The self-confidence of a warrior is not the self-confidence of the average man. The average man seeks certainty in the eyes of the onlooker and calls that self-confidence. The warrior seeks impeccability in his own eyes and calls that humbleness. The average man is hooked to his fellow men, while the warrior is hooked only to himself. You’re after the self-confidence of the average man, when you should be after the humbleness of a warrior. The difference between the two is remarkable. Self-confidence entails knowing something for sure; humbleness entails being impeccable in one’s actions and feelings. ~ Castenada.

 

From www.prismagems.com/castaneda/donjuan4.html

There are some teachers who one level appear “mad, bad or dangerous to know”. Castaneda is certainly amongst these. Also I would count Osho and Stuart Wilde. Maybe David Icke too, Icke is a political ‘conspiracy theorist’ but his work has a strong spiritual dimension. These teachers are exciting, engaging, entertaining, and this is part of their appeal but there is also a depth that seems to come from insight into the Deep Self or Spirit. I wouldn’t count them as gurus by any means. It would be dangerous to follow Osho or Stuart Wilde, at any rate it would be dangerous for me, but there are teachings or rather ideas that have a certain resonance and that I find useful or inspirational.

To return to the Castaneda quote, I think about the meaning of a warrior’s humility for myself. What does impeccability mean? It means to do my best in all dimensions of my life, in thought, attitude, speech and action.