"Therefore, they are as swift as the wind, as gentle as a forest, as invasive and plundering as fire, as unshakeable as a mountain, as inscrutable as the shade, as stirring as a thunderclap."
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The Five Truths

  1. The way (Tao) of the universe is chaos (luan). The universe is not governed by reason or order, but by chaos. Not the absence of order, but the absence of stable order.
  2. The way of Heaven (Tian) is change (biàn). Because the way of the universe is chaos, nothing stays the same; everything is continually changing.
  3. The Ground (Di) of life (shēng) is struggle (zhēng). Life strives for complete peace (an quan) in the chaos. Thus, the way of life is to be in continual struggle with the way of Heaven.
  4. The way to inner peace (an) is by total victory (quan shèng). Complete peace would require complete control. While attaining this is not possible, cultivating a sense of peace, calm, and security in one's life is. This is achieved through increasing one's sense of control in whatever struggle one faces so that one is stronger, better, more secure than before. This is called total victory.
  5. Achieving continuous total victory means following the path (Fa) of the skilled warrior (shàn zhàn zhě). Achieving total victory throughout one's life requires developing the right tools. In navigating this path, we must look at the methods (fa) of those skilled warriors of the past who were able to achieve total victory in the most chaotic of environments. These methods make up the way of the skilled warrior and shall guide us in our own lives.

The Fivefold Way

I. CHART THE PATH
  1. Purpose (yì). Understand what you are trying to do or achieve and why.​
  2. Preparation (yú). Understand the dangers of pursuing your purpose.
  3. Progress (jìn). Understand how to advance intact on the path.

II. HONOR THE VALUES
  1. Clarity (ming). Prioritize knowledge and understanding in whatever situation you face.
  2. Readiness (dài). Evaluate your methods and continually improve them for the life you want.
  3. Wholeness (quan). Strive to succeed at minimal cost to yourself or others.

III. OBSERVE THE PRINCIPLES​
  1. Cohesion (hé). Communicate a clear direction (Tao) forward. Ensure everything you do supports and aligns with it.
  2. Concealment (cáng). Keep your situation - your intentions, abilities, opportunities, and weaknesses - hidden.
  3. Control (zhì). Use what you have available to you to build the momentum and influence you need to become master of your situation.

IV. CULTIVATE THE VIRTUES
  1. Wisdom (zhi). Be cautious and circumspect in your decision-making. Be humble and willing to listen. Be inquisitive and take nothing for granted. 
  2. Credibility (xin). Be confident and trustworthy. Keep your word and think beyond your own interests. 
  3. Compassion (ren). Never think you are more or less deserving of love and respect than any one else. Treat all with dignity and humanity.
  4. Courage (yong). Be willing to make mistakes and take calculated risks in the face of uncertainty and danger.
  5. Discipline (yan). Be accountable to following the path (Tao). Keep your purpose front of mind.

V. MASTER THE DISCIPLINES
  1. Calculation (ji). Be slow in deliberation. Make decisions based on reliable information. Have a clear picture of your situation before moving forward. Never let emotion guide your decisions.
  2. Positioning (xing). Keep yourself protected from danger or risk, and be ready to take action when the moment arrives.
  3. Timing (jie). Know when to act and when to wait. Know when to move and when to stay. Know when to fight and when to stop.

The Code

​​To cultivate purpose and follow its Way.
To treat all with dignity and compassion, even in the face of adversity.
To be relentless in improving one's understanding.
To receive all things with an open, inquisitive, and ready mind.
To be in tune not indifferent, attentive not attached.
Never to act from anger, fear, or resentment, but to move only when there is something to gain, to stop when there is not, and to fight only when there is danger.
To be deliberate in calculation, formless in preparation, and quick in execution.