teachings of billionaire YenTzu #5
(Beres Hammond – Focusing Time)
Guiding The Horse, (Governing Your Willpower)
The horse reared in fright as the shrouded man walked unexpectedly onto the path and startled it.
‘Ho there,’ gried the carriage driver, struggling to regain control of his animal. ‘What devil does such a thing! What do you think you are doing suddenly appearing like that?’
‘In peace, I am no devil, moreover, if there were a demon it is within your hand, creating a reign of terror upon unsuspecting travellers,’ answered the man.
‘You are either a sage or a simpleton, speaking as you do,’ said the carraige driver. ‘The former I’ll wager, for any fool can see that this powerful horse has been finely trained and is well harnessed,’
‘Of what good is the strength of a horse and the control of a harness, if the direction of the will guiding the driver’s hand is elsewhere?’ said the sage. ‘It is clear that you are on this road against your will.’
‘What nonsense do you speak of?’ retorted the carraige driver, wondering how the sage had hit upon the truth with his last remark. ‘Explain yourself, or you’ll feel the lash of more than my tongue!’
‘The fine carraige in which you sit can be likened to the body; the powerful horse to your feelings and desires; you, as driver, are like the mind; and your will is the master of them all. Will is the development of a wish, the command that turns a wish into an action. It is clear that you have no wish to travel wherever you now go, because your will was not ready for the unexpected. The unexpected is the test of true constancy, Man’s self-governing key. You did not wish this trip, so, your will lacked the tenacity, steadfastness, stability and fortitude that a road such as this demands. A resolute will has power, control and direction working together. When man lacks this unity, his lack of will is plain for all to see, no matter how he may disguise it.’
‘In truth I have no desire to make this trip,’ said the carraige driver. ‘But the will of my master is such that I have no choice, though in my heart I know misfortune will come of the business I am ordered to do.’
‘It is indeed far easier to train a wild beast than educate one’s own will to perform, because of Man’s uncertainty as to what he really wants,’ replied the sage. ‘That is why Man continues to yield the power of his own will to the will of others and calls it destiny.’
themusicologist 
a fine uplifting piece by Beres Hammond…I think the ‘lesson’ will take me a lot longer to
get a handle on!
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maybe..in this context I would say that, for me, the recent past has shown how easy it is to be governed by external influences.
the most elusive part of the puzzle has been, (and still is), knowing what I want rather than expect or even desire. needs come first followed by wants but desire has too often been a guide and is no way to prepare for the unexpected.
7 years ago I wished for something and through will it developed into action. more recently I have allowed external forces to govern my actions and through that lack of will been led to a position of weakness. I see that now, (not altogther clearly), and must focus my will to determine the outcome of the next chapter. It’s my ‘book’ and I want to write it not have it written for me.
the teachings of Yen Tzu have taken me years to even begin to understand, (beyond rhetoric), and each has now taken on a new meaning. What do I wish for? to live in the light rather than in darkness and the only way ‘out’ is through governing the will.
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Right On! The Teachings of Brother Tzu are a constant guide, I agree that one needs to constantly refere to before the essance of what the lesson comes to light. Beres Hammond Don Gorgan
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I’m really struggling with this one…. what is the lesson here? If it’s “governing the will”, what does that mean?
More to the point, what is “the will”?
It can’t be the development of a wish…. can it?
Is it perhaps tenacity, steadfastness, stability, and fortitude…. plus power, control and direction: the “unity” Yen Tzu speaks of in…. “when man lacks this unity, his lack of will is plain to see, no matter how he may disguise it”?
If so, that type of “unity” is asking a lot of mere mortals!!
And what about….. “the unexpected is the test of true constancy. Man’s self-governing key”….. Phew, I’m confused.
Even so, what I do instinctively understand is…. “That is why Man continues to yield the power of his own will to the will of others and calls it destiny”….. true, true words!
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i’ll get back to you on this one..
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