As a martial artist, when you read the Tao, an ancient book of wisdom attributed to Lao Tzu, certain passages can leave you breathless.

One of them whispers, "The greatest tragedy is to have an enemy."

This little statement makes you wonder, why is it tragic to have an enemy when we train so assiduously to defeat them? Do we have to be concerned about rain if we carry an umbrella?

Preparing ourselves for battle presumes that battle is inevitable. Yet the fact is most adults in civilized countries will never get into a shoving match or worse with anyone else during the balance of their lives.

A lawsuit is much more likely, especially in America, but would you go to law school and become licensed because you're afraid at some point you might be involved in a dispute? Or would you contact a lawyer, if and when such a possibility occurred?

One of the main reasons people are attracted to martial arts training is that they FEAR being attacked. Where does that fear come from?

A kid that is bullied and bloodied on a regular basis has a realistic, fact-based concern for his safety. Training can help him.

But if we have no enemies, do we need self-defense training? And even if we meet adult-to-adult resistance in our community or career, to what extent is pugilism going to resolve these issues?

Why invest the time, effort, money, and undertake the risks of sustained combat training when you are unlikely to encounter mortal enemies?

And is it just possible our investment in training increases the chances that we'll attract enemies if only for the very purpose of demonstrating that we are capable of defeating them? You know the expression there has never been a weapon of war devised by humans that has not been used.

We armor ourselves largely because we are filled with hostility that on an unconscious level we fear the world will reciprocate.

Recently, I came across a brilliant question that Albert Einstein said is the most important one we can ask ourselves:

"Do I live in a friendly universe or in a hostile universe?"

I believe your answer will help you to avoid making tragic mistakes of many kinds.