To be valiant, to be courageous in the deepest sense, may not involve merely following orders as part of some mechanized, calculated structure. Instead, it involves the deep and profound freedom of standing alone, away from all of the contrived patterns of others, away from all of the concocted and separative systems promising security. To truly — not feigningly — go beyond the ego (i.e., the central self or “I”) involves vast courage and penetrating insight from a realm of freedom. A mere follower cannot — and will not — do it. Too many of us run and cling to our little structures that we have absorbed and learned from others, without ever standing alone while seeing and thinking about things deeply for ourselves. It is easy to be told what to do; it is easy to be influenced by commercials, by propaganda, by so-called authorities, by words.
The mind can go beyond them. The mind can go beyond the ego and the so-called central controller or central self. The mind can go beyond what merely clings to one experience after another. The fearful, afraid mind will not care — among its modes of indifference and of being frightened — to have anything to do with this to any significant extent. When an experience or when fear occurs, the mind is not merely separate from the experience or from the fear. Freedom is in neither. Both are inexorably limited.
Ailanthus. (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Ailanthus. (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
I love the old word ‘valiant’ and agree with your post; very few of us are really valiant.
Your second photo is very cleverly done; fits perfectly 🙂
Yes, Sci, few of us are valiant! Why not?! Thank you about that second photo. I like it too! 🙂
I think of ‘valiant’ going with ‘chivalry’ and no-one is chivalrous any more – too busy thinking only of themselves.
Yes! You are right, Sci! Most are just out for themselves or for their own limited little circle of family.
Very impressive photos ….that depict the solo self and headlong journey through fear. Thanks
Thank you, launchings! 🙂 When fear occurs, fear is not separate from what one is.
Somehow people are a bit like cattle, too. They do what others do, because it’s much easier and doesn’t need any effort to think about being valiant etc. It’s so easy to cling to structures but I prefer to think about everything and being a “loner” is hard but for me much more worthwhile than being cattle, Thomas.
Thanks for your thoughts and the wonderful photo, have a nice day, regards from rainy and cold Hamburg, Mitza
Good point, Mitza!… They are a lot like cattle. Stay thinking about things for yourself and being a loner; it’s the best way to be! 🙂 Remaining among the cattle only leads to the mindless slaughter!
Rainy and cold! It is a continuous hot drought here. George, the neighbor, is a local farmer; he is not at all happy with the way things are going here weather-wise this year. I am watering the garden plants in our yard every single day. Hopefully, we’ll get rain soon!
I could send you some rain from Hamburg, we always have more than we want, but there have been times, when I had to water every day, too. Hopefully you will have rain soon, but first do a First Nation Rain Dance, hehe
Send it, please! George complained again to me today! I told him we might get some rain soon. He did not seem very optimistic!
Wise words, Buddha Tom. 🙂
Love the pics too, really unusual.
Thanks, Genie! Stay meshed with nature (as you are)… and keep going beyond what is taught and told! 🙂
I always have admired those who march to their own drum and try to do the right thing whether others approve or not. Wonderful photo to go along with your words.
Excellent, Karen! 🙂 So many merely march to others’ drums!
I am so glad to see such beautiful nature photographs. Its also great to celebrate ones uniqueness!
Thank you! I’d rather be watching daisies than watching fancy fossil fuel-burning transportation vehicles! 🙂
Indeed!
This post and the accompanying photos remind me of how the camera and my desire to photograph helped me overcome the fear of bugs, bees and crawly things. It didn’t help with bats tho.