CHAPTER 1
Spiritual Assessments
Spiritual warfare is a vital matter of the human condition. It is the field upon which spiritual life and death is determined and the road that leads either to inward survival or to ruin. The outcome of this warfare determines whether one lives in unhappiness and discontent, or whether through mastering the self in spiritual struggle, one finds lasting inner peace. Intimate knowledge of the ways of spiritual combat, and the ability to fight in it, is of the utmost importance. Nothing is of more value, for the quality of one's spiritual life depends upon it.
To understand the nature of your spiritual condition and measure the outcome of any inner struggle, appraise your situation on the basis of the following five criteria advocated by Sun Tzu. The first is the Way (Tao); the second is the spiritual climate; the third is the earthly terrain; the fourth is character; and the fifth is discipline.
1. The Way, or the Tao, is the organizing principle of Taoism, a religion articulated in the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu in the sixth century BC. But know that "the Tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao." The Way is infinite and unknowable in itself, and yet it must be explored by anyone seeking spiritual growth. In the nontheistic Eastern tradition, the Way is the order of life, the flow of all things, the ineffable ground of all being. In terms of Western theology, the Way is God's creation, providence, operation, grace, and peace, all wrapped up together into a resplendent One. For the spiritual warrior, it becomes a path upon which one encounters both challenges and good fortune, sorrow and joy, victory and defeat. Through acceptance and a willingness to learn and grow, the master warrior is led by the Divine. The spiritual warrior allows life to unfold and does not fight against life, but rather learns the art of surrender to the Divine, and like a child, allows the Divine to lead toward all things blessed.
The way of the spiritual warrior is a paradox. It is a struggle and it is not a struggle. It is a war against self, and yet it is not against self. It is a battle that can only be fought alone, and yet the spiritual warrior never fights alone. It is a war which the spiritual warrior cannot win, because the opposing spiritual forces are too mighty, yet victory is achieved. The master of spiritual warfare controls life and individual destiny by allowing it to unfold and reacting according to its unfolding. The expert in spiritual warfare conquers himself by discovering the darker forces which move within, not through associating with them, but opposing them. In deep spiritual struggle, the powerful warrior surrenders to higher powers to achieve victory. Fighting alone, the spiritual warrior solicits aid from allies of a higher realm who gain the victory. The master warrior acts without expectation, fights without aggression, wins without winning. This may seem like a paradox, and so it is. But study it, meditate upon it, live by it, and you will understand its truth. And for now, know this: surrender to the Divine is the first step on the Way.
2. Spiritual climate refers to light and darkness and their changing positions in the spiritual realm. The greatest battle is waged on this higher ground and with forces far beyond human scope and imagination. It is an eternal conflict between the powers of light and darkness, love and hatred, good and evil, and between spiritual life and death itself. It is vast and immense, and though it manifests itself in earthly conflict and strife, it plays out its greatest contests on the battlefield within the human soul. The master warrior knows these forces and contributes to the greater victory through perseverance in the individual conflicts and inner strife. Through recognizing the forces of darkness and light, the master warrior enters this greater arena as a freedom fighter. As if awakening from deep sleep, the spiritual warrior rises to a new awareness and a new challenge: in fighting for one's own freedom, the spiritual warrior fights for all of humankind. And so it has been written of old:
For we do not struggle against the flesh and blood, But against principalities, Against the powers, Against the rulers of darkness of this age, Against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 6:12)
Awareness of the higher realities in one's life and of the spiritual climate within which one resides comes easier to some than others. I have heard many say that in the darkest times they sense their destructive impulses springing from powers greater than their own which feed such impulses and direct them like troops on the battlefield of the mind and soul. I have felt this way time and again in the struggle to release myself from whatever personal demon may be attacking me. I have experienced bursts of rage, or fallen in lust, or being filled with a terror, acted irrationally. Who hasn't? But have you ever asked yourself, "How could I do that?" or said, "That just wasn't me"? This isn't just an excuse to blame someone else for our actions. It's not simply using the old line, "The devil made me do it," in order to get off the hook of responsibility. We are, indeed, responsible for our actions. But there is a driving force behind the fear and anxiety, behind the compulsiveness and desire, behind the selfishness and want. For me, these are the forces of hell working to dismantle my life and keep me a prisoner, while God and angels fight for my soul. Knowing this helps me not to identify with the destructive tendencies within me. I can side with the Divine and the forces of good, fight, and live life free from self-destructiveness.
Sensing that there is a greater battle taking place on a spiritual plane also gives my life a deeper meaning. This is true for anyone who desires to become a spiritual warrior. Illumination from the spiritual realm confers upon me the knowledge that life is not just about learning to think and act more successfully, overcoming pesky habits, getting what I want, and feeling healthy and ready to tackle the world, but also about learning to live with integrity, love, and usefulness; not only because it will help me, but more importantly, because it will help fulfill the Divine cause of bringing love and goodness to the world.
3. Earthly terrain refers to the inner landscape upon which the warrior travels and to the circumstances in which the warrior faces inward foes. Earthly terrain concerns the difficulty of passage and the degree of...
