Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman

 Mostly auto-biographical, 'Way of the Peaceful Warrior' is written by Dan Millman, a world class gymnast who, while studying at Berkeley College, meets this fascinating character that he calls Socrates in an all night gas station. Socrates takes it upon himself to lead Dan from his world of illusion to light. The book became a bestseller and was made into a movie of the same name. 

In their first meeting itself Dan realises that Socrates is no ordinary person as he suddenly moves from the ground floor to the top of the building inexplicably. Socrates, having captured Dan's attention, playfully teaches him many things, initiates him into ways of the world where one can live to their true potential without worrying about the rest of the world. His methods require Dan to give up on things he was used to - the kind of food, drink, women, sleep - and give it all up for a disciplined, monk-like life. Dan takes up the challenge and finds that he does become a better gymnast, but more importantly a better human. As always I have picked up some interesting lines.

I think Dan sums it up in his last chapter when he says - 

'There is no need to search: achievement leads to nowhere. It makes no difference at all so just be happy now! Love is the only reality of the world because it is all one you see. And the only laws are paradox, humour and change. There is no problem; never was and never will be. Release your struggle, let go of your mind, throw away your concerns and relax into the world. No need to resist life, just do your best. Open your eyes and see that you are far more than you can imagine. You are the world, you are the Universe, you are yourself and everyone else too! Its all the marvelous Play of God. Wake up. Regain your humour. Don't worry, you're already free.' 

'My name doesn't matter neither does yours. What's important is what lies beyond names and beyond questions.'

'Turn knowledge into wisdom. The lessons of experience are hidden.'

'You hold many facts and opinion, yet know little of yourself. First empty yourself. Learn how to read the wisdom of your body.'

'You understand many things but realise nothing. Understanding is the one dimensional comprehension of intellect. It leads to knowledge. Realisation is three dimensional - a simultaneous comprehension of the head, heart and intellect. It comes from direct experience.'

'Knowledge alone does not suffice, it has no heart.Life requires intense feeling and constant energy. Life demands right action if knowledge has to come alive.'

'The warrior acts. The fool reacts.'

'To get energy to survive the lessons ahead. You have to cleanse your body of tensions, free your mind of stagnant beliefs, and open your heart to loving kindness.'

''Take responsibility for your life as it is instead of blaming others, or circumstance for your predicament. As your eyes open, you'll see that your state of health, happiness and every circumstance in your life has been, in large part, arranged by you - consciously or subconsciously."

"Dis-illusion is the best gift. Dis-illusion is freeing from illusion.'

Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. But change is a law and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.'

'Life is not suffering,; its just that will suffer it than enjoy it. Until you let go of your minds attachments and just go for the ride freely, no matter what happens.

'The brain is real, the mind is not. Consciousness, awareness, attention are not the mind. There is no use for the mind.'

'When you lose your mind, you come to your senses.'

''Anger is stronger than fear, sorrow.'

'Understand where your thoughts come from. Stress happens when the mind resists what is. Your mind is like a pond into which someone has just dropped a boulder. The ripples of your mind have nothing to do with you. Stop taking your thoughts so seriously.'

'Silence is the warrior's art - and meditation is his sword.'

'Meditation consists of two simultaneous processes - one is insight, paying attention to what is arising. The other is surrender - letting go of all attachment to arising thoughts.'

'Your attention must burn. Do or die!'

'Anger is a powerful tool to transform old habits and replace them with new ones. Fear and sorrow inhibit action. Anger generates it.'

'Focus your energy into building new patterns.'

'It's better to make a mistake with the full force of your being than to timidly walk around mistakes with a trembling spirit.'

'Satori occurs then attention rests in the present moment. It's the warrior's state of being.'

'Meditate your actions. Release attachment to the outcomes. There's no 'you'. In forgetting yourself you become what you do so your action is free, spontaneous, without ambition, inhibition or fear.'

'One must be rich to be happy. You are rich if you have enough money to satisfy all your desires. Know the difference between needs and wants. Full attention to every moment is my pleasure.'

'The secret to happiness is not found is seeking more but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.'

'Just keep your attention in the present moment. It is freedom from suffering, from fear, from mind. When thoughts touch the present, they dissolve.'

'For every strength, there is a weakness. For every weakness there is a strength.'

'The peaceful warrior's way is not about invulnerability but absolute vulnerability. A warrior's life is not about perfection or victory. Its about love. Love is the warrior's sword. Wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.'

'Embody what you teach. Teach what you embody.' 

'A warrior can only rely on the power of love, kindness, service - and the power of happiness. You cannot attain happiness; it attains you - but only after you surrender everything else.'

'A warrior is not something you become. It is something you either are, or not. The way  itself creates the warrior.'

'A warrior is happy without reason. Happiness is who you are.'

'Act happy, be happy, without a reason. Then you can love, and do what you want.'

'Feelings change -sorrow, joy. But beneath it all remember the innate perfection of your life unfolding.That's the secret of unreasonable happiness.'

'Remain ordinary and you can be useful to others.'

...

Lots of wisdom there. Thanks Vinod bhai. Another life changing book. What got me was the line about being ordinary, about giving your best without worrying about outcomes because the grand design is unfolding, about being happy for no reason, and the one about the laws being of paradox, humour and change.