August 2008 The Valiant
On the warrior's are considered essential: loyalty, duty and valor. We
speak of knights who work loyally, knights who are faithful to duty and
knights who are courageous and strong. Warriors who combine these
three virtues of loyalty, duty and valor in one person are considered the
knights of the highest order.
Knights of the highest order are rare, even in a group of a hundred or a
thousand warriors. As for the distinction between knights who are loyal
workers and knights who are faithful to duty, this constantly shows in
their conduct and is easily discerned.
It may be wondered whether the duty of a valorous man might be
impossible to know in an era of peace like the present, when there is no
war going on. That is not so, as I will explain.
Generally speaking, courage is not something that only appears when
you put on armor, take up weapons and fight in combat. The difference
between the courageous and the cowardly can be seen in everyday life.
One who is naturally valorous exercise loyalty and devotion to his
employer and parents and if he has any free time he studies literature
and keeps up the practice of martial arts. He avoids personal luxury and
disdains to wast even a penny. He is not stingy, however and spends his
money freely when necessary.
Anywhere forbidden by the regulations of his employment or disliked by
his parents, he will avoid going even if he wants to. He will give up even
those things that are hard to give up, just to avoid displeasing his
employer and parents.
He keeps fit and because he wants to accomplish something significant
in life he always takes care of his health, moderating his diet and
avoiding drink. He also keeps warily aloof from sexual feeling, the
foremost confusion of humankind and he has a patient, tolerant attitude
in respect to everything else.
All of these reflect the mentality of the courageous.
As for the cowardly, they merely feign respect for employers and
parents superficially, without really caring for them. They do not avoid
things forbidden by employers or dislikes by parents; they even frequent
places they should not go and do things they should not do. Acting as
they please, they habitually nap mornings and afternoons. They hate
literary studies and even if they practice martial arts they do not pursue
any of them seriously. They just talk boastfully about skills they cannot
really perform.
They are spendthrifts when it comes to useless crazes and fancy dining,
but extremely stingy when it comes to necessities. They give no thought
to the maintenance of the heirlooms they have inherited from their
parents, much less to the replacement of other military equipment.
If they are sickly, they cause enter active public services; mindless of
the worry they cause their parents, they overeat, drink too much and
become addicted to sex.
Wearing away yourself and your life like this is some thing that comes
from a weak and immature mind unable to endure and tolerate things.
This generally reflects the mentality of a cowardly knight.
Therefore I say that the courageous and the cowardly can certainly be
distinguished in everyday life.
On the warrior's are considered essential: loyalty, duty and valor. We
speak of knights who work loyally, knights who are faithful to duty and
knights who are courageous and strong. Warriors who combine these
three virtues of loyalty, duty and valor in one person are considered the
knights of the highest order.
Knights of the highest order are rare, even in a group of a hundred or a
thousand warriors. As for the distinction between knights who are loyal
workers and knights who are faithful to duty, this constantly shows in
their conduct and is easily discerned.
It may be wondered whether the duty of a valorous man might be
impossible to know in an era of peace like the present, when there is no
war going on. That is not so, as I will explain.
Generally speaking, courage is not something that only appears when
you put on armor, take up weapons and fight in combat. The difference
between the courageous and the cowardly can be seen in everyday life.
One who is naturally valorous exercise loyalty and devotion to his
employer and parents and if he has any free time he studies literature
and keeps up the practice of martial arts. He avoids personal luxury and
disdains to wast even a penny. He is not stingy, however and spends his
money freely when necessary.
Anywhere forbidden by the regulations of his employment or disliked by
his parents, he will avoid going even if he wants to. He will give up even
those things that are hard to give up, just to avoid displeasing his
employer and parents.
He keeps fit and because he wants to accomplish something significant
in life he always takes care of his health, moderating his diet and
avoiding drink. He also keeps warily aloof from sexual feeling, the
foremost confusion of humankind and he has a patient, tolerant attitude
in respect to everything else.
All of these reflect the mentality of the courageous.
As for the cowardly, they merely feign respect for employers and
parents superficially, without really caring for them. They do not avoid
things forbidden by employers or dislikes by parents; they even frequent
places they should not go and do things they should not do. Acting as
they please, they habitually nap mornings and afternoons. They hate
literary studies and even if they practice martial arts they do not pursue
any of them seriously. They just talk boastfully about skills they cannot
really perform.
They are spendthrifts when it comes to useless crazes and fancy dining,
but extremely stingy when it comes to necessities. They give no thought
to the maintenance of the heirlooms they have inherited from their
parents, much less to the replacement of other military equipment.
If they are sickly, they cause enter active public services; mindless of
the worry they cause their parents, they overeat, drink too much and
become addicted to sex.
Wearing away yourself and your life like this is some thing that comes
from a weak and immature mind unable to endure and tolerate things.
This generally reflects the mentality of a cowardly knight.
Therefore I say that the courageous and the cowardly can certainly be
distinguished in everyday life.
| If you like these translations from Thomas Cleary go to Tuttle Martial Arts and pick up a hard back. |
