Dr. Bohdi Sanders

The Source

The Source


With men of understanding,
wisdom counts for everything.
Baltasar Gracian

Where does wisdom come from? Is universal wisdom useful across the board or does it matter who the person is who is imparting that wisdom? I guess there is some controversy where this is concerned. A well-known martial artist whom I respect, brought this very issue up concerning my third book, Warrior Wisdom: The Warrior's Path, this week. He felt that some of the people who I  quoted were not quality people and therefore should not have been quoted in my book.

Knowledge of the world is only to be
acquired in the world and not in a closet.
Lord Chesterfield

Any experience can be transformed
into something of value.
Vash Young

This begs the question, is wisdom wisdom no matter where it comes from or does the person, who has an insightful thought, also have to have to good reputation and a flawless character in order for that wisdom to be authenticated as true wisdom? Can a wino on a street corner have an insightful thought, and if he does should we discard it because of his shortcomings in life? This was the debate that my friend and I had concerning my third book...and we agreed to disagree and he refused to endorse my book because of this outlook.

A man may learn wisdom even from a foe.
Aristophanes

His last statement on the matter was that he didn't think that "readers would be ready for Bohdi Sanders takes the words of sages and scoundrels and explains them in a way that might be useful." We left it at that. Now don't get me wrong, I don't purposely quote scumbags and give them credit for being wise men of strong character. No way! But at the same time, there are no perfect people. Being a history teacher, I could delve into the lives of our most beloved men, men who we consider top drawer, and find serious faults in their lives.

Arrogance diminishes wisdom.
Arabian Proverb

For example, the Apostle Paul had many Christians put to death before his conversion to Christianity. King David, who is accepted as the author of the Book of Psalms, arranged for the death of a man because he was infatuated with that man's wife. I could cite example after example of dishonorable acts of men whom most of us have respect for, and whose writings we enjoy as words of wisdom. Do their actions take away from their words of wisdom or are their writings teaching us what they have learned from their mistakes?

It is quite possible to be a good man
without anyone realizing it.
Marcus Aurelius

I believe that the warrior should use wisdom wherever he finds it. Wisdom can come from various and unpredictable sources. Whether it is a five year old child or a wino on a street corner, anyone can have a profound and insightful thought. If we simply waited for that wisdom to come from someone with no faults, we would have a long wait. Instead of judging the person who imparts that insightful thought, wouldn't it be better to judge the content of the thought itself? I think so...

Instead of searching for the faults of others, examine
yourself for personal faults that need to be corrected.
Sai Baba

True wisdom is universal. Should we discard an enlightened thought simply because we are not impressed with the person who is used to communicate that thought to us? To the warrior, the purpose of wisdom is to improve his life and his character. Even if that wisdom comes from  a five years old child, he is not too proud to take what is said and meditate on it and apply it to his life. The warrior is an independent spirit who thinks for himself and is not influenced by political correctness or the mind games that many people play.

What I must do is all that concerns me,
not what the people think.
Emerson

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.
Emerson

Our currency all comes from government sanctioned mints and has value no matter whose pocket it happens to be in at any given moment. In the same way, universal wisdom all comes from One Source and is useful in guiding the warrior on the warrior's path. It does not matter who the carrier of that wisdom may be, universal wisdom does not lose its value. The warrior knows this and uses his spirit as a guide to the truthfulness and validity of the thoughts of others. He uses what he finds useful and discards what strikes him as "not quite right." I am concerned with what is being said, not who said it.

Test everything.
Hold on to the good.
The Apostle Paul

A precious stone does not lose its value
simply because it has been dropped in a cesspool.
Japanese Proverb

Bohdi
Warrior Wisdom

Suspension of Disbelief

Suspension of Disbelief


No statement should be believed
because it is made by an authority.
Hans Reichenbach

Suspension of disbelief - this is a catchy phrase, but what does it mean? Put in simple, straight-forward terms, it means getting someone to believe in a lie. If you are able to suspend someone's disbelief in what you are saying, the door opens for you to change their belief system, at least where the issue at hand is concerned. This little trick is used across the board by governments, con men, and so-called religions throughout the world.

By suspending someone's disbelief, you place a small seed of doubt in the other person's mind concerning the truth. That person begins to doubt what his spirit is trying to tell him, and once doubt sets in it is much easier to feed him the lie. Our government and politicians use this technique. We all know, or at least we should know, not to trust what the politicians pledge that they will do for us, but every election year thousands of people listen intently to politicians' empty promises.

When the fox preaches, look to your geese.
German Proverb

Weigh the meaning and look not at the words.
Ben Johnson

This same technique is also used by most religions throughout the world to get their followers to believe things which are illogical and mythical. Believers will accept certain teachings as fact that they would otherwise never believe if the information wasn't coming from religious leaders or religious teachings. I could cite many examples of this from all the major religions. How do you get people to believe things which common sense dictates are simply not true? You first have to suspend their disbelief, then you replace that disbelief with what you want them to believe. Hummmmm...sound familiar?

Understand the spirit of those with whom you deal...
the man of passion always speaks of matters far
differently from what they are...thus does everyone
babble according to his feelings or his mood,
and all, very far from the truth.
Baltasar Gracian

This is being done on a massive scale for Islam in today's society. Islam is not a religion of peace, but it is being sold as just that throughout the world, even though the evidence clearly shows the opposite. So how do you get masses of people to believe that a violent, oppressive religion is in fact a "religion of peace?" You enlist the government and the media to continuously present this "religion of peace" message to the people, in effect producing doubt about what they see and know - you suspend their disbelief and then change their point of view. This is only one example of this devious technique.

Always deny what you don't want to be known,
and always affirm what you want to be believed.
For, though there be much - even conclusive -
evidence to the contrary, a fervent affirmation or denial
will often create at least some doubt in the mind of your listener.
Francesco Guicciardini

This is not a new technique. Deception has been used for years to control the attitudes and the minds of the public. The difference today is that the media and the government have found a massive short cut to this process - political correctness. Brilliant! Teach the people that it is never appropriate to offend someone else and that everyone's views are equally important, and you have effectively sown suspension of disbelief concerning moral judgment of any kind.

For example, if you get the public to believe that every religious belief should be given equal respect and that all religions are based on truth, then it is wrong to question any religion. Now it becomes politically incorrect and out of fashion to question someone's religion, even when it produces violence and oppression. After all, "all religions should be respected." Hummmmmm...

The most tyrannical governments are those
which make crimes of opinions, for everyone
has an inalienable right to his thoughts.
Baruch Spinoza

Truth triumphs over untruth.
Gandhi

Respect should be earned, not given simple "because." It doesn't matter if you are referring to one single religion or one single man, respect should be earned through proven actions. When those actions are proven to be respectful, honorable, and above reproach, then respect is due. If those actions are dishonest, oppressive, and crooked, then respect is not due and should not be given, period. This is how I determine which religions to respect, which men to respect, or which actions to respect.

I do not determine which religion or man to respect because of political correctness, and neither should you. You have to be very careful who you trust, especially in today's world. Do your own research. Go to the source. Talk to those who know what they are talking about; seek knowledge from the wise who have no time for political correctness, but rather value the truth. The truth may not be popular, but that doesn't change the fact that the truth is the truth.

I renounce the honors to which the world aspires
and desire only to know the Truth.
Socrates

As politically incorrect as it may be, remember that not everyone's opinions really matters. It is the opinions of the wise, the intelligent, the informed, and the lovers of truth that really should be listened to. While everyone has the right to their own opinions, that is not proof that their opinions should be valued. Most people's opinions are not truly their own anyway, but are rather taken from secondary sources which have specific agendas. Such opinions many times originate from suspension of disbelief...is this something that should be respected? Hummmm...

Look beneath. For ordinary things are far other than they
seem...The false is ever the lead in everything, continually
dragging along the fools; the truth brings up the rear, is late,
and limps along upon the arm of time.
Baltasar Gracian

 

Bohdi Sanders
Warrior Wisdom

To Die For

To Die For

 

Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus

 

     There are not a lot of things in life that people are willing to die for. Not much is as important to someone as his or her own life. Actually, it is rare to find someone who is willing to lay down his life for anything or anyone else. As Jesus said, no man has greater love than when he lays down his life for someone else. It really takes someone with a special spirit to even consider laying down his own life for someone else. The true warrior is just this type of person.

     The warrior knows that there are times which may require him to put his life on the line to protect those he loves. This doesn’t mean that he has a death wish or that he doesn’t value his life just as much as the next man, but rather that he knows that some risks are worth taking and some people are worth defending, even if it means putting your own life on the line. This begs to question, who is worth defending with your life and why?

The secret of success is before attempting anything,
be very clear about why you are doing so.
Guan Yin Tzu

     Many people say that they “would die for” their spouse or their children, but would they really? When the hammer is cocked, would they really take the bullet, or is this some chivalric fantasy that they have in their mind? Are they living in their own little fantasy world where they are the hero or do they really have the courage and character to put their life on the line for those that they love?

     Let’s make this even more personal; do you have the intestinal fortitude to lay down your life for those you love if it came down to that? How do you know? This is something that most of us have never experienced before, so how can you be sure that you would not fold under pressure? Is there even anyone in your life that you would be willing to put your life on the line for? Who? Why? These are essential questions for the warrior to ask himself before he finds his back against the wall.

First say to yourself what you would be;
then do what you have to do.
Epictetus

     Most people never stop to think about these questions because it is not really a jovial exercise to imagine yourself dying, for any reason. Nobody likes to focus on their own mortality. To the average person this seems like an exercise in depression, but to the warrior, this is an essential practice. The knights of old did this. The samurai did this. These warriors did not partake in this mental visualization out of a morbid death wish, but rather as a preparation in case they ever found themselves in such a circumstance.

     This is the same reason that you should give some thought and even visualization to this subject – to be prepared for such an event, even if it never comes. Being prepared never hurt anyone. Don’t plan on losing. Don’t plan on dying. Never visualize yourself losing, but at the same time you need to know when and why you would be willing to put your life on the line.

A man’s action is only a picture book of his creed.
Emerson

     Who is worth this much to you? Why? How far would you go to protect those you love? Reflect on these questions and then prepare so that if you do find yourself in a situation where you do have to place your life in danger to protect others, you will ultimately come out victorious. Being victorious is never guaranteed, but preparation always increases your odds of succeeding. Don’t fold when your loved-ones need you most.

Courage is grace under pressure.
Hemingway

Cowards die many times before their deaths,
the valiant never taste of death but once.
Shakespeare

 

Bohdi
Warrior Wisdom

Warrior Wisdom: The Warrior's Path

Warrior Wisdom: The Warrior's Path

The third and final book in the original Warrior Wisdom Series, Warrior Wisdom: The Warrior's Path, is due to be released this fall. It promises to be just as good as the first two, highly acclaimed books in the series. Warrior Wisdom: The Warrior's Path is forwarded by Loren Christensen and is endorsed by some of the biggest names in the world of martial arts.

Look for this new book by Dr. Bohdi Sanders in September!

Rose Colored Glasses

Rose Colored Glasses

 

The sky is not less blue because
the blind man does not see it.
Danish Proverb

Everyone is the same... People are people... I have tons of friends... That kind of thing only happens to other people... These are all comments which I hear from people who "wear rose colored glasses."  They see the world as they believe it to be or as they want it to be, not as it actually is. These people live in their own little fantasy world where everything is colored according to their viewpoint.

Is not the truth the truth?
Shakespeare

While it is true that we all see things from a certain point of view which is colored by our own biases or prejudices, we should make an effort to see things as they actually are. You may argue, what does it hurt if someone sees the world in a certain way, as long as they aren't bothering anyone else? Well, in actuality it may not hurt them at all. They may live their whole life without their distorted beliefs affecting them. Then again, they may not.

Someone may see rattlesnakes as a loving, misunderstood creature. They may truly believe that rattlesnakes are not dangerous or poisonous. This belief, although it is untrue, may make them feel all warm, loving and one with the earth. It may make this person feel safe when he goes out hiking in the hills...and this belief may never have any adverse affect on this person at all, that is as long as he never find himself face to face with a rattlesnake or steps over a bush and is bitten by a rattlesnake. His thoughts do not change reality...

A light is still a light, even though
the blind man cannot see it.
Austrian Proverb

Likewise, this person may love to wear his rose colored glasses outside in his backyard and his white shed may look rosy to him. He may enjoy his perception of the nice rosy color of his shed. It may make him feel peaceful and relaxed or meditative and reflective...but none of this changes the fact that his shed is white. If he wants to think of it as rose colored, that is his choice, but he is making a decision to deceive himself.

Truth is exact correspondence with reality.
Paramahansa Yogananda

The same principle goes for other believes such as the ones which I listed at the beginning of this blog post. "Everyone is the same." No, they are not. "People are people." Wrong again. Different people have different moral values and many people do not value life as you or I do. "I have lots of friends." No you don't. "Those kinds of things always happen to other people." Not hardly...

These kinds of thoughts may make people feel all warm and fuzzy inside. They may be socially acceptable or politically correct, but that does not make them true. And the same principle applies to these thoughts as it does to the guy's thoughts about the rattlesnake...you may go all of your life without these "rose colored thoughts" affecting you, unless you run into someone who proves to you that your thoughts are bogus.

Truth doesn't change because it is, or is not,
believed by a majority of the people.
Giordano Bruno

If however, this person runs into the stark reality of a gruff, scarred hand that reaches up an grabs those rose colored glasses from his face, he will be shocked to face the actual reality of the way things truly are. He will find out the hard way that his thoughts are flawed. This can be a rude awakening...

Facts do not cease to exist
because they are ignored.
Aldous Huxley

There really is no benefit in deceiving yourself. Isn't is better to see things as they truly are? The truth doesn't change simply because we refuse to see it or want it to be different. The truth simply is the truth. Things are as they are. You have the choice to see things as you will, but I highly recommend taking off those rose colored glasses, at least sometimes...

Truth will always be truth, regardless of
lack of understanding, disbelief or ignorance.
W. Clement Stone

 

Bohdi
Warrior Wisdom

Two Pebbles

Tale of Two Pebbles

Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.

He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.

2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.

3) If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should know that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.

What would you recommend that the girl do?

Well, here is what she did. . .

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me!" she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."

Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

MORAL OF THE STORY?

There is always an answer, but many times it is not obvious.

Bohdi
Warrior Wisdom