On unquestioning devotion and self-denial.

Some of my adherents were pursuing additional work in the temple of steel, after a vigorous training session, one of them demonstrating a particular method of pushup that the Master had not seen before. It involves a clap at the top of each pushup, recovering to complete the next, and requires a certain level of power and acceleration that the Master was edified to see. However, the Master chose this as a means of demonstrating unquestioning devotion and adherence.

He directed one of his adherents to do this with a double clap. To his credit, the adherent did not hesitate, and attempted this modification without pause. The adherent clapped twice, it is true, but then landed flat on his chin. The Master was gratified.

The Master snacks on pain.

And he was amused by this failure. But he was impressed by the devotion shown, which he marks as essential for success in both life and war.

The Master marks this as essential because once the devotee has surrendered themself to the greater good that is Master Yung Young, the devotee has access to a greater web of energy than the normal person. And all within this web are granted more energy. As the capstone of this, the Master is granted great power, which accounts for his prowess as, in spite of his appearance as a small and somewhat wizened guru, his strength is greater even than the emblem
of his School of Guns.

As well as the surrender to the greater good, the Master notes that this devotee is destined to succeed because of his lack of hesitation. When the devotee can look pain in the face, and respond without hesitation, he is ready to demonstrate his prowess. In the rowing competition, he is ready to strive on his own, to respond instantly and strongly to the demands of his body or the other members of his team.

The Master also chooses to use this devotee to demonstrate some dangers of his philosophy for the un-initiated. After the demonstration noted above, discussion in the Temple of Steel moved to the benefits that may accrue to the devotee through a life of celibacy. In a situation where the devotee has no attachments, and chooses to be so, the devotee is able to use the energy that would otherwise be used in taking his devotions to a higher level. He imagined that this
was the case with this devotee, who spoke of a year of celibacy. The Master was ready to congratulate the devotee on his achievements, but then Master Yung Young was illuminated.

Was this celibacy by choice? The Master's devotee answered that it was not by choice. The Master struck the devotee several blows about the head, trying to knock some sense into him. his has not previously worked, but the Master hopes that there is a first time for everything. He went forth and laid down some guidance.

Where celibacy is sought, it can be a valuable addition to the self-actualisation of the devotee, through self-denial. In this case, it is not the same. The Master referred to the nature of self-hatred and loathing in a previous lesson, but this type of self-denial does not help anyone. It can easily be relieved, and hence is of no sacrifice whatsoever. When the adept looks pain in the face, the knowledge that his only response to a burden was to complain about it, how will this help him?

The Master says: if you're going to make a sacrifice, make a sacrifice. But if your apparent sacrifice is just because you have a rough head, stop complaining and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!