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Η σοφία του ειρηνικού πολεμιστή
Περισσότερα από είκοσι πέντε χρόνια έχουν περάσει από τότε που ο Dan Millman συγκλόνισε το αναγνωστικό κοινό παγκοσμίως με τον "Δρόμο του ειρηνικού πολεμιστή", μοιραζόμενος μαζί μας τις περιπέτειες και τη σοφία του μέντορά του, Σωκράτη.
Τώρα, μετά από απαίτηση των εκατομμυρίων αναγνωστών του, ο Dan ξεχωρίζει για εμάς τα 100 σημαντικότερα κομμάτια του βιβλίου του και διασαφηνίζει τις πολυτιμότερες διδασκαλίες του Σωκράτη, συνοψίζοντας όλα τα απαραίτητα στοιχεία και καταλήγοντας σε πρακτικά μαθήματα που μπορούν να εφαρμοστούν άμεσα στην καθημερινότητα, ώστε να ζούμε την κάθε μέρα με ειρηνική καρδιά και το πνεύμα ενός πολεμιστή.
Τώρα, μετά από απαίτηση των εκατομμυρίων αναγνωστών του, ο Dan ξεχωρίζει για εμάς τα 100 σημαντικότερα κομμάτια του βιβλίου του και διασαφηνίζει τις πολυτιμότερες διδασκαλίες του Σωκράτη, συνοψίζοντας όλα τα απαραίτητα στοιχεία και καταλήγοντας σε πρακτικά μαθήματα που μπορούν να εφαρμοστούν άμεσα στην καθημερινότητα, ώστε να ζούμε την κάθε μέρα με ειρηνική καρδιά και το πνεύμα ενός πολεμιστή.
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
41 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Dan Millman
114 books1,173 followersDaniel Jay Millman is an American author and lecturer in the personal development field. He is best-known for the movie Peaceful Warrior, which is based on his own life and taken from one of his books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 5, 2012
This is THE book that changed my life literally. It suggested yoga as a way to learn to meditate...I am now a full time yoga instructor, and am truly happy.
July 13, 2018
Skimmed, enjoyed the review.
April 6, 2019
Good to read along with Way of the Peaceful Warrior.
Here’s some takeaways copied from the book:
The only way we can “change our past” is to change our behavior in the present, because the present will soon become our past. We also shape our future by the actions we take right now.
No matter what we’re thinking or feeling - whether we’re sad or motivated, shy or assertive, confident or full of doubt - our quality of our lives will always depend, in large part, on what we do today. Today is the doorway to the future; today we build the foundation for what follows.
You don’t reject the conventional activities of life but to move beyond the conventional mind - to realize that there’s far more to life than the usual distractions and temporary diversions.
We’re here to discover our own depths, and thereby to understand life itself. To do so, we need to see and acknowledge our shadow as well as our light.
Out of a fundamental fear, we cling to the familiar and wish to avoid change.
Face the great fear and find the willingness to let go of who we think we are.
Most often, however, the mind stuff appears in the form of problems, concerns, and unfinished business.
Make peace with your mind, whether it’s filled with positive or negative thoughts. Mental activity is as natural as the nature. The most important thing is to avoid mistaking our thoughts for reality. We don’t have to change them or give them power over our lives.
You have more control over what you do than what you think or feel. Not how to fix your insides, but how to rise above the ever-changing wheather of the mind and emotions. Focus on your actions and let the rest be.
Accept or surrender. Stress happens when the mind resists what is. Aligning ourselves with this law does not require that we abandon all preferences - it’s natural to prefer pleasure over pain, for example - though imagine what our lives might feel like if we could just relax our preferences and learn to make the best of whatever arises in a gracious manner, with an attitude of nonresistance.
When we develop the ability to go with the flow, and flow with the moment, we experience less stress and psychological turmoil. This ability doesn’t develop overnight but matures through life experience and expanding perspectives as we learn to find value in adversity.
Life unfolds as it will; making the best of it is an acquired skill. Beginners in the martial arts tend to resist a force, but masters go with the force and use it to their advantage. This is also a warrior’s approach to life.
If we face our dark nights squarely, however, making it through such experiences can lead to greater light and a newfound sense of compassion. Important lessons emerge from the trials and testing. There’s a natural phase in our spiritual growth involving almost obsessive self-focus - self-remembering, self-observation, self-reflection. We have to know the self before we can transcend it.
Self-focus is a necessary phase up the mountain path of personal evolution. Chronic self-preoccupation leads to dissatisfaction. So while this study of the self is necessary and useful stage, it’s at best a temporary one.
Once we developed the capacity to see ourselves realistically through objective self-observation, it’s time to turn our attention outward.
Those willing to let go of resistance can, through faith and surrender, awaken spontaneously and gracefully, in unexpected ways. Insights and awakenings can happen anywhere, anytime we open our hearts without conditions. We can be reborn in an instant.
You are a story in the making, and no one can predict what the next chapter, the next day, the next moment, will bring. No matter how dark it may seem, whatever the pain or emptiness we may feel - the sense of despair, the loss of hope or meaning - our dark night will be followed by a new dawn if we just endure. So take no desperate action; face th fear. Let the ego die, but protect the body. Allow this “death” to become a rebirth. And as day follows night, the dark tunnel will lead to a greater light.
By “lose your mind”, it means to pay attention in the reality around you, rather than merely thinking about it. Remove the veil of thought that interfered with your direct perception. Over time, as your awareness focused on the world around you, you will begin to feel the temperature of the air on your skin, smell aromas carried on the breeze, notice the sights and sounds in this multimedia realm we call daily life.
Pull out of your subjective mental existence - your preoccupations and attachments in every passing thought, impulse, or emotion - into a spacious sensory world. In letting go of the smaller self, you awake to a larger life.
You paid more attention to your thoughts about the world than to the world itself.
We direct our attention wherever we choose - or left to its own devices, it wanders inside and out like a child sleepwalking through a dream.
We’re always paying attention - to something. The question is, moment to moment, what are we paying attention to - inside or out, the mud or stars?
Your emotional and mental suffering comes not so much from what was happening, but from your thoughts about what was happening.
Even physical pain is influenced by thought and stress. When the body hurts but we’re paying attention to what is going on around us in the present moment, not thinking about when the pain started, or how long it may last, or what it all mean - when it’s only pain, without extras or complications - we suffer less. (Pain without fear or tension is far less intense than pain plus fear.)
Mental and emotional suffering stems from resistance - and attachment to beliefs about what should or shouldn’t be. The first step to liberation is to resign as general manager of the universe and embrace life as it is.
Don’t presume to know how life come or go; letting go in this way brings a sense of freedom. This doesn’t mean you don’t care or have no preferences. Your actions naturally follow the call of your heart, your interests, your values. You make efforts in your personal and professional life in alignment with your goals. But once you’re taken aim and loosed the arrow from the bow, you can only wait with interest to see where it will land.
There is no single best approach for everyone -only a appropriate practice for each individual at a given stage.
We improve with practice over time. Meditation practice involves a commitment to release all that arises in the field of awareness - to sit on the shore and watch it all float past rather than drifting downstream with it.
Such meditation practice doesn’t necessarily lead to enlightenment but rather is in itself the practice of enlightenment. As we sit with spine erect, relaxing the body, watching the natural cycles of breathing, as thoughts, feelings, and sensations arise, we maintain the posture and disposition of the witness, a pure, detached, transcendent awareness, observing all, allowing all, clinging to nothing, until we realize that we are the awareness that exists beyond the body, mind, or identity.
Once we open our eyes and get on with the day, thoughts continue to arise. The point of the practice is not to get rid of thoughts but to make peace with them, to realize their lack of substance. Once we see the nature of mind, the practice is no longer necessary, except as a pleasure respite from the business of the world - an inner retreat, rest, and refreshment.
The world is far more interesting than our thoughts about it. Looking inward has benefits, but so does looking outward. The peaceful warrior’s way involves the ability to do both with full attention, so that the world around us also becomes an object of meditation.
How we live and what we do, moment to moment, tells our story.
Paradox, humor, and change - the 3 external truths which summarize the state of the world, life, and the universe.
Even the idea of “living in the present moment” is a paradox, since the present moment doesn’t actually exist. We cannot grasp the moments have come and gone. We cannot grasp the moment or seize the day; all we can do is go with the flow of time. There’s no past, no future, no present - no time at all. When I speak of “staying in the present,” I’m referring to focusing on what’s right in front of us and not getting preoccupied with either memories or imagined futures. (The past and future may be nice places to visit, but we don’t want to live there.)
Let’s make peace with paradox, view the world through humorous eyes, and embrace change without resistance.
Here’s some takeaways copied from the book:
The only way we can “change our past” is to change our behavior in the present, because the present will soon become our past. We also shape our future by the actions we take right now.
No matter what we’re thinking or feeling - whether we’re sad or motivated, shy or assertive, confident or full of doubt - our quality of our lives will always depend, in large part, on what we do today. Today is the doorway to the future; today we build the foundation for what follows.
You don’t reject the conventional activities of life but to move beyond the conventional mind - to realize that there’s far more to life than the usual distractions and temporary diversions.
We’re here to discover our own depths, and thereby to understand life itself. To do so, we need to see and acknowledge our shadow as well as our light.
Out of a fundamental fear, we cling to the familiar and wish to avoid change.
Face the great fear and find the willingness to let go of who we think we are.
Most often, however, the mind stuff appears in the form of problems, concerns, and unfinished business.
Make peace with your mind, whether it’s filled with positive or negative thoughts. Mental activity is as natural as the nature. The most important thing is to avoid mistaking our thoughts for reality. We don’t have to change them or give them power over our lives.
You have more control over what you do than what you think or feel. Not how to fix your insides, but how to rise above the ever-changing wheather of the mind and emotions. Focus on your actions and let the rest be.
Accept or surrender. Stress happens when the mind resists what is. Aligning ourselves with this law does not require that we abandon all preferences - it’s natural to prefer pleasure over pain, for example - though imagine what our lives might feel like if we could just relax our preferences and learn to make the best of whatever arises in a gracious manner, with an attitude of nonresistance.
When we develop the ability to go with the flow, and flow with the moment, we experience less stress and psychological turmoil. This ability doesn’t develop overnight but matures through life experience and expanding perspectives as we learn to find value in adversity.
Life unfolds as it will; making the best of it is an acquired skill. Beginners in the martial arts tend to resist a force, but masters go with the force and use it to their advantage. This is also a warrior’s approach to life.
If we face our dark nights squarely, however, making it through such experiences can lead to greater light and a newfound sense of compassion. Important lessons emerge from the trials and testing. There’s a natural phase in our spiritual growth involving almost obsessive self-focus - self-remembering, self-observation, self-reflection. We have to know the self before we can transcend it.
Self-focus is a necessary phase up the mountain path of personal evolution. Chronic self-preoccupation leads to dissatisfaction. So while this study of the self is necessary and useful stage, it’s at best a temporary one.
Once we developed the capacity to see ourselves realistically through objective self-observation, it’s time to turn our attention outward.
Those willing to let go of resistance can, through faith and surrender, awaken spontaneously and gracefully, in unexpected ways. Insights and awakenings can happen anywhere, anytime we open our hearts without conditions. We can be reborn in an instant.
You are a story in the making, and no one can predict what the next chapter, the next day, the next moment, will bring. No matter how dark it may seem, whatever the pain or emptiness we may feel - the sense of despair, the loss of hope or meaning - our dark night will be followed by a new dawn if we just endure. So take no desperate action; face th fear. Let the ego die, but protect the body. Allow this “death” to become a rebirth. And as day follows night, the dark tunnel will lead to a greater light.
By “lose your mind”, it means to pay attention in the reality around you, rather than merely thinking about it. Remove the veil of thought that interfered with your direct perception. Over time, as your awareness focused on the world around you, you will begin to feel the temperature of the air on your skin, smell aromas carried on the breeze, notice the sights and sounds in this multimedia realm we call daily life.
Pull out of your subjective mental existence - your preoccupations and attachments in every passing thought, impulse, or emotion - into a spacious sensory world. In letting go of the smaller self, you awake to a larger life.
You paid more attention to your thoughts about the world than to the world itself.
We direct our attention wherever we choose - or left to its own devices, it wanders inside and out like a child sleepwalking through a dream.
We’re always paying attention - to something. The question is, moment to moment, what are we paying attention to - inside or out, the mud or stars?
Your emotional and mental suffering comes not so much from what was happening, but from your thoughts about what was happening.
Even physical pain is influenced by thought and stress. When the body hurts but we’re paying attention to what is going on around us in the present moment, not thinking about when the pain started, or how long it may last, or what it all mean - when it’s only pain, without extras or complications - we suffer less. (Pain without fear or tension is far less intense than pain plus fear.)
Mental and emotional suffering stems from resistance - and attachment to beliefs about what should or shouldn’t be. The first step to liberation is to resign as general manager of the universe and embrace life as it is.
Don’t presume to know how life come or go; letting go in this way brings a sense of freedom. This doesn’t mean you don’t care or have no preferences. Your actions naturally follow the call of your heart, your interests, your values. You make efforts in your personal and professional life in alignment with your goals. But once you’re taken aim and loosed the arrow from the bow, you can only wait with interest to see where it will land.
There is no single best approach for everyone -only a appropriate practice for each individual at a given stage.
We improve with practice over time. Meditation practice involves a commitment to release all that arises in the field of awareness - to sit on the shore and watch it all float past rather than drifting downstream with it.
Such meditation practice doesn’t necessarily lead to enlightenment but rather is in itself the practice of enlightenment. As we sit with spine erect, relaxing the body, watching the natural cycles of breathing, as thoughts, feelings, and sensations arise, we maintain the posture and disposition of the witness, a pure, detached, transcendent awareness, observing all, allowing all, clinging to nothing, until we realize that we are the awareness that exists beyond the body, mind, or identity.
Once we open our eyes and get on with the day, thoughts continue to arise. The point of the practice is not to get rid of thoughts but to make peace with them, to realize their lack of substance. Once we see the nature of mind, the practice is no longer necessary, except as a pleasure respite from the business of the world - an inner retreat, rest, and refreshment.
The world is far more interesting than our thoughts about it. Looking inward has benefits, but so does looking outward. The peaceful warrior’s way involves the ability to do both with full attention, so that the world around us also becomes an object of meditation.
How we live and what we do, moment to moment, tells our story.
Paradox, humor, and change - the 3 external truths which summarize the state of the world, life, and the universe.
Even the idea of “living in the present moment” is a paradox, since the present moment doesn’t actually exist. We cannot grasp the moments have come and gone. We cannot grasp the moment or seize the day; all we can do is go with the flow of time. There’s no past, no future, no present - no time at all. When I speak of “staying in the present,” I’m referring to focusing on what’s right in front of us and not getting preoccupied with either memories or imagined futures. (The past and future may be nice places to visit, but we don’t want to live there.)
Let’s make peace with paradox, view the world through humorous eyes, and embrace change without resistance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2016
One of the best books I have ever read, This book has changed my life. I came from from a place of having a good childhood, blessed parents who bought me everything , and got mostly what i wanted in life. Yet, I was lonely, alone on the inside, materialistic things couldn't buy me happiness anymore. I have a job that I hated, I was in pursuit of girls after girls, and was going through a depressed, hatred, "Why me" attitude in life, till I found a Socretas at work who told me to watch the movie.
I watched the movie which opened my heart and mind, and I have read this book twice, read the "The way of the peaceful warrior book " and watched the movie over 3 times!.
Now I have completely changed, happy going to work, and being happy most of the time
This is a MUST READ book for anyone, who wants to find inner peace , inner joy , and to be present.
I watched the movie which opened my heart and mind, and I have read this book twice, read the "The way of the peaceful warrior book " and watched the movie over 3 times!.
Now I have completely changed, happy going to work, and being happy most of the time
This is a MUST READ book for anyone, who wants to find inner peace , inner joy , and to be present.
August 16, 2013
I had high hopes for this when Millman mentioned that some of the woo woo moments he experienced were possibly due to it being late and him not having a full grasp of how much time passed. However, as the book progressed and he began advocating cleansing fasts, detoxes, and other forms of bullshit, this got harder and harder to read. Look up the facts, people: toxins don't work that way; they are processed through the liver, and unless you're eating a high fat low fiber diet, which I guarantee most people reading this sort of book are not, you don't have to worry about fatty liver. Also fasting can be disastrous for the body because it takes a lot of training to do.
April 13, 2011
I was given this book by a friend and colleague to read after viewing the film based off of first book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior. The movie was life changing and so reading this book for further analysis is quite helpful but it's so good so for that I'm willing to back track and read the first book after I finish this book despite the fact that I've seen the movie. I don't want to miss anything as I continue in Dan Millman's series of books upon the Peaceful Warrior in all of us.
June 17, 2010
Inspiring. Mindfulness!
July 29, 2011
I actually liked this better than the original book.
July 16, 2020
Dan Millman comes to me always in special moments. This time wasn't different. After the 'Way of the peaceful warrior', I already knew I want to read his next books as well. After couple of months, I dived into 'The Journeys of Socrates' which was way different than his first book. Normally I would be just disappointed and put it back on the shelf after not being fascinated by first pages or chapters so I did put it back on the shelf but rather thinking that the timing is just not good. I will try again maybe next month, or next year, we'll see. Going back to 'Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior'... I started reading a book after having a small breakdown caused by ED issues I was facing lately and suddenly felt like it was a sign. Reading this book which is a companion to his bestseller which I read some time ago felt really homey which is what I really needed and hoped for. Did not disappoint. The book is guiding you and explaining the approaches of Socrates in the first part and answering the most common questions asked regarding the prior novel.
The so-called 'book that changes lives', namely 'Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior' deeply touched me and helped o develop these questioning cells in my brain that aim to understand the world better. It did not change my life utterly but change my perception. The follow up on that story is taking you back again to this great feeling of understanding and exploring the world again, but this time you already know more, you felt more and you experienced more. Itis not another Eureka but different and deeper one.
I believe that Millman's books are not for everyone even though most of them are great and helped me not particularly find myself but learn more about me. You need to be really connected to your inner self or be willing to build that connection and understand the spirituality and the relation between your body and soul. Only then you can truly enjoy his literature.
Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior is for those warriors that are already in the process of looking for their inner peace or those who found it - now it's time for deepening the wisdom part!
Definitely would recommend but not to everyone :)
The so-called 'book that changes lives', namely 'Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior' deeply touched me and helped o develop these questioning cells in my brain that aim to understand the world better. It did not change my life utterly but change my perception. The follow up on that story is taking you back again to this great feeling of understanding and exploring the world again, but this time you already know more, you felt more and you experienced more. Itis not another Eureka but different and deeper one.
I believe that Millman's books are not for everyone even though most of them are great and helped me not particularly find myself but learn more about me. You need to be really connected to your inner self or be willing to build that connection and understand the spirituality and the relation between your body and soul. Only then you can truly enjoy his literature.
Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior is for those warriors that are already in the process of looking for their inner peace or those who found it - now it's time for deepening the wisdom part!
Definitely would recommend but not to everyone :)
November 14, 2020
I haven't read the previous book so the format was a bit strange but actually turned out to be quite refreshing as I read on.
Excellent teachings in a condensed form, will definitely return to reread this and check out Millman's related books!
Very good!!!
Excellent teachings in a condensed form, will definitely return to reread this and check out Millman's related books!
Very good!!!
August 9, 2022
An expanded philosophy of a Peaceful Warrior written in a readable form as I am used to with Millman. After a long time since reading The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, it was important for me to remember these thoughts.
November 30, 2017
Fun and a Easy Read
I In Joyed reading Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior. It is a fun and easy read. Seeing the movie or reading The Peaceful Warrior is recommended but not required.
I In Joyed reading Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior. It is a fun and easy read. Seeing the movie or reading The Peaceful Warrior is recommended but not required.
April 8, 2018
A very good chance to relive the awesome story that is 'Way of the Peaceful', but with a handbook-like approach. A good read if you enjoyed Way of the Peaceful Warrior.
January 27, 2019
Another one
Dan has put together such inspiration with these books. I'm glad to have stumbled across his writings as they have proven beneficial to my every moment
Dan has put together such inspiration with these books. I'm glad to have stumbled across his writings as they have proven beneficial to my every moment
June 21, 2020
A good companion to the way of the peaceful warrior <3
June 7, 2022
Dan Millman is an outstanding author great reads
August 20, 2022
If you found some of the imagery and lessons unclear in Way of the Peaceful Warrior, this book clarifies them. It's existence shows how popular that book is.
October 8, 2022
Not as punchy as WotPW, but still worth the time reading.
September 26, 2011
Parallels and pre-dating to the celestine prophecy by James Redfield in terms of folding in idease that are titled as new age. Ideas of focusing and acting in the now (which aren't so new)are similar to how we perceive animals to be - like a puppy, or cat. Other ideas: "Mind is illusion, being is body". moderation is like warm tea - embrace with an awareness and celebration, controlled desire with understood consequences and not excessiveness.
June 8, 2010
The "companion" to "The way of the peaceful warrior," in which he really overexplains all the lessons in the former book. Unnecessary. But then, I got something out of being reminded of some of these simple truths again.
September 6, 2016
Though I thought the Way of the Peaceful Warrior was quite straightforward it turns out that there were things that needed to be explained, and it was also nice to get some more info from 'behind the scenes' :)
December 31, 2009
Reviewed this book for my running blog. The author has a nice way with highlighting many principles we all know but rarely follow.
Read
September 10, 2009Elaboration on certain topics discussed in “Way of the peaceful warrior” by the same author. It makes sense to read this book only if you read and liked “Way of the peaceful warrior” book.
February 8, 2011
Should be titled Regurgitation of The Peaceful Warrior. Not so much a "companion" as it is a breakdown of what the original book was about. Some nice quotes in it, but really a useless book.
May 30, 2011
Eh. It's a play-by-play of the book, including sections of the book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior. I loved that book…but this one isn't as good.
January 26, 2012
This is a book to put to use, not to peruse. Using what it explains will take the book off of the shelf, and you into the life you are meant to live.
Read
August 12, 2012Another great bbok...
June 25, 2013
Good book, goes a bit further into many key passages in the original Way of The Peaceful Warrior. Thoroughly enjoyed both books.
December 16, 2016
Das Buch ist eine gute Ergänzung zum "Pfad des friedvollen Kriegers". Millman gibt Interpretations- und Umsetzungshilfen. Ohne das Hauptwerk gelesen zu haben weniger empfehlenswert
Want to read
May 24, 2007Haven't read it yet, but I'm willing to bet it is as good as the rest of Millman's books!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews