MM#97--The Better Jihad

Welcome to the theory to action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time to help you take action immediately, and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life. Now, here's your host, David Kaiser.


Hello, I'm David and welcome back to another Mojo minute. on that tragic day, September 11 2001, when the whole world watched his 19, Muslim men, hijacked planes, and ultimately flew two of those planes into the World Trade Centers in New York City, and another plane into the Pentagon in Washington, DC. And that final plane, being downed by a group of incredibly courageous Americans on flight 93. And what most Americans consider the first battle one, and America's war on terrorism. On that single day, you had most Americans extremely grieved at the death and the losses and extremely confused mindsets by those that commit these evil acts. In that one single day, Americans wanted to understand where this type of evil comes from. And so over the course of the next several months and years, many pundants, and researchers and even some authors attempted to explain where this evil where this type of evil came from, and how it happened. 

How did we get to this point in history, where men are hijacking planes and flying them into skyscrapers, to murder other human beings. I know for me, I read many, many books over the last 20 years to try and understand better where that type of evil came from. And over that reading, and especially over the many years of trying to understand this, we as a country, and as a community, a world community, we've come to understand and learn the word, jihad. And did you know the word comes from from the Arabic meaning, quote to struggle, unquote. And in fact, there are two kinds of jihad, or struggles. 

One struggle is involving external enemies or oppressors. And the other jihad, or Jihad however you pronounce it is the battle within ourselves, the battle of good and evil that rages in the heart of every human being. Now after 911 Guess what jihad, or great holy war we heard most about in our news coverage? Well, you got it. It was all about the external oppressors. America was dubbed the great Satan. And Israel was the little Satan doing the bidding of his big brother, the United States. But guess which one is actually a better jihad. You got it. That ultimate struggle within ourselves. It is perhaps the greatest struggle any human being has, or will attempt. It is a sign of great maturity, to realize and recognize this struggle actually exist. It's incredibly easy to go through life and blame everything on some external oppressor. In fact, that doesn't take hard work at all. That doesn't take a mature mind, or any type of critical thinking, or human reason whatsoever to believe you are right and everyone else is wrong. 

In fact, you will find many groups and many people that will gladly welcome you into the University of victimhood. In fact, those diplomas are handed out daily and that university But in all seriousness, did you know the bhava, the Gita, one of the core text of Hinduism, talks about a warrior overcoming his lower self, with the help of divine counsel and doing the battle necessary, on a metaphorical Battlefield, of course, to win this battle, and this battle takes place over a whole lifetime. Did you know also that Lao Tzu, the great Chinese philosopher, in the fifth century BC, and one of the founders of Taoism, repeats a very similar idea, quote, mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power, unquote. Oh, and Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, shares with us. Ironically, the same idea when he says, quote, one who conquers himself is greater than another, who conquers 1000 times 1000 men on the battlefield, unquote. And Christianity, and the book of Proverbs says, He who rolls his spirit has won a greater victory than the taking of a city. And also, it says, And he who would be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow Me. The implication for the Christian, and that last phrase, is to grow and holiness. And then he must die to his old self, or his lower self, in order to follow the God made man, Jesus Christ, who is said, to have said those words. And finally, did you know Muhammad himself said, quote, the most excellent jihad is that for the conquest of self, unquote. 

And so in today's Mojo minute, let us understand the great traditions and religions in the world have something in common. And that is the Greatest Holy War is the war to overcome the evil that exist, and all of us. Let us resolve to fight that holy war within ourselves day in and day out. If we do that, the other wars of conquering armies and weapons will be sidelined. Because the better men and women will have fought the good fight. They will have fought the good fight to overcome themselves and their evil within their own hearts. And for that, they will have fought the better Jihad.

Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed this theory to action podcast. Be sure to check out our show page at T Mojo academy.com where we have everything we discussed in this podcast as well as other great resources. Until next time, keep getting your mojo on