The Way of the Warrior
Facing Chaos – The Way of the Warrior
We live in turbulent times. It sometimes feels like we’re in the apocalypse as scripted by Stephen King. Yet, our challenges don’t seem to be enough. When facing difficulties, we often magnify them, making them seem outsized and uncontrollable by thinking everything is about us.
In some ways, it is about us, but not in the way we might think. Challenges happen, but they’re not always happening to us. We tend to personalize our experiences as a way to claim ownership, yet our need to control situations often overshadows our ability to navigate them with clarity. Pulling our hair out over a crisis? That’s egotism. Breaking down over someone else’s pain? Egotism. Shouting out impulsive plans for everyone else? Egotism on steroids. Instead of making situations harder for everyone, maybe we can work on making them easier for ourselves.
Chaos is, after all, a relative concept. Any point in the universe might feel chaotic simply because it can’t organize its experience. When we try to control the uncontrollable, we create existential dissonance. We all crave control, but when we shrink life to fit manageable pieces, it becomes less than it could be, and soon we feel claustrophobic. Real growth pushes us beyond our comfort bubble, which can be terrifying, especially when the way forward is unclear.
Yet, none of this is about us personally; it’s just life. Sometimes life is wonderful, and sometimes it’s terrifying. I’m writing this just before the 2024 election, advertised as a turning point. But even if it’s meant to steer the ship of state, true change will take time. The magnifying glass showing imminent catastrophe can be set aside for clear-sightedness, allowing us to see a way forward.
Two election cycles ago, when Donald Trump won against Hillary Clinton, I sat with the Dharmajunkies, processing shock, fear, and uncertainty. We were mostly devastated—except for one person, an Indian who had recently moved to the U.S. Though he didn’t vote, he understood the significance. He reminded us that while our culture is relatively young, his culture has endured disruptions for thousands of years and remains intact. This was a calming reminder: despite the chaos, we are still here, and there is still goodness. And that goodness is reason enough to remain steadfast. Facing chaos with steadiness could be the enlightened warrior’s creed.
Chaos is the convergence of everything we can’t define. Often, it pushes us to take impulsive, reactive positions, assigning blame and creating aggression. This is lazy. A true warrior does not respond to chaos with aggression; instead, they observe it with dignity and grace. Warriors don’t choose sides just for security; they gather information and strengthen themselves. Courage, in the face of chaos, is our greatest resource.
Instead of defining chaos, we might look inward to define what it means to be a warrior. What does it mean to stay strong through change? To face the unknown with dignity and purpose? To resist knee-jerk reactions and hateful defensiveness? Compassion in chaos is key. True compassion is not about silencing ourselves or playing the victim. It’s about opening our hearts before we act, understanding before we decide, and standing strong without needing to defend ourselves. Compassion can be fierce. Imagine a mother bear pulling her cub off a dangerous road and disciplining it for running into harm’s way. Tibetan Buddhists invoke the deity Dorje Trollo, a symbol of assertive compassion. Dorje Trollo embodies a fierce love that destroys what needs to be destroyed and cares for what needs care. He holds a three-pointed dagger, symbolizing the clarity to cut through passion, aggression, and ignorance, so we can see and act compassionately.
Padmasambhava, a great teacher, practitioner, and shaman, embodied the warrior’s path. People often think of magic as a tool for self-gratification—changing an apple into an orange to impress others. But Padmasambhava’s approach was to see things as they are and transform them toward goodness. He was invited to Tibet to guide the spread of Buddhism. While Tibet’s mystical traditions emphasized manipulating reality for power, Padmasambhava subtly shifted this perspective. The true warrior, he taught, develops inner strength, which no one can take away.
Recognizing that our struggles are often of our own making, “magic” should dispel our illusions. Even when confronted by an external threat, a warrior’s primary task is to maintain balance and strength. The “war” becomes an inner journey of self-mastery. Padmasambhava honored the ancient Himalayan traditions yet redirected their dark energies to protect kindness, clarity, and compassion.
Through Dorje Trollo, Padmasambhava demonstrated that our darkest energies can be tamed and used for good. Mastering our biases and tapping into inner strength brings clarity, a force more powerful than we realize. We don’t need to lose heart over others’ narrow views. The warrior’s creed is to protect our hearts because they are our most powerful tools.