Liner Notes for A Peaceful Retirement

 

Liner Notes for A Peaceful Retirement

Agonistes has everything he ever wanted. The greatest champion in the history of the arena. And now he’s retired in good health, with riches and acclaim. What more could he want?

To fight is to exist in the moment and to exist in the moment can supress the sense of self. In other words Agonistes experiences fights as transcendent. Yet such transcendence is overwhelming, even for one so self-centred, so egotistical, so arrogant as Agonistes. He has been in the timeless place where self does not exist, he doesn’t need to go back again.

Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. Or in this case practise fighting.

As for spiritual practices, the faction trying – and succeeding – in seizing control of the city and empire also try to bring Agonistes into the inner circle. Which has a mystical, magical component. This though is par for the course; “He was a member of three warrior societies, more if he counted the ones where he was the only survivor.” Agonistes doesn’t see this formal, organised worship as different from the conventional acknowledgement of local gods, or the improvised oathbound circles of warriors he has experienced. If anything he thinks it a bit too organised. Why not experience the mystery directly rather than through a priest. Why not have a group of equals – or one where he is the first amongst those equals, chosen by the others. What makes the priests greater.

And what does that say of the judgment of the angels? Agonistes knows about promises of earthly power. His ambitions are for things within his grasp.

He turns it down, and they’ll kill him for that. Where though will that happen? As this is the twelfth part out of thirteen in this series I hope it does not give too much away to say: in the arena. Where all the other characters will make an appearance. It will be the greatest fight of our lifetimes. See you there!