No one has ever claimed that being Ranger was easy.
Here are some of the comments of[Wuaoi Yai-Zhio] on this subject, taken from Rangers meetings held between the years of Jena 2580 and 2599, gathered by Ba'Ruly Wiser, scribe of
Wuaoi Yai-Zhio, and reported here in the form of a conversation.
First day.
A young homin who aspires to become a Ranger approaches Wuaoi Yai-Zhio who is meditating in the Ranger Circle of Almati Wood.
Aspirant: Master Wuaoi, I'm here to ask you how I could become a Ranger.
Wuaoi: I'm here to help you discover the way.
Aspirant: What should I do?
Wuaoi: You must break all allegiance to any Nation or Power and strive to deal with them in the most neutral way possible. The Rangers do not give their favour to a single Nation or Power. We treat them all equally.
Aspirant: And that's it?
Wuaoi: No, you must, by your actions, gain fame among all nations and powers. <You must also study and apply the Rangers' Precepts.
Aspirant: What are the Rangers' Precepts?
Wuaoi: There are six of them:
- Memory: We honour the memory of Oflovak Rydon.
- Protection: We preserve the Way for all homins.
- Service: Discipline and duty give us strength.
- Diligence: No rest until the work is finished.
- Tolerance: Other homins are free from their actions and beliefs.
- Balance: Weigh the consequences before acting.
Aspirant: Where can I find a copy of these Precepts?
Wuaoi: They are painted on a banner in the ranger circle of Almati wood and they are engraved in the amber cube that each Aspirant Ranger receives with his title. The cube also carries a meditation for each of the Precepts.
Aspirant: What are meditations?
Wuaoi: These are simple questions that serve to initiate reflection on the Precepts. They are not answers, but rather doors to understanding. Here are the meditations:
- Memory: Who was Oflovak Rydon? Why do we remember him?
- Protection: What is the Way and why do we protect it?
- Service: What is the power of a single homin? What is the power of united homins?
- Diligence: What is the purpose of a half-finished job?
- Tolerance: You are free. Wouldn't you like the same for others?
- Libra: Who will my action serve? And who will not benefit from it?
Aspirant: What is the most important Principle?
Wuaoi: There is no more important principle. They are all equally important. If you throw a cube on the ground, one side will end up on top, but is it still more important than the others?
Look! I roll my cube and Protection appears, I restart it and now it's Service.
Aspirant: It's really hard to have so many Precepts! The Nations have only three or four.
Wuaoi: No one ever said it was easy being a Ranger. It is not easy and even if you think a little bit, you will realize that the Precepts can contradict each other.
No, that's not true... They will FORCE contradict each other. As a Ranger, when you reach this status, you should keep in mind that you will never succeed in following all the precepts, at least not all at once. You just have to do your best.
Aspirant: How long does it take to learn to follow the Precepts?
Wuaoi: If you study diligently and apply them in all your actions, it will only take you the rest of your life.
Aspirant: The rest of my life? But, then, how could I ever become a Ranger?
Wuaoi: Think about what I just told you. Did you really think that becoming a Ranger would mark the end of the learning process?
Aspirant: (Remain silent for a long time.) I think I understand. But right now, I have so many questions!
Wuaoi: I'm here to help you look for answers.
Aspirant: The cube on the floor shows Service on top: «Discipline and duty give us strength.». Could you tell me about the Service?
Wuaoi: As a Ranger, but also as a Aspirant, you will be called upon to perform tasks or fulfill duties. You will not only serve the Rangers but also all hominity. It's obvious: observe, report, assist.
Sometimes you'll serve alone but a single homin is limited, I'm sure you've noticed that. If a homin sees something strange, it's only a homin. As soon as they share this knowledge and ask for
assistance, homins become stronger. Discipline and training mean that groups of homins have possibilities far beyond those of an isolated homin. But this is only true if all members of the group pursue a common goal and apply to their own tasks.
Aspirant: I have participated in teams that have fought Kitins or big cats. Ten homins with the same thought lead to harmony and victory. Ten homins with different thoughts lead to confusion and disaster.
Wuaoi: Correct. However, since no one Principle prevails over any other, it follows that all Precepts interact with each other. Now go and meditate on the Precepts for the rest of the day. Remember that the questions in the meditations do not have an answer; they have many answers.
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