Devon Hornby LMT, ABT
Virtue, for the warrior, is not a code to obey. It is the natural alignment that arises when we stop betraying ourselves. Trungpa Rinpoche described virtue as the expression of one’s basic goodness. Juan Matus framed it as acting from impeccability—doing what is required without wasting energy on self-importance. In many Indigenous traditions, virtue is understood as right relationship: with oneself, one’s community, the land, and the unseen forces that support life.
Virtue is coherence.
It is what happens when our inner knowing and our outer behavior match. When we live this way, we feel a kind of internal click—a sense that we are not at odds with ourselves.
“Virtue is not about obeying rules; it is the expression of your own sanity”
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Virtue and Trustworthiness
A warrior’s virtue is not meant to impress others. It is meant to stabilize one’s own heart.
When we act in alignment, we trust ourselves more. Our decisions become clearer. Our relationships become cleaner. There is less background noise. And because we are not spending energy managing guilt or hiding from our own contradictions, we become more available to the present moment. It is a form of energetic hygiene.
Practice: Inner Alignment Scan
This is a somatic check-in to sense when actions and values diverge.
- Bring to mind a current decision or relationship dynamic.
- Feel your breath. Let your body soften slightly.
- Notice sensations in the chest, belly, throat, and jaw.
- Ask gently: Is this aligned?
- Notice what the body says—tightening, expansion, warmth, collapse, steadiness.
The body has an immediate, honest opinion.
Returning to this practice builds integrity at the deepest level.
Practice: The Impeccable Act (Juan Matus Inspired)
Each day, choose one simple action to complete with total presence.
For example:
- washing a dish
- greeting someone
- taking out trash
- making a commitment and following through
Do it with precision, presence, and sincerity.
This teaches the nervous system to taste what alignment feels like.
Further Resources
- The Myth of Freedom — Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
- The Fire From Within — Carlos Castaneda
- Works on “right relationship” in Indigenous philosophies (e.g., Robin Wall Kimmerer)
- Somatic integrity work from Peter Levine or generative somatics