As long as it is realized and accepted that
warriors must comprehend right and wrong,
and strive to do right and avoid wrong,
then the way of the warrior is alive.
Taira Shigesuke
I have been teaching for years that the way of the warrior involves more than simply being able to fight, or going to war; it involves something much deeper – living with honor, character and integrity. It involves knowing right from wrong, and choosing what’s right.
If you go back and look at the great warriors from history, most of them cared greatly about their honor and about being people of character and integrity. Many guys now say that honor and integrity have nothing to do with being a warrior.
These guys get upset with me because, according to them, being a warrior means nothing more than “participating in war.” The people, who claim that this is the only definition of a warrior, are the same people who seem to care very little about character, honor, or integrity.
I suspect that those guys who downplay the importance of honor, character, and integrity are doing so because they fall short in these areas, but they want to boast about being warriors anyway, so they claim that these traits are worthless to the warrior.
Nonetheless, I still stand by my claim that honor, character, and integrity are important to true warriors. All true warriors should strive to live the warrior lifestyle to the best of my ability and strive to live a life of honor and integrity.
Bohdi Sanders
excerpt from
BUSHIDO: The Way of the Warrior
