Good point regarding mindfulness. I'd say we differ on this topic or at least your explanation in its relevance. Mindfulness is about being present and you could argue fully absorbing yourself in it. This can be debilitating in the moment if you want to truly understand a bitter taste or a painful feeling. I think the article and being in battle is about being resilient and coming to terms with the situation. Mindfulness provides an appreciation and empathy for it but does not directly allow you to transcend it in adverse situations. Just my opinion.

Too late to edit my comment, but on 2nd thought I'd prefer to pivot from the violent connotations of swinging a sword to something more peaceful. Armor might be a closer metaphor... but that implies a closing-off from the world which is the opposite of what mindfulness brings. So I'll give up on the tortured metaphors here for now. :)