When Rob asked for us to identify our 'heros' I couldn't because I don't have any. I do admire many people for what they have achieved (some of which has undoubtably been heroic) and am inspired by that. I guess what I'm saying is I just don't like the term 'hero'.

To be sure that someone was truly a hero we would have to know everything about them (which is probably never possible and certainly not when they're dead).

It's a little like blaming for the words we chose. I've just never bought the "I only said it cause I was drunk" line. Our emotional states can be powerful distractions from the desired path, but we're ultimately going to have to own each step, before we can move to a better place. In many ways, allowance for actions that don't reflect our ultimate intentions, slow our progress to those desired ends.

To me hero's are the ones who by a great margin and for great periods of time, live in integrity. Integrity of thought, integrity of actions and integrity of self examination. Thought after thought, day after day, year after year. It is the ones who discipline themselves to this degree who turn our heads. There is only the next right thing to think, the next right thing to say and the next right thing to do.

The discussion has helped clarify my thoughts – for me a hero is not necessarily someone who has been pure always (these are perhaps saints!) but someone who has overcome their negative emotions to the point where they feel and act towards all sentient beings in a positive and consistently compassionate manner. This is why I realise now that I have had such admiration for Nelson Mandela – he did things in his early life which I am sure he regrets but has grown into a human being who (as I understand) consistently acts 'heroically' despite being imprisoned and at many times badly treated. I suppose I feel this keenly because this is what I am now striving for. I think another important point is that true heros i suspect would never regard themselves as such – they just do what they do!