When the early morning sun peeks over the horizon, rays of light flash across the earth. Other rays of the sun are already extending upward into the heavens. This vision of the sun, the heavens, the earth, and the horizon forms a wheel of radiant spirit and its depiction of eight transformational practices or eight keen weapons (11) of a warrior (see Figure 1).This “wheel of keen weapons” invites practical embodying of the life force, of spirit in daily life.(12)
As can be seen, three of the principles are Earth focused: centering and grounding while being mindfully present with relentless intent; three have a Heaven focus: opening and releasing and forgiving while surrendering with lovingkindness, compassion, and appreciation; two are rays of the Horizon — participation in everyday life: calm and still with the speed and rhythm of effective action.
When Earth and Heaven principles are experienced simultaneously, we become like our cousins, the trees. We root and ground while spreading our branches to the cosmos. This is a practice of great trust.
Like trees, we do not go away with adversity. No matter the weather, we stand and open to life. With continuing adversity, we extend our roots even deeper, thus being able to open and engage even further.
As trees “planted by the rivers of water,” we maintain the symmetry of our roots with our branches. The deeper and more firmly based our roots in the Source of our being, the more successfully we engage the wound of this world.
Feet on the ground and head in the sky, conduits allowing the merging of earthly and heavenly energies, we move back and forth on the horizontal plane conducting our daily business – the business of right relationship with all we encounter.
Unlike Dharmaraksita’s wheel of sharp weapons(13) which provides a karmic explanation of our sufferings (“this is the wheel of sharp weapons returning full circle upon us from wrongs we have done”), this wheel of keen weapons represents our opening with full spirit into the world. This is the work of the wheel of keen weapons effectively engaging the soul of the world.
The weapons, the eight warrior qualities, are keen weapons. In embodying the qualities, we are the weapons. Keen means not only sharp and acute (having acumen or wisdom), but also bold, daring, fierce, and able. To embody the Wheel of Keen Weapons is to be fiercely alive with the capability and compassion that comes from deep wisdom.
It is no new news that the human race is deeply involved in genocide and suicide. We all play a part in the dinosauric consciousness causing such destruction. We must now step into a new consciousness. A transformation of consciousness is essential for the survival of the human and many of the nonhuman species. Embodying the eight warrior qualities produces such a transformation.
To transform our own consciousness requires a continuous practice of stepping out of the separative mind (14) with its conceptual layer of divisiveness, its tendency to harbor suspicion and mistrust, its “I”-dolatrous stance of I, I, I and me, me, me. We continuously practice opening to unitive consciousness,(15) to identifying with the Source that breathes us, to standing in daily life as spheres of influence, and embodying the radiance of our Source.
The core of the Wheel of Keen Weapons holds space for our Source, the great mystery that gives birth to all without ceasing, with rays of life extending outward. The Source Itself is forever aware and present, eternally grounding and deepening, infinitely opening and releasing. Our Source is inclusionary and compassionate, relentless and intentful, yielding and flexible, calm and still, active and engaging. We are invited to join in, to embody the same characteristics, the same qualities.
