background imagery in the grand scheme of our existence. We appear much the same to them, although the lives of these people are much different. Haunted by barracuda and dolphins, the great masses of people in other countries who do not have the benefits we are so blessed with go about their lives scurrying in fear, just trying to survive. But again, their actions too have effects which are not readily apparent.
The world is a complex system. Every single movement and every single organism in it has a purpose or an effect. But how often do we really consider the sheer volume of each of those? Rarely. If it is not within our immediate sphere of influence, we disregard it. It is not real to us; just some story in a news paper, some event in some other country, just another small wave on the surface of the sea. But, as with the sea, there are underlying currents to these movements. We can’t see them, but they are there. For many centuries, we have not even taken these tides into consideration. We have either operated on instinct or adapted the world around us to suit our needs.
Think of the human race as the crew of a small ship. Instead of using sails to guide us and using the current to sweep us across the globe, we have instead developed motors to cut through the currents. Now, on the one hand, this has helped us to advance and overcome difficulty. It has allowed for the expansion of thoughts, goods, and civilization itself. However, the inherent problem with this method is the lack of respect for the tides and for the world around us. I am not saying the environment cannot handle itself; in fact, I am stating the very opposite. The world around us, with all of its thoughts and movements and organisms, is a force which we do not comprehend. We plow our way through hurricanes and typhoons, hoping for the best. And, by some way or another, we have managed to keep our little raft afloat.
Now, homo sapien is a strong, capable species. We are very adept at adapting, and know how to survive using our intellects as well as our instincts. However, I fear we are a bit short sighted. We are still taking the perspective of the fish or the small predator, fighting to survive one day at a time. Even the most “intelligent” and “capable” among us, those who we elect to lead us or who take charge of civilizations, still only consider things from a limited perspective, their minds clouded by the beauty of beautiful pearls and precious underwater gems. Rarely does one come along who has the foresight to think about the course of our voyage on this raft of ours, through this universal ocean. And those who have usually differ largely in their opinions about how which direction we should steer our rudder.
But the way to see pas the clouds on the horizon is this: we must start reading the stars. We need to look beyond ourselves and our tidepools of daily life to consider that there are more important things out there. Even the ocean, for all of its cycles of death and rebirth and movement of the tides, is finite space. It is subject to the pull of the moon. We need to start thinking in the long term, rather than the fight to survive. Use the currents of the sea of thoughts and emotions in our societies to our advantage, instead of attempting to plow through them with the newest and most advanced machinery. Instead of acting as a gathering of sharks at a feeding frenzy all of the time, we should learn from the fish, working together when the time is right for the benefit of both the masses and the individual. Only this way will we be able to come up from the depths of to sail triumphantly across the open ocean.
I have often wondered whether or not anyone actually reads my writings. After all, most of the world is too busy in their own lives, trying to keep their head above the tide, to even take notice of anyone else or their thoughts. I see it everywhere: relationships, cultures, political parties, institutions, religions, corporations, militaries, focus groups... all of these gatherings of people are not really a way to connect to one another. They are simply a way to raise our own Jolly Rogers, a way to voice our own opinions and be heard above the crash of the waves. Speaking specifically for first world countries, very few among us actually wish to cooperate with each other as we go about our daily lives. We want what is best for us: an escape from pain and the pursuit of pleasure. We want to feel good, to feel loved, and to feel wanted. Our desires are those of the sharks and the killer whales; we need to feed, to breathe, to live, and to repeat the cycle. Individual motivations are what make the tides of the world move.
However, like the tides of the ocean, our actions have effects that are both far-reaching and invisible to the naked eye. And, as the predators in this sea, those who are from first world countries take little notice of those in third world countries. And why should we? They are the tuna and the sea bass. They are beneath us, there only as background imagery in the grand scheme of our existence. We appear much the same to them, although the lives of these people are much different. Haunted by barracuda and dolphins, the great masses of people in other countries who do not have the benefits we are so blessed with go about their lives scurrying in fear, just trying to survive. But again, their actions too have effects which are not readily apparent.
The world is a complex system. Every single movement and every single organism in it has a purpose or an effect. But how often do we really consider the sheer volume of each of those? Rarely. If it is not within our immediate sphere of influence, we disregard it. It is not real to us; just some story in a news paper, some event in some other country, just another small wave on the surface of the sea. But, as with the sea, there are underlying currents to these movements. We can’t see them, but they are there. For many centuries, we have not even taken these tides into consideration. We have either operated on instinct or adapted the world around us to suit our needs.
Think of the human race as the crew of a small ship. Instead of using sails to guide us and using the current to sweep us across the globe, we have instead developed motors to cut through the currents. Now, on the one hand, this has helped us to advance and overcome difficulty. It has allowed for the expansion of thoughts, goods, and civilization itself. However, the inherent problem with this method is the lack of respect for the tides and for the world around us. I am not saying the environment cannot handle itself; in fact, I am stating the very opposite. The world around us, with all of its thoughts and movements and organisms, is a force which we do not comprehend. We plow our way through hurricanes and typhoons, hoping for the best. And, by some way or another, we have managed to keep our little raft afloat.
Now, homo sapien is a strong, capable species. We are very adept at adapting, and know how to survive using our intellects as well as our instincts. However, I fear we are a bit short sighted. We are still taking the perspective of the fish or the small predator, fighting to survive one day at a time. Even the most “intelligent” and “capable” among us, those who we elect to lead us or who take charge of civilizations, still only consider things from a limited perspective, their minds clouded by the beauty of beautiful pearls and precious underwater gems. Rarely does one come along who has the foresight to think about the course of our voyage on this raft of ours, through this universal ocean. And those who have usually differ largely in their opinions about how which direction we should steer our rudder.
But the way to see pas the clouds on the horizon is this: we must start reading the stars. We need to look beyond ourselves and our tidepools of daily life to consider that there are more important things out there. Even the ocean, for all of its cycles of death and rebirth and movement of the tides, is finite space. It is subject to the pull of the moon. We need to start thinking in the long term, rather than the fight to survive. Use the currents of the sea of thoughts and emotions in our societies to our advantage, instead of attempting to plow through them with the newest and most advanced machinery. Instead of acting as a gathering of sharks at a feeding frenzy all of the time, we should learn from the fish, working together when the time is right for the benefit of both the masses and the individual. Only this way will we be able to come up from the depths of to sail triumphantly across the open ocean.
Life and Times
Destruction
From days long past, I sit and stare
Of severe pain, fully aware.
Every moment is one long hour
The taste of memr’y has turned sour
I shake, I tremble, scream and shout
To go on, I have not the clout.
In the dark land of madness strange
All these thoughts, I can’t rearrange
Christopher’s Ballad no more heals
Hard waves still crash, my wounds won’t seal
Over and over, the scenes play
I want so badly just to say
“The air is clear, the dawn renewed
My once lost sense of gratitude;
And no more will you have to fear
The lunacy of this man here.”
But alas, I hold my red heart
Shredded, tattered, it will not start.
Still connected, I sew it up
Each tiny hole, a paper cut
Tremors run through my hands so cold
No longer able to be bold
The agony resounds so deep
Fading fast, I can’t help but weep
My mind has gone, the years have past
Each breath now thinks it is the last.
Resurrection
Shinedown sings to my ears stone deaf
Of Saul’s great peace, I am bereft
John and Paul can voice hopes and dreams
But will not love break my heart’s seams?
Drifting, I fall into God’s arms
Here, at last, I cannot be harmed
I’m stuck again, it’s safe to say
The rain won’t take my pain away.
But perhaps His words will ease strife
I look there for answers in life
Slowly, I turn, page after page
Calm swiftly replaces the rage
Soul, awake! Don’t droop in your sin.
What would they say, your kith and kin?
Rise up, don’t tarry, do your job
Strike out at the dangerous mob
Let in no sorrow, fear or grief
Let Christ bring you some true relief.
Reconstruction
Foundations are laid bare tonight
The morning will shed a pure light
Rebuilt, my castle is secure
Drawbridge down, I put out the lure
New agony will take over
The kind that tears up the clover;
Sprinting, dashing, I’ll not be beat
Cool water at the end is sweet.
Forged anew, this strong iron rod
Will help me up when I fall to sod
Time has past, and it’s time to go.
No patience left for hellish throes
Of torment’s knife, obsession’s pull
Or beating thud of doldrums dull.
A long road, it ever shall be
But this time, I’ll shed my mis’ry.
From days long past, I sit and stare
Of severe pain, fully aware.
Every moment is one long hour
The taste of memr’y has turned sour
I shake, I tremble, scream and shout
To go on, I have not the clout.
In the dark land of madness strange
All these thoughts, I can’t rearrange
Christopher’s Ballad no more heals
Hard waves still crash, my wounds won’t seal
Over and over, the scenes play
I want so badly just to say
“The air is clear, the dawn renewed
My once lost sense of gratitude;
And no more will you have to fear
The lunacy of this man here.”
But alas, I hold my red heart
Shredded, tattered, it will not start.
Still connected, I sew it up
Each tiny hole, a paper cut
Tremors run through my hands so cold
No longer able to be bold
The agony resounds so deep
Fading fast, I can’t help but weep
My mind has gone, the years have past
Each breath now thinks it is the last.
Resurrection
Shinedown sings to my ears stone deaf
Of Saul’s great peace, I am bereft
John and Paul can voice hopes and dreams
But will not love break my heart’s seams?
Drifting, I fall into God’s arms
Here, at last, I cannot be harmed
I’m stuck again, it’s safe to say
The rain won’t take my pain away.
But perhaps His words will ease strife
I look there for answers in life
Slowly, I turn, page after page
Calm swiftly replaces the rage
Soul, awake! Don’t droop in your sin.
What would they say, your kith and kin?
Rise up, don’t tarry, do your job
Strike out at the dangerous mob
Let in no sorrow, fear or grief
Let Christ bring you some true relief.
Reconstruction
Foundations are laid bare tonight
The morning will shed a pure light
Rebuilt, my castle is secure
Drawbridge down, I put out the lure
New agony will take over
The kind that tears up the clover;
Sprinting, dashing, I’ll not be beat
Cool water at the end is sweet.
Forged anew, this strong iron rod
Will help me up when I fall to sod
Time has past, and it’s time to go.
No patience left for hellish throes
Of torment’s knife, obsession’s pull
Or beating thud of doldrums dull.
A long road, it ever shall be
But this time, I’ll shed my mis’ry.
Zen Master Teaching #78
Zen Master Teaching #78: Adapt. Understand that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you are not in control of life. Better to understand that Universe will smash your dreams and ideas like nutcracker than to hope you will stand as firm as oak tree.
Zen Master Teaching #77
Zen Master Teaching #77: Quell frustration. No matter what the situation, violence should be last resort. Repeatedly beating steering wheel in fit of rage has damaging effect on hand.
Rain
Away, away, washed down the creek
My silent tears I no more weep.
The dawn has come, the time is ripe
Rise up, my soul, no longer gripe.
Each droplet falls, and in the rain
The stains of sorrow slowly wane.
No more does salt fall from my eyes
Clear, fresh dew drops from the skies
And beneath the skin wipes away fears
Along with memr'y, spanning years.
Calmly I smile, seeing all,
I now will run, not just crawl
And forget the past and all its hate
Resigning myself to unknown fate.
My silent tears I no more weep.
The dawn has come, the time is ripe
Rise up, my soul, no longer gripe.
Each droplet falls, and in the rain
The stains of sorrow slowly wane.
No more does salt fall from my eyes
Clear, fresh dew drops from the skies
And beneath the skin wipes away fears
Along with memr'y, spanning years.
Calmly I smile, seeing all,
I now will run, not just crawl
And forget the past and all its hate
Resigning myself to unknown fate.
Zen Master Teaching #76
Zen Master Teaching #76: Patience. To those who agonize over uncontrollable troubles, life will be harsh. Better to be as wolf, calm and patient for what comes, than jackrabbit who runs afraid and directly into snare.
A Memorial
Today, we remember those who have died for freedom.
Thinking about what that concept entails seems daunting to me. I have just begun to comprehend the meaning of my own life, and still struggle daily to find my own place in this world. How can one who knows so little of life contemplate death? In the past, I have called myself wise. However, due to certain events in the past months, I have come to realize I am nothing more than a child. This world holds much, and in it is wisdom which I have never seen and possibly will never see. And yet, today they ask us to remember, honor, and contemplate those who have died so that we may live.
As I said, such a thing is strange. We humans are fleeting, whispers on the wind, taking up only a brief existence before it is snuffed out. Death is what defines us best, I think, though many others have made that sentiment before. But we know so little of death itself. Humans have lived for centuries, and yet we can still be taken by the common flu and disease. Our light can be blown away like a candle in the moonlight, leaving those around us to grieve and lament at who we were when we walked on the unforgiving ground. It strikes me how amusing it is that we see death in a multitude of ways as well. Sometimes it is cold, cruel, and horrifying, that Grim Reaper which takes the spring and joy of youth. Other times, it is kind and thoughtful, removing the burdens of those who are weary and worn. And again, it is neither cruel nor kind, but just is. Think of the millions, the billions, the uncounted number of people who have died. The sheer numbers are staggering. Go back 100 years, and count the deaths. From 1910 onward, just in our country. Think about the number of lives which have been cut away from the warm blanket of life and taken to a place which we have yet to truly define or understand. I am not talking of deaths of soldiers, I will get to that in a moment. No, think right now of every person who has died. Consider the number. And that is nothing, nothing but a speck on the world. We now live for a long time by previous standards. We have lives which stretch out for numerous years, and in them many of us may never even see another death, save our own. But, inevitably, it waits for us.
Most, I think, go their lives without contemplating it. It surprises them, a wolf waiting for its prey in the forest, patient and strong and unchanging. If every living soul considered every second of their lives that the next they may be taken from what they know and sent on their way, how would everyone live? Would they be so careless, so naive, so whimsical? Many look at it through the lens of faith, but even then that is only a feeling based on no evidence to comfort them in the night. I am not saying to have faith is foolish (far from it, as I have much faith myself), but I am looking at it objectively. We do not know, therefore we cannot prove, the existence of anything beyond what we have here. And so many, including myself, have squandered it. We take so much of our lives for granted, wasting it and doing nothing. We wallow in misery, depression, grief, anguish, and a host of other harmful emotions. We stagnate ourselves with the petty entertainments of shallow and fleeting amusements. I am not stating that to have fun is a sin, but we rarely stop to consider the true nature of our amusements. The vices of homo sapien are many, and they are foolish to the last. Many are concerned solely with themselves and their moments of happiness, and think of little else. Is it a bad way to live? Or is that just the way it is?
However, I stray from the true point of my essay. While there are many philosophical questions which one should ponder, today we are asked to remember those who died fighting. And this I think is something which should not be taken lightly. There are men and women from around the world, in every army, who have stood up for what they believed in and put one price on the line for it: their lives. Yes, we are asked to remember our American military. But, for a moment, consider any person, in any country, who has fought for others to be free, and paid for it with the breath in their body. Now, put yourself in their place. As a solider, I can say that I know how they feel. I leave very soon for the place where the Persian Empire once ruled. I go there to stand and speak for the American people, for each one of you reading this essay and countless more. I willingly volunteered to put my life on the line (and even helped to speed up the process in certain circumstances) to go defend your right to call me a foolish, money-seeking torturer. Haha, of course some of you are more sympathetic, but you grasp my point. I go there with full knowledge that I may be obliterated in a blast of heat and iron, or taken by a sniper's bullet. However, I still go. I willingly bring that upon myself. Many, many more have done the same, and I honor each one of them.
Being a soldier, being one who fights for others... it is a strange life. And today we remind ourselves of it. We are the ones who put the thoughts and feelings of ourselves on hold. Yes, many soldiers think of themselves often. But when it comes down to it, when we are faced with the cold, hard reality... We do not fight for ourselves. We seek to survive, yes. But more importantly, we stand on that line so others will not have to stand with us. We pick up our weapons and defend the American politicians, workers, businesses, and way of life not because of personal gain. We may dislike many in the United States, and disagree with much that has been done in our country. We may say, and truly believe, that we are in this lifestyle for ourselves. But I can testify that very few do not take in the scope of what it is we do. We put our bodies in the crossfire so freedom may endure. I say freedom, and not democracy or some other such political ideology. Politics on the whole is a fool's game, one better suited for those who would rather spend their days arguing than laughing. No, I say for freedom. Because it is freedom which allowed me to willingly sign my name on that contract to fulfill my service to what I hold dear. I was not forced to do that, but did so of my own volition. And that is what I fight for. I fight for our ability to make the choice, and never have to be forced into a life which we do not choose. And it is today that we remember the many more who gave the ultimate sacrifice defending that ability. They should be praised higher than any other who has come before, because they gave up what is sweet and precious to face the unknown. They defended that which they loved to the last breath.
Today, we remember those who died. Remember them well. Think, if you will, on life itself. Consider what we all give up at the end. But, please, take into deeper consideration those who gave it up willingly. Remember the soldiers. Remember all those in the past who have stood against an oppressor and said that they would not let freedom be taken. And never forget who they were: common men and women, choosing to do uncommon things in a tumultuous time.
Thinking about what that concept entails seems daunting to me. I have just begun to comprehend the meaning of my own life, and still struggle daily to find my own place in this world. How can one who knows so little of life contemplate death? In the past, I have called myself wise. However, due to certain events in the past months, I have come to realize I am nothing more than a child. This world holds much, and in it is wisdom which I have never seen and possibly will never see. And yet, today they ask us to remember, honor, and contemplate those who have died so that we may live.
As I said, such a thing is strange. We humans are fleeting, whispers on the wind, taking up only a brief existence before it is snuffed out. Death is what defines us best, I think, though many others have made that sentiment before. But we know so little of death itself. Humans have lived for centuries, and yet we can still be taken by the common flu and disease. Our light can be blown away like a candle in the moonlight, leaving those around us to grieve and lament at who we were when we walked on the unforgiving ground. It strikes me how amusing it is that we see death in a multitude of ways as well. Sometimes it is cold, cruel, and horrifying, that Grim Reaper which takes the spring and joy of youth. Other times, it is kind and thoughtful, removing the burdens of those who are weary and worn. And again, it is neither cruel nor kind, but just is. Think of the millions, the billions, the uncounted number of people who have died. The sheer numbers are staggering. Go back 100 years, and count the deaths. From 1910 onward, just in our country. Think about the number of lives which have been cut away from the warm blanket of life and taken to a place which we have yet to truly define or understand. I am not talking of deaths of soldiers, I will get to that in a moment. No, think right now of every person who has died. Consider the number. And that is nothing, nothing but a speck on the world. We now live for a long time by previous standards. We have lives which stretch out for numerous years, and in them many of us may never even see another death, save our own. But, inevitably, it waits for us.
Most, I think, go their lives without contemplating it. It surprises them, a wolf waiting for its prey in the forest, patient and strong and unchanging. If every living soul considered every second of their lives that the next they may be taken from what they know and sent on their way, how would everyone live? Would they be so careless, so naive, so whimsical? Many look at it through the lens of faith, but even then that is only a feeling based on no evidence to comfort them in the night. I am not saying to have faith is foolish (far from it, as I have much faith myself), but I am looking at it objectively. We do not know, therefore we cannot prove, the existence of anything beyond what we have here. And so many, including myself, have squandered it. We take so much of our lives for granted, wasting it and doing nothing. We wallow in misery, depression, grief, anguish, and a host of other harmful emotions. We stagnate ourselves with the petty entertainments of shallow and fleeting amusements. I am not stating that to have fun is a sin, but we rarely stop to consider the true nature of our amusements. The vices of homo sapien are many, and they are foolish to the last. Many are concerned solely with themselves and their moments of happiness, and think of little else. Is it a bad way to live? Or is that just the way it is?
However, I stray from the true point of my essay. While there are many philosophical questions which one should ponder, today we are asked to remember those who died fighting. And this I think is something which should not be taken lightly. There are men and women from around the world, in every army, who have stood up for what they believed in and put one price on the line for it: their lives. Yes, we are asked to remember our American military. But, for a moment, consider any person, in any country, who has fought for others to be free, and paid for it with the breath in their body. Now, put yourself in their place. As a solider, I can say that I know how they feel. I leave very soon for the place where the Persian Empire once ruled. I go there to stand and speak for the American people, for each one of you reading this essay and countless more. I willingly volunteered to put my life on the line (and even helped to speed up the process in certain circumstances) to go defend your right to call me a foolish, money-seeking torturer. Haha, of course some of you are more sympathetic, but you grasp my point. I go there with full knowledge that I may be obliterated in a blast of heat and iron, or taken by a sniper's bullet. However, I still go. I willingly bring that upon myself. Many, many more have done the same, and I honor each one of them.
Being a soldier, being one who fights for others... it is a strange life. And today we remind ourselves of it. We are the ones who put the thoughts and feelings of ourselves on hold. Yes, many soldiers think of themselves often. But when it comes down to it, when we are faced with the cold, hard reality... We do not fight for ourselves. We seek to survive, yes. But more importantly, we stand on that line so others will not have to stand with us. We pick up our weapons and defend the American politicians, workers, businesses, and way of life not because of personal gain. We may dislike many in the United States, and disagree with much that has been done in our country. We may say, and truly believe, that we are in this lifestyle for ourselves. But I can testify that very few do not take in the scope of what it is we do. We put our bodies in the crossfire so freedom may endure. I say freedom, and not democracy or some other such political ideology. Politics on the whole is a fool's game, one better suited for those who would rather spend their days arguing than laughing. No, I say for freedom. Because it is freedom which allowed me to willingly sign my name on that contract to fulfill my service to what I hold dear. I was not forced to do that, but did so of my own volition. And that is what I fight for. I fight for our ability to make the choice, and never have to be forced into a life which we do not choose. And it is today that we remember the many more who gave the ultimate sacrifice defending that ability. They should be praised higher than any other who has come before, because they gave up what is sweet and precious to face the unknown. They defended that which they loved to the last breath.
Today, we remember those who died. Remember them well. Think, if you will, on life itself. Consider what we all give up at the end. But, please, take into deeper consideration those who gave it up willingly. Remember the soldiers. Remember all those in the past who have stood against an oppressor and said that they would not let freedom be taken. And never forget who they were: common men and women, choosing to do uncommon things in a tumultuous time.
Zen Master Teaching #75
Zen Master Teaching #75: Always know your limits. One must never push body or heart too fast. Feelings and muscles will both respond like man being crushed under fallen piano.
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