The way of the Peaceful Warrior


Peaceful warriors have patience to wait until the mud settles and the waters clear.
They remain unmoving until the right time,
so the right action arises by itself.
They do not seek fulfilment,
but wait with open arms to welcome all things.
Ready to use all situations,
wasting nothing, they embody the light.


Peaceful warriors have three great treasures:
simplicity, patience, and compassion.
Simple in actions and in thoughts,
they return to the source of Being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
they live in harmony with the way things are.
Compassionate towards themselves,
they make peace with the world.


Some may call this teaching nonsense;
others may call it lofty and impractical.
But to those who have looked inside themselves,
this nonsense makes perfect sense.
And for those who put it into practice,
this loftiness has deep roots.


Adapted from a poem by Lao-tzu