In the comments, we've been discussing Sun Tzu's ideas in light of political and astral conditions here in the US. Chapter 1 of the Art of War closes with some more advice on the use of deception in warfare. I want to share some of these, and suggest a way of applying them to our present situation.
All warfare is based on deception.
Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is superior in strength, evade him.
If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
Let us assume that we are in a war-- a spiritual war. The enemy is a plague of demons. You can take this as a metaphor, if you prefer. In that case, the "demons" are metaphors for toxic memes, collective insanity, political cults and the madness of crowds. It works either way. What do they want? Demons are characterized by intense emotion, particularly wrath and hate, intense desire, and an absence of reflection.
When people abandon their reasoning faculties and lash out at one another like animals, they are possessed by demons. (Again, this can be a metaphor, if you like.) This is the demons' goal; it feeds them. Mob violence, dehumanization, fear and paranoia, terrorism and conflict all feed them. What they want is to feed; when you give in to them, they feed on you. That's what they want, and that's how they win.
What do we want? Many things, but they can be boiled down to: "To live in peace." To live in peace doesn't refer to Pacifism. I am a martial artist and not a Pacifist. It refers, rather, but rather to a state of consciousness in which our spirits, rather than our passions, are in control of our faculties, and the same can be said for the people that we spend our time around. We don't need to worry about flying into a frenzy of rage or terror, and we also don't need to worry about people being provoked into rage and terror by images they see in the glass screens that are gates to Hell.
Let's assume all of these things, and then one thing more. Let's assume that even though they can't reason or reflect, the demons are smart. They are older than we are, and they got here ahead of us. They're smart enough to know strategic thinking, and to apply it against us.
If so, they are already making use of all of the foregoing points of advice from Sun Tzu.
If that is the case, how does that modify your response to the situation?
"Hold out baits to entice the enemy." Has anyone-- or rather, anything-- ever done that to you, on the television news or social media? "If he is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him." This goes back to the discussion of Seneca's De Irae. Anger is a poor general, and will always lead you badly. "Give him no rest." Does your phone give you a chance to rest? Does the 24-hour news cycle?
Right now the enemy is superior in strength. We would do well to evade him.
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