MATRIX WARRIOR

Fig 2: Technological matrix vs. organic matrix
The second point I want to mention is the native American belief that all technology, even the
good kind, has a debilitating effect on the spirit of man. Take the simple example of an
electric heater. Very convenient and seemingly indispensable on a cold evening, if we are not
to be condemned to a restless night of shivering, stamping our feet, and rubbing our hands
together, cursing the ruthless power of the elements. Yet for the native American, and indeed
for the warrior of any caste or creed, the elements are there to test and prove him, to force
him to grow in stamina and resilience, and to develop his inner resources. A warrior faced
with a night in the cold and no heater must use his wits, and above all, his will (see Glossary),
in order to turn the situation to his favour. Maybe he smashes a chair and builds a wellcontained
fire in the corner. Or maybe, like Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back, he cuts
open a large biped and takes shelter in its entrails. At worst, the warrior must stand his
ground and face the cold without fear, bitterness, or regret. He must give into it and allow it to
teach him. He may listen to his body's internal responses and, if sufficiently detached and
resourceful, he may summon the necessary heat from within his body to counter the cold
without. If all else fails, he will certainly learn something through failing.
The mind can alter the temperature of the body; anyone who's suffered intense
embarrassment can testify to that. But our warrior might never learn this - never even have
the opportunity to consider it - while he has his electrical heater to simplify things. Certainly,
it's convenient. But is it really helpful ? Native American belief goes even further than this,
however. Just as a native American may decline to have his photograph taken, believing that,
by making an image from the light of his body, he is losing some small part of his soul, so it
follows that any technological device upon which he depends is subtly robbing him of his vital
essence, his power. Because the world of technology and man-made objects, unlike the
MATRIX WARRIOR - Being the One 12
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