Peaceful Warrior

Way of the Peaceful Warrior

For my book project I read the book Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman. Set in Berkeley California, Dan Millman a college student struggles to find the part of himself that has always been missing. One night while out walking from his dorm, Dan comes across a gas station and a strange man that is soon to turn his life upside down. This man, known as Socrates, shows Dan a side of existence that only few people had ever seen. To become a warrior like Socrates and have the mind to not allow the regular struggles of life to control a single part of you. Socrates takes Dan in and tries to create a warrior from a young star athlete with the ignorance of every other human on this earth. Through his teachings Dan comes across an elusive women named Joy. This spiritual journey shows Dan a side of life never seen by his own eyes before, and guides him to his final conflict that hopefully will help him reach his destination he has always yearned for. The missing piece of the puzzle that is Dan Millman. This book shows life in a way that I had never thought of before. It shows the many steps it takes to become, "a warrior." In most cases it is Socrates showing the ignorant Dan the differences between their lives. Socrates shows Dan how a warrior looks at several simple aspects of life unlike the normal human. In one section, Socrates shows Dan the difference between the brain and the mind. Dan questions the positive uses for the mind and the great minds in history. Socrates shows him that there aren't any great minds, that there are only great brains. Socrates states and continues to explain how the brain has abstract processes of dealing with information called, "the intellect." The brain and mind are not the same. The brain is real; the mind isn't." He later explains how the mind is all the random uncontrolled thoughts that cloud your brain, and how the mind is a useless tool. This way of separating these two simple words allows one to think about what the book is saying, and to figure out if there is truth to what the book says. The difference between the mind and brain is not something most think about in their regular lives. But as I read each word I found truth to what Socrates was saying. You read this book and try to realize the hidden messages being put across. The message between the mind and brain is to not let your brain be attacked by random useless thoughts. In other words, to not let your, `mind', get in the way of your brain. People think millions of useless thoughts each day. Without these thoughts a persons brain would be clear and their emotions would be easier to control. Dan tries to explain to Socrates that he will control his mind and change himself in the process. The main character is a young man who has been set to see the world the way most have. He is ignorant when it comes to seeing the other side of the picture. Readers can relate to him because they share a lot of the same qualities and ignorance. After reading this book I looked at class notes which might represent this book and I found a relation between almost all the concepts and people. The first being Ludwig and his interpretation on language. When Ludwig talks about language and how it limits our mind and keeps us from looking outside the box is a prime example of how Socrates is trying to make Dan look outside the box by explaining that the brain and the mind are separate. Socrates is trying to limit Dan's mind and trigger his brain to see things differently without all the other thoughts cluttering his brain. Dewey also makes valid points towards this book in the context concept. The context concept that Dewey illustrates follows along the line with Socrates showing Dan to look at things different than every other human. Socrates made Dan see things through the eyes of a "warrior" which gave him a different context to look through. Mead also makes a point towards this in his concept of perception. Mead believed we really only see what we want to see, Socrates showed Dan that everything that he believes in is not real and can be looked at in other peoples' perceptions. This book also showed similar traits with concepts in class that we have discussed. Socrates takes Dan on this adventure to teach and have him realize that some things are not real which he might have thought were. Humanism concept is based around this specifically that social reality is made by us and Socrates is trying to show this to Dan. Socrates does this by having his in the "warrior" state of mind where he can see that many of his accomplishments and beliefs are made up. This is not only Dan that does this but every human being does this in one way or another. Also along these lines is the concept of truth. What is truth? Truth is what we believe to be true, that is the truth. Each person has their reality of truth and could depend on the person. Something true to one person could be nothing but fiction to the next. Dan has portrayed that everything that he has learned and thought to be true may not be, and was developed by himself and people around him.

As I read this book I found myself thinking the same questions as Dan asked in the book. It made me realize how little most humans know and how unwelcome they are to change. This book made me think of things that I would have never thought about or questioned before. The class itself makes me think of many things that would never cross my mind but I find myself thinking differently since enrolling in this class. I enjoyed this book because it allowed me to relate to the main character, reflect on my life, and try to change myself in the process of reading it. I was able to see the parts of my life that had not been even fathomed before. When reading the book I found it difficult to read and somewhat boring but once I thought about the concepts and people involved in our class it gave me a better understanding of the book. One piece of advice would be to have the five people/ five concepts before reading these books because I feel I missed some key points looking back on the book. I feel that knowing these people/concepts before reading the book would have helped me understand the book better. This book was and interesting one and allows for every reader to have their own interpretation of it.