Warrior’s Bow: Sally Ride Ph.D

Heroine

Dear Traveller,
  Yesterday, pioneering astronaut Sally Ride Ph.D, rejoined the stars from whence we all came. She exemplified the essence of Bushido with her gargantuan compassion, courage, and rectitude. This was a woman of Promethean power who dared storm the heavens with distilled wonder and its glorious children; science and reason.
 

 The warrior-mind of Dr.Ride was an astounding example for all humanity, but especially for young girls and women. Her daring, intelligence, and service has made her a true heroine and I proudly celebrate her life. Maria T. Zuber (Geophysicist & principal investigator of NASA’s GRAIL mission) said this about Dr.Ride:

“Sally was an icon in the history of space exploration. She realized the great honor associated with being the first American woman in space and used her notoriety to promote education. Her influence in inspiring students to pursue careers in science and technology is one of her many extraordinary achievements. In her role as an astronaut and as an educator Sally changed the lives of countless young people and that will be her legacy.”

I sit here, stunned by the meteoric impact this woman had on the world. Though she lost her valiant battle to pancreatic cancer, she went peacefully. That is, in my opinion, a good death for one so honourable. Dr. Ride was a creative warrior even near the end ; as shown by her founding of the company “Sally Ride Science” , which focuses on instilling awe through science for girls and boys. Her commitment to fostering a love for the “magic of reality” (to quote Professor Richard Dawkins) is just another reason for why I honour Sally Ride with a warrior’s bow. May we all be bettered by the constellation of her greatness. I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Yours upon the Way,

Shinken

Introducing: “Warrior’s Bow”

Dear Traveller,

I am starting a new segment called “Warrior’s Bow.”. The idea is to honour someone (or many someone’s) past and present, real and fictional, that I believe heroically exemplifies some form of the Bushido code. Not sure what Bushido is? Click here to find out.

If you have been following this blog, you know that I am an artist who advocates living a creative warrior’s lifestyle; I sincerely believe that it is both your privilege and duty in becoming your own hero. I hope that you don this mantle and join me on this journey.

I’m going to start this segment off with a  commentary on a story that Los Afro-Latinos has been compassionately covering in-depth; a human tale about perseverance and fidelity to your defining commitment. In Cauca,Colombia, (Suaréz in particular), a community of Afro-Latinos is under constant threat by corporate interests and organized crime (is there much difference between the two?) who have dedicated themselves to taking by force which is not theirs to take. Why? For bloody gold, that shiny symbol of abject greed. I believe that all people are my brothers and sisters and  that their suffering is, in part, my suffering. However, as an Afro-Latino, my outrage and sense of camaraderie sharpen a bit more.  So to is my pride in these beautiful, warrior women.

I give Clemencia Carabali and Francia Marques a warrior’s bow for their stoicism, compassion and courage in the face of these mechanized dragons of exploitation. Quote Franica; “Although we are fighting for a piece (of land), the fight is for humanity itself.” Is this not what matters, our humanity? I am humbled by their example of what honourable living actually is. I hope you have a wonderful day and that you celebrate the courage to have equanimity while in the path of a cruel storm.

Yours upon the Way,

Shinken

The War We Are Living

Quote

I Know Nothing

Dear Traveller,

I know that I know nothing. I know this because what I think I know is as a pebble in regards to the Himalayan mountains of my profound ignorance. Knowing and feeling this Truth is a step towards deeper understanding; understanding of both myself and the world that my Self is a part of. As I walk the Way, I sometimes stumble and fall to the unyielding earth. But the hardness of the earth contains compassion because it does not coddle me. What do I mean by this? Imagine that you have broken a limb and that it has set badly; it is swollen, deformed, and pain is your new best friend. You go to the doctor and she tells you that she must re-break the limb.

But if she does not, gangrene will set in and then you will soon join the undead hordes of brain-lusting zombies. Or something like that.

Is life not like this at times? I recently learned a valuable lesson that has corrected my thinking. It hurt to see how mistaken I was, but I embrace it because one must be in accord with Truth. I wish to live authentically no matter how painful, so that I can communicate all that I have learned to you.

I leave you with a quote from one of my most favourite movies: “Batman Begins”, and one of the best lines from it (in my opinion) was from Alfred to Batman: “Why do we fall, sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Is this not the heart of warriorship?

Sincerely,

Shinken

Creativity is a Gift

Dear Traveller,
Your creative abilities set you apart from others, it allows you to experience reality in a completely different way from most other people. What’s even more incredible is that you can communicate that experience through whichever medium you want! Your work is pregnant with the possibility of inspiring others, of touching another soul-to-soul. Think back to how you felt when first inspired by something that shook the ground of your Being; now imagine being the cause of that for others. Feels pretty good, no?

You may struggle, suffer and rage at the madness of it all; but you still bare your work to the world and thus, others become one with you for that special moment. We create because we must, because our souls cry out to the endless night that we will be heard, even if only for a lone moment. Nonetheless, we know our duty, no? We know that this is something that we must do and that our Sisyphus-task is good because it is true.

I say delight in your gift, celebrate it! However, bear in mind that because it is a gift, you bear the implicit duty of being worthy of said gift. Proudly earn the right to it by mindfully striving to live an authentic life, a warrior’s life devoid of conformity and bursting with truth.Thank you again and may your day be filled with meaning and passion.

Yours upon the Way,

Shinken

Can You “Make” Meaning?

Create Yourself

Dear Traveller,

As creative individuals, we can not only suffer from biological depression but also from existential depression. We realize that our acts of creation are necessary for our survival, necessary for our lives to mean something. I learned this truth after much inner strife and it guides me upon my Way. I hope to share this and much more as we progress.

With this blog, we will support each other and share how we try to live our lives to the fullest. I wish to show you how having a warrior-mind set can help you become the best you, a heroic you. If you wish to authentically create a  life of compassion, and creativity; then join me upon as we walk the Way.

I am advocating living an unconventional life filled with a sense of honour and adventure; I wish to triumph and see others triumph over all self-imposed limitations (by embracing hard work and dispatching our ninjas). I challenge you to start a new course upon your journey. Why not become a creative warrior; and say “yes” to creating meaning? Now is the time to take your life in your own two hands and craft it to your best ability. What say you?

Yours upon the Way,
Shinken

Prepare For War

Dear Traveller,
There is a war going on inside of you. Everyday your internal detractors (or ninjas as I call them) mount direct and indirect assaults upon your creative spirit. They lob missiles of self-criticism, set fire to your self-esteem, and poison your deep rivers with doubt. How does one deal with an enemy so seemingly formidable?
The easiest thing you can do is to give up, to give in. It requires little energy to lay beneath a black sky and let the vultures of defeat tear at your flesh. I’ve found that it is simpler to exist in a dismal torpor. But if you are serious about becoming your own hero, then I suggest you adopt warrior mind.

In order to become a creative warrior, you must accept that the best way to live is to live authentically. Being the sole arbiter of your destiny is both your right and duty. My desire is to show you this as I walk the Way.

I’ve learned that it is the cositas (little things) that will grant you victory, so I suggest starting with:

• A morning ritual to help provide you with clarity and focus for the day.
• Having an Artist’s Day which consists of devoting time to you (yes, YOU) and your inner-artist. When was the last time you truly nurtured yourself?
• Exercise; a creative warrior who is strong or otherwise in shape will naturally think strong thoughts. Remember, every good thought is a soldier in your army; a resource to be drawn upon.
• Meditate; a creative warrior mediates because they know that Mindfulness is critical to victory. Being aware of your inner world will have a profound effect upon your life and you’ll have the benefit of cultivating self-discipline. (That’s a two-for-one that you won’t get anywhere else ) Unsure how to? This should help.

My fellow warrior, be you sister or brother, I hope this helps you along your path. Don’t hesitate to email me with questions or comments, I will respond. Thank you.

Yours upon the Way,

Shinken

Could You Be Your Own Hero?

Dear Traveller,

What if I told you that you are the sole arbiter of your destiny? That no gods or man can create you but you. What if you could be your own hero?

I believe the virtuous warrior-artist must first defeat his or her self. Is this easy? Not in the slightest. But that is the wrong question. The correct question is; is it necessary? Your heart knows the answer to this even when your own mind tells you lies. You must journey inside and slay those demons that wear the faces of all your failures, that speak with the voices of all your critics. They are maya (illusion) and in order to save your life, you must risk it within the battlefield of your own mind. I fight this war every day and my opponent hates me with the fury of a thousand exploding suns; but I stand before him with blade raised. I feel fear but I still fight, for what is courage without fear?

The Hagakure says :”In just refusing to retreat from something ,one gains the strength of two men” When you grapple with yourself, say this aloud as though your heart had a voice. Can you do that? If so, then you have walked another step upon your journey.

Yours upon the Way,
Shinken

Do You Nurture Your Passion?

I need mavericks, dissidents, adventurers, outsiders and rebels, who ask questions, bend the rules and take risks-Isabel Allende

Dear Traveller,

Passion is the fire in the belly, the essence of life expressed by you; and it is essential that the self-created warrior cultivate it. Without passion, life is a colourless thing covered in frost and gloom; and no artist (or person truly interested in self-creation) can survive long in such frigid torpor. I believe that passion requires courage and honesty, core tenets of Bushido. I also believe that you’ll agree that passion is the difference between those who are merely alive and those who truly live.

Burning upon the Way,

Shinken

Mistakes Were Made (By Me)

Dear Traveller,

Sometimes the Way is not a walk but a stumble replete with stubbed toes (would someone explain to me WHY it hurts so bloody much?). Anyway, I still struggle with being mindful and not letting irrational thinking cloud my reason. While I have made great inroads in this area, mistakes are still made. But the funny thing is, I learn from my mistakes without much self-flagellation. (I once was the king of self-criticism, now I am merely a duke lol)

The Way of Artist and Warrior alike value mistakes because there is always a lesson within them. The last thing that you want to do is compound the mistake with criticism. Simply observe that the action has happened, stoically accept the consequences, and move on.  The lesson is in the mistake, you don’t learn anything of value by making your own self a punching bag, trust me.

There is a difference between sober self-reflection and destructive self-criticism; the true mind recognizes this and adjusts itself accordingly. As a self-created warrior, you will learn to ignore the latter and embrace the former. Take a deep breath and tell yourself “Yes, I have made a mistake but that is no reason attack myself” Why not try this now and let me know how it has worked for you?

Your upon the Way,

Shinken

Why The Warrior’s Way?

Dear Traveller,

Why do I believe that a warrior-mind state is the golden ideal for creative souls? This is a good question that deserves a good answer.

The Way that I advocate is grounded in a dedication to creating an authentic life of excellence, creativity and personal heroism. Imagine being the best you, the strongest you, the most creative you. Now that you’ve envisioned that, you can create that. Your life is a canvas, let me help you find the best colours and techniques that you can use. Allow me to share with you the warrior-mind state and shall you gaze upon yourself with awe and excitement; for now you see the hero that has always lived inside of you.

Sincerely,

Shinken