The spiritual warrior Nasu

Years ago, I wrote a story for my grandchildren about the warrior I named Nasu. She is a spiritual warrior. By using the sword ” I SEE YOU”, she can free herself from greed, hatred and delusion. A talk by Tara Brach reminded me of this story. I would like to share it with you.

My non dominant hand drawing of the warrior Nasu

I AM A WARRIOR (a story for my grandchildren)

My name is Nasu and I live in Japan. Japan is a country like America, but much smaller. I am six years old and just started school. We live in a tiny house.  I have a room which I share with my little brother. My father always tells me that this house is our castle, like the castle in our city. The castle once belonged to my ancestors. Long time ago, my ancestors were warriors. In Japan, they were called samurai. Sometimes, my father calls himself a samurai. I never imagined that I could become a samurai too.    

I own many toys. Nearly all my toys have a voice. They all want to play with me. Often, a toy shouts, “play with me!” When I hear this, I take the toy which called to me. It might be a car, a doll or stuffed animal, or something else. I play with it and put it back in a corner when I have spent enough time with it . They are my friends.

When I started school, I saw that my friends owned things I wanted to have too. Sometimes, it was a picture, a different car, a stone, or chewing gum. There were so many things I did not have. To my surprise, I heard the voices of these things shouting to me: “I want be with you! I want to be with you!”

In the beginning, I ignored the voices. Still, they got stronger and stronger. I felt a strong urge just to take them, secretly, so they become mine.

If you do not know what I mean, I tell the story where I realized this strong “want to have”. I was in school. My friend had many candies and I did not have a single one. I felt that this was very unfair. The candies cried out to me and shouted “take me, take me!” My mouth filled with saliva. A voice in myself said “I want to eat it. I want to have it too!” The voice of “I want to have a candy too!” was so loud that my right hand came nearer and nearer to the delicious sweets.

But suddenly, I heard another voice. The other voice was very clear and strong. It said: “ I want to have a candy too” is not a friend! It will hurt you when you follow it! You have to fight the wicked voice of want! Take your sword your father gave you and cut the strong bond of  “I want it too” away from you. Be a warrior! Be a samurai like your father!”

I was confused. I never knew that my father gave me a sword. Where would it be? The voice continued:

“The magic sword you have is called “ I see you!” The sword is in your head. Every time you hear the wicked voice of “I want to have,” stop. Recognize that those things do not belong to you. When you realize this truth, the sword will appear.

When I heard these words, my hand was already touching the candy. Nobody was around. But the sword “ I see you” suddenly appeared in my mind. I realized that I could cut the bond between the candy and myself and freed myself. In that moment, I became Nasu, the samurai. I became a hero.

I now know that the sword “I see you” will appear in my head when I need it. It is a sword that not only cuts through greed, but also through any fear. Ever since then, I have had a weapon to fight the wicked voices which want to dominate me. Every time I use it, I become a stronger warrior. Every time I conquer the wicked voices, I become a hero.

May you also become a warrior of truth and goodness.