The way of the peaceful warrior

Joseph Campbell, a well know mythologist states in “the Power of Myth” that “a hero is someone who has given his or her life to something greater than oneself” (Campbell 151). Campbell also indicates that there are two types of hero deeds. One type is a physical deed, “in which the hero performs a courageous act in battle or saves a life” (Campbell 151). The second is a spiritual deed, “in which the hero learns to experience the supernatural range of human spiritual life and then comes back with a message” (Campbell 152). In his story “The way of the peaceful Warrior”, Dan Millman tells us about his experience with a white bearded man known as Socrates who takes him on many adventures and gives him knowledge on life. Although the two stories are different they are alike in many ways. Campbell introduces us to the hero’s journey and the step required on becoming a hero. In Dan Millman’s, story we see how those steps of the hero’s journey such as departure, fulfillment and return are portrayed. The first step of the hero’s journey is departure. In this stage the hero takes on the call of adventure. The call can take two different forms as Campbell explains, “there are both kid of heroes, and some choose to undertake the journey and some that don’t” (Campbell 158). The first is intentional “in one kind of adventure, the hero sets out responsibly and intentionally to perform the deed” the second for in unintentionally “then there are adventures into which you are thrown --- for example, being drafted in the army. You didn’t intend it but you’re in now” (Campbell 158). In Dan Millman’s case his call was unintentional. It began when he started having dreams of the white bearded man and the grim ripper. One night after his dream he decided to go for a walk, and then he finally met this man from his dream. He didn’t have a name so Dan called him Socrates. Socrates welcomes Dan as if he has known him for a long time, as he questions Dan and how he

Cited: Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth: New York. Anchor 1991. Print. Millman, Dan. Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that changes lives. Tiburon: HJ Kramer 200. Print.