The archer of virtue
Courage is a quality that is sought from the man's existence early. This word has changed its meaning for each of us during the course of the centuries, playing assignments from one side to the other of cowardice, courage and recklessness. Yes, we often think that life is like a dichotomy, where there are always two opposite and opposing forces together; however according to an Aristotelian reasoning, we can easily realize that there are always three components, two would be excess and lack of virtue and the other would be the attitude itself, that is, we have a model that would be: Cowardice Courage Recklessness. The result we seek is the "half-measure", this is for Aristotle virtue, to Buddha the middle way, combined with a correct view of reality. What then is this correct view of reality?
As we can see the virtue is in the middle, let us imagine that we are archers, our goal is to aim at that target and hit right in the center; mathematically the chances are great for we err our target completely, so err becomes more common than right. To hit a target at a distance, an expert archer need two things: A good view of the target, technique, equipment on order and favorable conditions. Let's say there is a person in danger of death, you need to be brave enough to save this person, you need a big shot in the courage target, a detour will be the difference between success and failure.
Good vision requires both eyes open. What metaphorically mean? It means that often our vision is blurred in front of us or use only one of the two eyes and closed the other. The human eye is not the center of the head, so our vision is convergent, two views that lie ahead. Make an experiment while reading this sermon, switch between the eyes, left and right, you will see two different images. What is real? None of them, the real is the union of these two; Keep both eyes open and this is the real picture. When we have to be brave, we need to look at two different viewpoints; courage means following a path according to their values, even if it means doing nothing, or retreat. Courage is a virtue, then it rises at the heart of human values.It means to sustain their own values, despite the difficulties and consequences. Still, by observing certain situation, we can look at ourselves through our fears, traumas, prejudice, etc; so we no longer see the target clearly. You a beggar on the street, are only you and him there, you get scared because you think you will be attacked. You are looking through their prejudices, nothing indicates that it will attack you and try to rob you, you think that for a past trauma or by the financial situation of that person. This happens all the time, a courageous person has a clearer view, running time some risks, however it does to support their values, for example in this case, that all people are equal, we should not judge others. If this has happened to you, do not worry, it happens often; we live in a very complex system, we are often conditioned to see certain things, we unintentionally giving. Therefore, realizing the error, try to fix it; the correct view is to see the target, but remember that the aim is made by your hand if you do not see your own faults will inevitably make mistakes, it can not aim properly.
The technique, it portrays anything that helps us to hit the target of courage and save that person from harm. This is often a methodology on how to live, how to proceed. We can easily change methodology philosophy; these are the most diverse, this is what we seek here in the temple every day, not only that, but a technique of how we can improve, how we can become better people. The archer should know hold your breath just before releasing the rope, should know intends this with maximum accuracy of its strength, should know well position the arrow must have posture, etc. All this is related to the technique, a way of living; if we technique can not do things correctly, are mechanisms present in our lives that help us to self assess, discover our weaknesses and strengths and use that to our advantage; how to be selfless, learn to let things leave not having attachment people and emotions, knowing that nothing is eternal everything transcends the reality and existence, dealing with emotions, learn to forgive. It could be the day listing things and more things that can represent techniques and philosophies of how to live, that fit this metaphor. For example, you could deny help to someone who hurt you at some time of your life, that is, you are looking through your pain, you know that, and are not using the technique to forgive each other and let the anger go, It is attached to that feeling. In short, you are probably betraying your own values, being selfish and mean and attached to a feeling that will only destroy you. Why do we do this? Afraid to suffer again, or be tricked into the person you are using; however it relates to her character and not his.
Their equipment are in order? We can say that our "I" is a tool, our interior should be in order, our emotions, our thoughts, our health. Think of a proper real vision implies keep up with our emotional and physical health, for when we are sick there is no way have a correct view, because something is messing up our lives. If we have a problem in view, we can not aim; if we have an emotional problem, often a friend may seem like an enemy, may well seem evil. His illness prevents clearly see, this happens when we have depression, bipolar disorder and other diseases. If you are not right with your body and mind, it will hardly be able to help or help others; in this case a good doctor can help you, physical, mental exercise, a good pass time and the company of good people, friends who wish us well. Can the archer hit the target with the rope loose bow, or cracked wooden bow? This only exacerbates the problem.
Finally we have the necessary conditions for a good shot. These conditions may be adverse to us, usually, a resistance assigned by ourselves or by others. Clearly an advantage to betray their values, be brave is to sustain its values to the end, even if it means death. Note that you will only be brave when put to the test, not so much of you that from happening, but it depends on you the attitude. It's like a strong wind that tries to divert the target arrow, but the strength of character not let the arrow divert because the archer has already calculated the deviation predicted the difficulty and has put the arrow on the right path.
Of course, saving a person in danger, or in another situation any, often do not observe the above points, or even no time for it, is even more dangerous, but no matter when it means support their values. A Buddhist teacher once asked if it's more difficult to see a person drowning and do nothing, or face the difficulties and save this, even if it means painful or suffering for you. Obviously doing nothing is more difficult, but realize you do not do the right way do we miss the target. So when it comes time to take action we will tell the person who is in trouble, "Wait a moment I'll reflect here, just to see if everything is in order." Obviously not. Just we have to take action, so it is a continuous exercise, preparation, training and more training; so when the time comes for our courage to test, we'll be ready, prepared, with everything in order, equipment, technique, correct view of reality, the wind calculations that comes against us will be made quickly and naturally because technique facilitates all this. The target is easily reached more than once with rapid accurate shots.
In short, live well requires some points, these points lead us to courage, but not only to him, but to many other virtues. Be a virtuous person means not doing several things to different aspects of this means to the same procedures with different aspects, because truck virtues with each other. Courageous be implies being generous means being brave means having firmly in decisions means having patience the right time to act, it means being strong means being wise, etc. Realize that everything connects and closes in the same plot that we call values, character; up to us to shape this, because obviously there are many differences between each human being, because our uniqueness as weaknesses and strengths, history and emotions. We are unique beings, but all seeking to be better for a better world.
