Why does this true warrior spend so much time on the topic of belief? Let’s examine the difference between knowledge and belief, taking into account the perspective of time. On the surface, the mind has very little with which to distinguish knowledge and belief. Think about it. You believe in your knowledge and your knowledge comes from doing things, learning things, experiencing things, and observing things. So really … how is that different from acquiring a belief? Ultimately, it isn’t any different, because we do not conduct rigorous scientific experiments on each and every one of our beliefs to prove that it is true and factual knowledge. For example, take a walk to the lake on a path that requires you to cross high above a creek on a fallen tree that spans the ravine from bank to bank. After looking at it, you come to believe that you can safely cross over the creek canyon by walking on the fallen tree. You get safely across, and now believe that you have knowledge of a safe route across the ravine on your pathway to the lake. There is only one way to prove that this is a safe route, and that is to do an engineering analysis on the tree and then follow that with ongoing inspection and maintenance. If it passes that inspection, you will in fact have knowledge of a safe route. Until it passes such an inspection, you simply believe it to be a safe route, and will maintain that belief until the day that the world proves to you that it is not … when the log decays and crashes down into the ravine.

So here we see how time helps us segregate knowledge from belief. Knowledge is confirmed and strengthened with the passage of time, whereas belief is forsaken when proof is presented to the contrary. Many of us maintain false beliefs in the face of evidence to the contrary. There is no easy way to displace these beliefs regardless of how absurd they may be. True warriors know that they must come to understand the local beliefs and customs of any place in which they want to do business, as they will be powerfully rooted in the minds of the locals, and a lack of understanding will hinder their efforts. Beliefs drive and predict actions and behaviours. As a student of human behaviour, the true warrior must be able to understand the perceptions of everyone they encounter. It is all about understanding the differences between beliefs and knowledge.

You are warriors, and by understanding the beliefs that are driving behaviours, you will be able to succeed where many otherwise fail. So it has been written.