How to be a rational thinking person? How to be free of emotional turmoil and knee-jerk reactions? This is the essence of the fifth commandment: “No making assumptions or jumping to conclusions. Ask, clarify, or wait for the explanation!” If you can practice this, you can enjoy a much more rational and peaceful existence. The key is to defer or delay any reaction of any kind, other than initiating a strategy of clarification. Ask the source to find out what is really meant, and then take the time to decide what your response should be. A price is paid when we engage in emotionalism. Consider the two alternatives: 1) Engage emotions at full strength like a bull in the china shop. 2) Remain at peace and investigate to uncover facts and ascertain the reality of any given situation (kind of like Buddha).

Which of these two choices appeals to you? Please understand that they are choices and within your power to make. Stop leaving your buttons out there for the world to push.

When they are expert at this technique, sometimes true warriors wonder what they should do to show the world that they are responding to the situation—acting only to show those assembled a response, while remaining totally calm and peaceful within. Facing disaster calmly and methodically produces exemplary results. Reacting and flailing about serves no useful purpose. You are a warrior and you will think about what is happening. You will uncover truth, facts, and observations of reality, which will allow you to formulate an effective strategy. So it is written.