We are taught two opposing lies about how to exist in the world.
Lie number one is “Be Nice.” The result is that you become a doormat. People walk all over you, and you secretly resent them for it.
Lie number two is “Be an Alpha.” The result is that you become a jerk. You might win the argument, but you lose the relationship.
Most of us default to the first lie. We think harmlessness is a virtue. We think that if we are incapable of hurting anyone, we are good.
But if you are harmless, you are not good. You are just helpless.
The goal is not to be safe. The goal is to be dangerous enough to be respected, but disciplined enough to be trusted.
The Two Swords
In the early 1600s, the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, faced a crisis. His community was being slaughtered by oppressors. He realized that spirituality without strength was suicide.
So he did something radical. He started wearing two swords.
He named one Miri (Temporal Power) and the other Piri (Spiritual Authority).
This created the ideal of the Sant-Sipahi, or the Warrior-Saint. This is a person who prays with their eyes closed but keeps their sword sharp. It rejects the idea that you have to choose between being a monk or a soldier. You must be both.
Why You Need Fangs
The world is not safe. There are predators in your office, in politics, and on the street.
Jordan Peterson famously argued that you should be a monster, and then you should learn to control it.
Being a Warrior today doesn’t mean fighting people in the parking lot. It means having fangs that you choose not to use.
It means having boundaries that snap shut like a bear trap when crossed. It means being so competent at your job that people need you more than you need them. It means being capable of saying “No” so firmly that nobody asks you twice.
If you cannot be dangerous, your kindness is not a choice. It is just submission.
Why You Need a Leash
But a warrior without a code is just a thug. Strength without empathy creates tyrants, bad bosses, and abusive partners.
You need the Saint to hold the leash.
The Saint is the grounding. It is the realization that we are all connected. In the Sikh tradition, the strongest warriors also serve the food in the communal kitchen (Langar). This kills the ego.
If you are too good to scrub the floor, you are too small to lead the team.
The Dangerous Protector
When you combine these two halves, you become a Protector.
This creates a powerful dynamic. People feel safe around you because they know you can handle trouble (The Warrior). But they also feel loved around you because they know you will never use that strength against them (The Saint).
Think of the “Mama Bear” archetype. She is deadly to enemies but gentle to her cubs. That is the target.
The Imbalance Audit
We are finishing our month at Base Camp. Before we move out, check your gear. Which sword is dull?
Are you too Saint? Do you apologize when someone else bumps into you?
- The Task: Say “No” to one request this week without explaining yourself. Don’t offer an excuse. Just decline.
Are you too Warrior? Do you steamroll people just to get your way?
- The Task: Do a silent act of service. Clean the office breakroom or take out the trash at home without telling anyone you did it.
It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.
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