Most look upon the historic Templars as warriors.  Some look upon the historic Templars as monks.  A smaller number yet see them for what they were:  Men.  Men looking for a "better way".  Men who learned from each other and taught each other a "better way" than their previous existence--to blend the spiritual and physical natures of man.

It seems that these spirit warriors had much in common with the same "martial arts" that are being taught in the current era:

"The sun shines and allows everything on earth to grow; it doesn't seek any credit for it.  That is the goal you try to achieve...you give yourself to helping others and they give themselves to learn from you and help you grow also.  There is no arrogance, no ego, only the self-sacrifice and hope of a better understanding of each other--[The Way] is about love...A love to teach; a love to learn; and a love of each other."  --Inoue Yoshihiko Senesi

"I keep asking myself, "How can I love my opponent, when...all I can do is to try to [conquer] to win...?  I guess based on the explanations we had from Inoue Sensei, it is all a matter of 'respect and sacrifice.'  If I decide to sacrifice myself in the fight to learn and get better, and am able to keep the seriousness of the situation constantly in mind while [using] everything I have in my gut and in spirit, then, as far as my understanding goes, 'I love you, and shine for you.'  Although, I wonder how a human being facing the world as it is nowadays can truly access such a perfect way of thinking?"

Giving the best of what they had.  Giving up their physical estates.  Giving up their titles and authority.  Giving up their lives to spiritual and physical discipline.  These were the sacrifices that the historic Templars made.  When living they gave it their all.  When fighting they gave it their all.  When sacrificing they gave it their all.

"Finally, I cannot stop thinking about the man.  Inoue Sensei....Every single day since meeting him, I have been thinking about his teachings.  To sacrifice pieces of ourselves to make our life and the lives of people around us a little better seems to be the right thing to do.  It isn't easy and requires incredible discipline...."

This seems to have been the "Templar Way"--sacrifice, duty, loyalty, discipline, spiritual awareness, and more.  These are still qualities which can be learned and practiced, even in the current era.  Whatever lesson is used to teach, illustrate, or instruct in these virtues is not the important part of the equation. "What matters the most is not the metaphor, but how it points you in the right direction in both your life and your...training."

Life is not for floating through without purpose or meaning.  Life is about learning.  That is the Templar Way.

^{All quotes from: The Sun and the Sword by Aurelien Laine; Kendo World 4.1}