The Courage of A Master
by Nigel Taylor
Courage is a pre-requisite for any endeavor in life. It takes courage to live in this world. It takes courage to speak truth, and it takes even more courage to live according to the highest ideals of your heart.
I want to share an inspiring moment with you. One that I believe will assist you enter the field of courage with a new clarity. It relates to a magnificent Australian doctor who lived through the Second World War. His name was Weary Dunlop. Much has been written about him, but here is something not often spoken about. I heard this story as it was shared on the radio by a former friend of Weary. He had served with him in Burma during the war. And he spoke of Weary Dunlop’s great courage.
As a leader and medical doctor during the infamous building of the Thai Burma railway, many were the times that prisoners of war would simply fall with sickness from heat, disease or any number of other ailments. Weary would attend to them. He was repeatedly cautioned not to, by his captors. He ignored them, to such an extent that the commanding officer of the camp forced Weary to do something unthinkable. He made Weary dig a hole in the hard rock, in the burning sun, so that he would stand eye to eye with the considerably shorter commander. Weary was a tall man and towered over the Japanese commander.
When Weary dug the hole to a sufficient depth, the Commander beat him harshly with a rattan. The troops rose up and were ready to storm the guards and rescue Weary. But he raised his hand and directed them to stop. The beating continued.
Not long after, Weary, along with the rest of the survivors, was released and he returned to Australia. Post-war reconstruction began in 1946, and there was a call sent out for people to volunteer to go to Japan to help rebuild the country. Weary was the first to raise his hand. He led a team of doctors into Japan to help heal the wounds, at all levels of being, of the everyday man, woman and child who lived in the remains of that war torn country.
His friend shared Weary’s reasoning on the radio. He quoted Weary, who had said, “How can we ever hope to rebuild a world of peace if I cannot even forgive my captors.” Thus off he went. He spent the rest of his life dedicated to helping those in need right up to his passing in 1993.
And so, we contemplate courage. This is a mark of a true warrior. One who knows that life is bigger than his or her personal beliefs and attitudes. One who can seize the moment and walk in the theater of grandness for the sake of love, light, and healing, and to make the world a better place.
As my dear fiend and master teacher Jack Courtis once said to me: “Nigel, there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. It is a fool who speaks when it is inappropriate, and it is a coward who refuses to speak when it is time. You must be prepared to stand up for Truth, while allowing it to evolve, as we so also allow the Truth of all others to find the same place that we are destined to find.”
Jack had courage. Weary had courage.
It is a mark of the master. I encourage you to walk in the field of the Masters.
Today’s suggestion is that you continue your journey by delving deep into your own courage so as to walk, talk and act like a Master.