onlyindreams

But until then... And where best to exemplify a radically different way of being, perceiving, and relating, to influence and bring about lasting change into the hearts of those that serve, suffer, kill, and die but from within the machine itself?

One step at a time for me. I agree that being / becoming a Marine does not have much to do with being a 'spiritual' warrior. I see why the discussion was led that way. I merely see my eventual experience in the Marines as simply one leg of the long journey... a stepping stone of sorts that will lead me to deeper levels of realization. I also agree that the true transformative process is completely internal and personal. You're not far off the mark when you say that many of my notions are entirely romantic and perhaps setting me up for annihilation of one sort or another. Live and learn, no? What is the warriorship that Gurdjieff and his contemporaries espouse? What is true warriorship to you? What advice would you offer to one who seeks to differentiate the two? What are the pitfalls that one should be aware of when seeking along this path of warriorship in this age?

War is a racket. True. But it has always been that way in a sense. Depends on one's perspective. War is a force of nature and men, governments, nations have much less control over it than imagined... You may think me foolish but I believe in karma and I believe in the unfathomable and subtle influence that the stars and cosmic bodies have on human behavior, especially on a global scale. My belief is that war is essentially a massive game played out by men with hormones and essences that NEED to be expressed. It's a game I'll willingly play.

I appreciated this.

None taken. But my self knows this to be fact. That was an outpouring of thought from something I felt intensely. A feeling that can make my heart ache and tears well up in my eyes whenever it arises. When I said I "know myself", I meant that in the way conventional language frames it. "There is just this and nothing else." That phrase, spoken by an esteemed Zen priest hours before his death, best helps me sense the ineffable truth that I think you are referring to...

I thought about the words I had written and read your response several times; I never daydream about how I will perform or what it will be like to kill and maim. All I know in this instant is that if someone is trying to kill me, I will kill him. you are absolutely right. i will join and then i will experience it all for my self. though I don't know how I will act / react in it comes down to it, i'm not worried in the least. I can already sense the amount of suffering and discomfort I am in for. I see it as a trial. Can I remain centered, aware of my self, maintain my integrity amidst the chaos? Having spent countless hours reading and hearing about wars, campaigns, battles, military technology, and the effects that wars have had on history, seeing innumerable pictures of the aftermath of battle and the scourge of war, as well as viewing all the uncensored and candid media that is available on the internet now has prepared me somewhat for what I may one day have to face and cope with. Why do I want to put myself in the shit? To see if I can hang, to see if I can excel and this: "Love nothing but that which comes to you woven in the thread of your destiny" - Marcus Aurelius

I also respect this. Terrible things happen in war and we can debate the justifications, the ramifications for days on end but the fact remains: there are innocents dying, there are wars being waged, there are communities that need to be rebuilt and instilled with hope, and there is a need for men to get the job done. Here is another one of my favorite quotes by Ueshiba, which I understood the moment I read it:

I know myself well. I would never harm a woman or child or an otherwise non-combatant in any way, physically, mentally, emotionally - unless my life or that of other innocents was directly threatened. Never to execute a prisoner or someone who surrenders. Still, if someone is trying to put an end to my life, I will do everything in my power to cut that man down. Currently, I got hopes and expectations that the training and discipline will forge me into a better man, tougher, more grounded, disciplined, and well versed in the sacred and primal art of killing. I am reminded of a Taiji master's verse: I also (perhaps foolishly) believe that I will always uphold the tenets and values that I live by, that I will strive to always do good wherever I may end up, that I will rather die than let something unrighteous occur in my presence. If you'd like another look into my personal beliefs, read this excerpt from a spontaneous essay I wrote and posted on facebook one morning after reading a news article about the failed shoe bombing attempt: The world is truly embroiled in an ideological conflict. I go to do my part in the battle of good versus evil, to stem the rising tide of violence that WILL occur in the years to come Of course, I know that this is all from my perspective as a 2nd generation Korean-American who feels deep pride and a sense of responsibility for the land that provided so much for me. The Marine Corps' core values are honor, commitment and courage. Three words that resonate deeply within In my years of acute observation and experience, no other military organization possesses the discipline and integrity, the aggressiveness, the resourcefulness, and the will to never surrender that the Marine Corps instills and will fight to the death to uphold... I will gladly join such a warrior culture and give my life to uphold its values if need be. Here is an excerpt from the last speech that Douglas MacArthur ever gave; it was to a graduating class at West Point at the outbreak of the Vietnam War -

Thank you for sharing that. I am 21 years old and was attending a state university through an Army ROTC scholarship. I envisioned myself commissioning as a 2nd LT in a combat arms branch, etc etc. After much time spent in solitude, reflection, contemplation, I have decided to break free from all of that. I am suspending my studies in school and disenrolling from Army ROTC. I plan on enlisting in the Marine Corps as soon as my lease is up.

Thank you. I devour this kind of material. When I am done with these works, I will get back to you.

Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

thank you for the email thank you for the interview thank you for the knowledge

Curious to hear more about this specific topic

great great thread... had me thinking in new ways and inspired me to rid my life of more distractions as well as to meditate so here's a bump

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and instructions. I've been led to this path of cultivating energy and transmuting the passions. I have doubts of whether this is 'shutting down' my sexual system but I have an innate desire to see this thing through and your post has given me even more resolve and has answered some questions of mine.

quoted for future readers

bravo!

From when I was 15 and onwards I experimented heavily with drugs - marijuana, DXM (5+ times in a 3 month period... never again, though the experiences I had while on it definitely had me awed), shrooms (19 times, full blown ego death / awakening experience on one) Though I had an interest in lucid dreaming, OBEs, and meditation, it was not until the summer after my senior year of HS that I really truly delved into spirituality / mysticism and took up a path. Ken Wilber's works are what inevitably drew me here to this forum. I am currently reading the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita, David Deida's works, Ken Wilber's 'No Boundary', 'Grace and Grit', and 'A Brief History of Everything' as well as Osho's 'Book of Secrets' 'Being in Love' and some books by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama. I feel like I'm honoring that part of myself that has always had an interest in this material / aspect of life and I feel myself growing daily in subtle yet profound ways. Nice to meet yall