Toltec Aphorism

DETACHMENT MEANS WE DO NOT INDULGE OURSELVES IN ANYTHING, OR DENY OURSELVES ANYTHING. ONLY BY REMAINING ACUTELY AWARE OF DEATH STALKING US CAN WE BECOME SUFFICIENTLY DETACHED NOT TO ABANDON OURSELVES TO ANYTHING, BUT ALSO NOT TO DENY OURSELVES ANYTHING. THE WARRIOR WHO HAS THIS TYPE OF DETACHMENT DOES NOT PINE FOR ANYTHING - SINCE HE HAS ACQUIRED AN INNER LUST FOR LIFE AND FOR ALL THE MANY RICHNESSES OF LIFE. BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT HIS TIME ON EARTH WILL BE OVER ALL TOO SOON, HE SAVOURS ALL OF LIFE'S RICHNESSES - WITHOUT EVER BECOMING ATTACHED TO ANY OF THEM TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE OTHERS.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

YOUR MISTAKE IS THAT YOU PRIDE YOURSELF ON YOUR ABILITY TO THINK, AND TO JUSTIFY YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR INCESSANT TALKING. IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED IN BECOMING A WARRIOR YOU MUST STOP TALKING TO YOURSELF INTO BELIEVING THAT YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD IS INVIOLABLE.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

AVERAGE MAN PREFERS TO AVOID HIS CHALLENGES RATHER THAN FACE THEM AND, AS A RESULT, IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ESCAPISMS. BUT THE REAL CULPRIT THAT MAKES OF MAN SUCH A COWARD IS HIS REASON, WHICH WOULD RATHER FAIL ON ITS OWN TERMS THAN RELINQUISH ITS CONTROL. MAN'S REASON THEREFORE DRIVES HIM TO SEEK REFUGE IN FAILURE, SO THAT HE CAN SURRENDER ON THE TERMS OF HIS REASON. HOWEVER, THE LUMINOUS BEING OF MAN GUARDS AGAINST THIS, AND THUS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO FAKE EITHER FAILURE OR TRIUMPH, WHILE PLEADING IGNORANCE OF THE PRETENCE.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

WHENEVER YOU FEEL THAT LIFE HAS BECOME TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN, YOU SHOULD TURN TO YOUR LEFT AND SEEK COUNSEL FROM YOUR DEATH. ALL SENSE OF PETTINESS IS DROPPED INSTANTLY, SHOULD YOU CATCH A GLIMPSE OF YOUR DEATH, OR SHOULD IT GESTURE TO YOU, OR EVEN IF YOU CAN JUST SENSE YOUR CONSTANT COMPANION WATCHING YOU.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

AVERAGE MAN IS TIMID, AND THEREFORE HE GOES FROM ONE ACT TO ANOTHER WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT OR CARE. A WARRIOR, ON THE OTHER HAND, ASSESSES EVERY ACT WITH THE UTMOST CARE, AND BECAUSE HE IS INTIMATELY AWARE OF HIS DEATH, HE MOVES PRUDENTLY, AS IF EVERY ACT IS HIS LAST BATTLE. ONLY A FOOL WOULD FAIL TO SEE WHAT ADVANTAGE THIS IS. A WARRIOR GIVES HIS LAST BATTLE HIS FULL RESPECT, FOR IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT HIS LAST ACT ON EARTH SHOULD BE HIS FINEST ACT AND A REFLECTION OF HIS IMPECCABILITY. IT MAKES HIS ACT A JOYFUL ACT, AND IT TAKES THE EDGE OFF HIS FEAR.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

IT IS ONLY THE PRESENCE OF DEATH THAT ENABLES US TO BELIEVE, FOR WHERE THERE IS NOT AN AWARENESS OF DEATH EVERYTHING BECOMES MUNDANE AND TRIVIAL. ONLY WHEN WE ARE AWARE THAT DEATH IS STALKING US DO WE START TO RECOGNIZE THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING US ALL.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

WHAT YOU LOOK UPON AS BEING SO REAL IS NOT REAL AT ALL. IT IS ONLY REAL BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU KEEP TELLING YOURSELF. YOU LOOK AT A ROCK AND YOU THINK YOU KNOW THAT IT IS A REAL ROCK, JUST AS YOU LOOK AT A TREE AND THINK YOU KNOW THAT IT IS A REAL TREE. BUT WHAT IS A REAL ROCK? AND WHAT IS A REAL TREE? WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT ROCKS AND TREES, OTHER THAN HOW THEY FIT INTO YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD, AND THE VIEWS OF OTHERS?

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

THE MAN OF KNOWLEDGE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO MEET HIS FELLOW MEN IN THE MIDST OF THEIR FOLLY, KEEN TO UTILISE THEIR DOINGS FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT. FOR THE FOLLY OF MAN, IF CORRECTLY UNDERSTOOD AND UTILISED, IS A VERITABLE TREASURE TROVE YIELDING VAST AMOUNTS OF PERSONAL POWER.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

MAN'S ONLY JUSTIFICATION FOR PHYSICAL EXISTENCE IS TO LEARN; THIS IS HIS DESTINY WHICH HE CANNOT AVOID UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

TALKING IN ITSELF IS NOT BAD. BUT THE PROBLEM WITH TALKING IS THAT MAN ALWAYS ASSUMES HE HAS ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE WHICH IS BEYOND HIS CURRENT FRAME OF REFERENCE, WHEN IN REALITY HE HAS SIMPLY UNDERSTOOD WORDS THAT DESCRIBE NEW KNOWLEDGE, WHICH HE HAS YET TO ACQUIRE THROUGH EXPERIENCE. THE RESULT IS ALWAYS THE SAME - SUCH A MAN FEELS ENLIGHTENED AND EMPOWERED BY HIS ASSUMED UNDERSTANDING. YET THE MOMENT HE IS CHALLENGED, THE MAN FINDS HIMSELF JUST AS UNENLIGHTENED AND POWERLESS AS BEFORE. SO HE CONTINUES TO RE-ENACT HIS FOLLY, SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACT UPON KNOWLEDGE ONE DOES NOT POSSESS. KNOWING THIS, THE WARRIOR CHOOSES TO ACT RATHER THAN TO TALK, AND BECAUSE OF THIS, HE ACQUIRES A MUCH MORE FLUID VIEW THAT HE HAD BEFORE - A VIEW IN WHICH TALKING BECOMES LESS IMPORTANT THAN TAKING ACTION.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

APPROACHING KNOWLEDGE IS TO ENTER INTO A BATTLE FOR ONE'S LIFE. HENCE ONE SHOULD ONLY APPROACH KNOWLEDGE WITH FULL ALERTNESS, WITH FEAR, WITH RESPECT AND WITH ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE. ANY MAN FOOLISH ENOUGH NOT TO APPROACH KNOWLEDGE IN THIS WAY WILL REGRET HIS ERROR BITTERLY. BUT IF HE IS WISE ENOUGH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HIS SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH HE WILL HAVE NO CAUSE FOR REGRETS, FOR SUCH AN APPROACH CANCELS OUT THE CARELESS ACTIONS OF THE FOOL. SHOULD SUCH A MAN FAIL IN ANY PARTICULAR PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE HE IS NOT DEFEATED, BECAUSE IN WALKING THE PATH OF KNOWLEDGE WE FIGHT MANY BATTLES - SOME WE WIN, SOME WE LOSE. SUCCESS LIES NOT IN HOW MANY BATTLES WE HAVE WON, BUT IN HOW WELL WE HAVE FOUGHT.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

THE ONLY FAILURE IN LIFE IS THE FAILURE TO FIGHT.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

MAN TALKS TO HIMSELF ABOUT HIS WORLD, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND THUS MAINTAINS HIS VIEW THROUGH HIS INCESSANT INTERNAL DIALOGUE. BY THE TIME HE HAS FINISHED TALKING TO HIMSELF, THE ORDER OF HIS WORLD IS EXACTLY AS HE IS TELLING HIMSELF IT SHOULD BE, AND SO HE REVITALISES AND REPLENISHES HIS WORLD WITH EVERY WORD HE SPEAKS. BUT, EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERY DECISION MAN MAKES IS BASED UPON WHAT HE IS TELLING HIMSELF ABOUT HIS WORLD. AS A RESULT, HE DEFINES HIS FATE ACCORDING TO THE LIMITATIONS OF HIS INTERNAL DIALOGUE. IT IS THEREFORE HARDLY SURPRISING THAT MAN PERPETUATES HIS FOLLY, SINCE EVERY ACTION OF HIS IS DICTATED BY HIS INTERNAL DIALOGUE, WHICH NEVER CHANGES FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF HIS LIFE. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT IT IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT TO STOP THE INTERNAL DIALOGUE.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

THE HUNTER NEVER PLUNDERS HIS WORLD, BUT TAKES FROM IT ONLY WHAT HE TRULY NEEDS, WHILST TENDING TO IT WITH WARMTH AND CARING FOR IT WITH LOVE - IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER HIS WORLD CONSISTS OF PEOPLE, ANIMALS, PLANTS, POSSESSIONS OR POWER. IN THIS RESPECT THE HUNTER IS INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH HIS WORLD, YET HE ALSO REMAINS DETACHED FROM IT. BEING DETACHED FROM HIS WORLD, THE HUNTER REMAINS INACCESSIBLE TO THAT WORLD, AND DOES NOT DISTORT IT BY MANHANDLING IT. THE HUNTER TOUCHES HIS WORLD LIGHTLY, ENJOYS IT FOR AS LONG AS HE NEEDS TO, AND THEN WITHDRAWS, LEAVING BARELY ANYTHING DISTURBED.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

EVERYTHING AROUND YOU, INCLUDING YOUR CHALLENGES, IS THE WORLD YOU CREATED FOR YOURSELF. IT IS THEREFORE INSANE TO WANT TO RUN AWAY FROM IT, FOR WHERE WILL YOU RUN TO? ONE CANNOT ESCAPE ONE'S LIFE ANY MORE THAN ONE CAN ESCAPE ONESELF. THE ONLY REASON WHY YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT IS BECAUSE YOUR TONAL IS INVOLVED IN AN INNER BATTLE - BUT TO DO BATTLE WITH YOUR OWN TONAL IS THE HEIGHT OF INSANITY. WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACHIEVE? THE DISCIPLINED LIFE OF THE WARRIOR IS DESIGNED TO END SUCH INANE PURSUITS.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

IT IS NOT A MATTER OF FINDING WAYS IN WHICH TO LIVE WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING YOUR LIFE, FOR YOU ARE THE CAUSE OF YOUR LIFE. YOU ARE NOT A VICTIM BEING FORCED INTO TOLERATING THIS LIFE - INSTEAD YOU ARE THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING WHICH IS IN YOUR LIFE; THE GOOD, THE BAD AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. YOU THINK THAT BY COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR LIFE YOU CAN SOMEHOW FIND A WAY IN WHICH TO CHANGE IT, BUT YOU ARE WRONG. IT IS ONLY THE DECISION TO JOIN THE WARRIORS PATH THAT GIVES ONE THE COURAGE TO CLAIM ONE'S LIFE FOR WHAT IT IS. WHILST YOU CONTINUE TO INDULGE IN YOUR PETTINESS AND YOUR CONFUSION, NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE WILL EVER CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares

Toltec Aphorism

IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO REMAIN TRAPPED WITHIN THE DEBILITATING CONSTRAINTS OF SOCIAL CONDITIONING, AND IF YOU WISH TO BREAK FREE FROM THE GRIP OF THE BLACK MAGICIANS, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE THE DISCIPLINED LIFE OF THE WARRIOR AND YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO HUNT FOR POWER.

- The Toltec Teachings Volume VI (The Book of Aphorisms) by Théun Mares