The Impossibility of Betrayal
SAmurai Books: Legend
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The great Dragon is forever divine
While he is within the celestial fields…
A golden or fiery dragon was a symbol of wisdom and immortality in old Aryan mythology. After being given milk mixed with water, he separated them and drank only the milk thus proving his wisdom. The milk represented spirit while the water symbolized changeable matter. If the dragon had drank both, he would have died. However, he was truly wise, and that is probably why he guards the great treasure – the Tree of Knowledge with its golden fruit.
Since the dragon does not like fools, many consider him a sly and demonic creature. But the dragon is no enemy to the few chosen ones who are courageous and spiritual. The dragon watches the Tree closely with his piercing fiery eyes that see through everyone who approaches. Those with unclean, weak and cowardly minds who try to pick the golden apples are doomed. The dragon is a cunning, masterful enchanter as well as a ruthless torturer of many-faced traitors.
Woodblock print "Dragon" by Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795)
Most people are as chaotic as amoebas in their movements. They roam the world aimlessly and subject themselves to powers stronger than themselves. Such people feel that their existence is pointless and have no interest in living but are terrified of dying.
An initiated warrior does not roam aimlessly but is guided by the great mystery. He knows the meaning of his life; why he is where he is and what he has to do. The warrior marches towards his goal – truth and perfection – and considers any detour a betrayal, which for him is absolutely unacceptable. Betrayal is one aspect of people’s general ignorance resulting from the weakness and chaotic meaninglessness that governs them. People betray in different ways. Some betray their friends, loved ones, companions, while others betray their ideals and dreams and fritter away. The study of the nature of betrayal could become one of the most comprehensive inquiries on how human nature becomes distorted. Betrayal has been considered the worst sin since antiquity by all religious traditions who profess that traitors are condemned to the most terrible pits of hell.
There is nothing more repugnant than betrayal, and it has many faces. Even though most people are not even aware that they are doing it, it is the worst thing that can happen to a person. By betraying something people betray themselves. What’s more, they lose themselves forever because their spirits become weak and their souls eventually die. Such people wander aimlessly like zombies with hollow eyes. This way, betrayal is also a great filter of souls, a way to sift out the ashes from the cinders.
A true warrior’s soul carries his mighty spirit through worlds searching for wisdom and perfection.... Read further in the book Samurai. Legend.
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This the chapter "The Samurai and the Dao" from Samurai. Legend by A. R. Berg
