Warrior

“You are a practicing monk, a trained spiritual warrior. Yet your fear of death surpasses that of the untrained laity. Why do you let the kilesas harass you in this way? You have the mindfulness and wisdom needed to defend yourself, so why don’t you use them? Go on the offensive. Chase out the devious kilesas lurking there in your heart. Then you will realize how stupid you’ve been, blindly serving their interests, unaware of the power they have over you. A warrior’s victory depends on his willingness to brave death on the battlefield. If you’re not willing to die, then you shouldn’t enter the battle zone. Only by braving death will you be able to defeat your enemies. If you are truly determined to transcend dukkha, by realizing its true nature, you must view your fear of death as one form of dukkha – a product of the kilesas stored in your heart. You can only resolve this matter by making a stand on a battlefield conducive to victory. Persevere, and you will come to realize fear’s harmful effects: it stirs the emotions and demoralizes the spirit, always giving rise to suffering. It is better to take a defiant stand now. Don’t simply keep clinging to that fear, hugging it tightly to your chest and burning your heart until you cry out in agony. Fail to act decisively now and your suffering will continue indefinitely.

(The Teachings of Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta)