The goal of training in Hwa Rang Do is to conquer oneself. It is our creed and the rigors of studying Hwa Rang Do require it. It is the pursuit of this mastery that draws us to this art, for when it is obtained, we are able to secure the freedom and happiness that is our birthright. This is a lofty, noble goal.
A goal so lofty deserves some thought. For most of us, it is unclear when and how self-mastery, or self-reliance, is obtained. It might be felt, or its absence might become painfully clear that day when we lose control of ourselves and succumb in shame or defeat. Before this happens, what is self-reliance and what identifies the individual who possesses this quality?
Trust in yourself. Leadership is not a virtue society supports. Rather society is in the business of encouraging conformity to customs and traditions. Leaders are the ones least interested in conforming, and will break rules if the merits of the situation deem it appropriate. Think about the story of the emperor and his new clothes. It took a child to state plainly that the emperor was naked, and it is that precocious ability to plainly see the world for what it is that is a pillar of self-reliance.
Consistency is not a virtue if that consistency is foolish. Ralph Waldo Emerson stated it best when he said that, “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.†Why do we stick rigidly to our white lies and cling to our bad decisions? Why is it impossible to admit our mistakes plainly without a torrent of explanations, counterpoints, or obfuscations? For instance, we continue to invest money into a failing business, nations continue to fight wars that cannot be won, or perhaps we stay in relationships that make us unhappy. Why? It is because we are unwilling to take the inevitable heat from our peers for our poor decisions and it is this fear that makes us try to dig ourselves out of holes we have already dug. But try as we might, digging from inside a hole will only make the hole deeper. Self-reliance, however, means that one does not encumber oneself with the cares of our peers. Decisions should be made, or changed, based on their merits.
Diligence, however, is vital. To be self-reliant, one has to build a self that is strong enough to be reliable. Charles Munger, the vice-president of the investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, states it best. What we need for success is assiduity. We need to sit on our asses and do it. But diligence comes at a price; temptation must be avoided. There are literally thousands of ways a man can be distracted and deluded, and most of us are all too willing to go along.
Master Lee often uses this example: drug dealers without an advertising budget or an education never have an issue selling drugs. Vice sells itself. Vice, however, will not make us happy. Again, to quote Emerson, “nothing can bring you happiness but yourself. Nothing can bring you happiness but an adherence to principles.â€
Finally, we must study. It was Munger again who said, “the man who lives in ignorance of the past goes through life like a child.†We must learn from the past and learn from those we admire. Could we do without it? Sure. But as practitioners of Hwa Rang Do and seekers of freedom, acquiring wisdom is our moral imperative.
William Wright