Way of the Peaceful Warrior
By Dan Millman
Inspirational reading by Dan Millman who expected that hard work would eventually bring a life of comfort, wisdom, and happiness. Yet, despite his many successes, he was haunted by the feeling that something was missing. Awakened by dark dreams one night, Dan found himself at a gas station with an old man named Socrates, and his world was changed forever. Guided by this eccentric old warrior, and inspired by a young woman named Joy, Dan began a spiritual odyssey into realms of light and shadow, romance and mystery, toward a final confrontation that would deliver or destroy him. Here are profound excerpts from the book.
The way of the peaceful warrior begins by embracing all 3 selves:
1) Basic Self
2) Conscious Self
3) Higher Self
The important thing to remember is: To be ready at any moment to sacrifice what you are for what you could become.
Before you can see the light, you have to deal with the darkness.
The body will do whatever it has to in order to bleed off excess energy. If not spent consciously, in creative endeavors, physical activity, or sexual relations, then the subconscious will blow off this energy, in fits of anger or cruelty, or nightmares, drugs or abuse of food or sex.
Untamed energy, meeting internal obstacles, is the source of all addictions. Clear the obstruction!
Plans are useful, but don’t get attached to them. Life has too many surprises. Preparation, on the other hand, has value even if the future you planned never comes.
Realization mirrors that of the Zen Masters who share with their students, that all paths, all activities-professions, sports, arts, crafts-serve as a means of internal development, merely a boast to get across the river.
Turn your experience into lessons and your lessons into wisdom.
Acting without understanding can be dangerous.
When things in your life seem to be going backward, it’s actually a period for the big leap. You’re actually backing up to get a running start.