Damien and Cicely

No, not new students.  But they came to my door and wanted me to become a student of their discipline.  Damien was a well dressed African American male, mid thirties, and Cicely was also similarly aged, but an attractive Caucasian brunette.  Well spoken, Damien shook my hand while Cicely stood and looked pretty.  As the latest Nine Inch Nails album wailed in the background, he wanted to be invited in, and elongated our conversation by asking “Well, who would you say is the greatest man in history?”

“I don’t know which spiritual figure I would choose” I said, while he opened a magazine with centerfold spread of paradise and biblical phophesies upheld.

“Wouldn’t you say it’s Jesus?” he cooed as he offered the magazine towards me.

“Well, certainly.  I even have Him over on the couch right now.  See? “ I motioned with my hand, and directed his eyes to my silent guest.

He smiled at the lighthearted representation and I wish them well on this sunny December day.  I asked to take some reading material.  Now I can curl up with a good Watchtower and learn to who the Antichrist is, and if it’s wrong to drink alcoholic beverages.  I like reading their viewpoint.  The more exposure you get, the more informed your pespective will be, martial or otherwise, as an educated, conscious being. 

We are very fortunate to live in a country where multiple religious systems and views are supported.  I may not want to train in all religions, but I will certainly have a better idea of why I’m choosing to invest in one system of thought with a little bit of research into the others.  I put a lot of time in investigating which martial arts system I wanted to train in; a conscious inspection of each systems method of explaining the totality of existence, and their roadmap of how to unify with the Unspeakable, Unknowable Beyond is worth spending a few moments on.  At least, that what I always say.

Every choice is carefully considered in the Warrior’s Way.  Especially systems of thought.