Reddit reviews Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives
We found 18 Reddit comments about Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Great product!
I'm sorry life's hit you with a bag of bricks, man. But honestly, you're in a pretty good position right this second to give yourself a good launchpad into a better life.
It definitely sounds like your ADHD never went away. When you noticed they stopped working, did you tell your doctor? The first couple meds I tried didn't do a damn thing for me, but the one I just switched to seems to be helping a lot. You really need to experiment to find one that works.
You also are fortunate enough that while yes, you do have some debt, you have some college experience, which is better than just a GED (especially if you spin it well). You also have a job. And you have a job with which you sound like you have some time. Instead of sitting there thinking about the bad, find something you want to learn or do that you can do with the down time. Learn to code. Learn to design. Learn to write. Learn to do anything that you find enjoyment in.
You're also young. I know how hard it can be when you're depressed to think it'll never get better. I thought the same thing when I was a teenager who had some very dark thoughts. But it really does, but only if you want it to. If you sit around and just focus on the negative, you'll miss out on the positives, and waste time not creating MORE positives.
You say you're good at reading people. Would you want to go back to college, perhaps become a therapist/psychologist? Focus on your strengths.
From this post, it really sounds to me like you'd benefit from getting a therapist and a psychiatrist for your ADHD and Anxiety, among other things. Work with them to set specific, achievable goals. And don't even waste time thinking about "the system". "The system" is a silly concept that people use as a scapegoat when they don't to face whatever issue they're facing. No one is out to judge you. People are far too concerned with their own lives (and worrying about other people judging THEM). No one will view you as attention seeking. They'll see it as a sign that you're working toward self-improvement. And if they really do see it as a negative, then they're not the kind of people you need in your life.
I'd also recommend you read the book "Way of the Peaceful Warrior". It really is a life changing book, at least for me. It helps you learn to not only appreciate life for what it is, but teaches you about yourself in the process, even though it's a novel.
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205
The big point to take away is, you're not alone at all in your situation. Many people feel similarly at one point in their lives, and they go on to lift themselves out of it. But you have to want to. And it sounds like you do. So do it.
I'll also point out this resource in case you get low, /r/suicidewatch is, from what I've been told, an extremely helpful and supporting community.
The Psychedelic Experience by Timothy Leary and Ram Dass
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Timothy-Leary-The-Psychedelic-Experience-The-Tibetan-Book-Of-The-Dead.pdf
About Consciousness:
I AM THAT by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-That-Nisargadatta-Maharaj/dp/0893860468
Be as You Are By Ramana Maharshi
https://www.amazon.com/Be-As-You-Are-Teachings/dp/0140190627/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526748482&sr=1-1&keywords=be+as+you+are
The Way of The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526748504&sr=1-4&keywords=the+way+of+the+peaceful+warrior
They aren't really uechi-ryu books, but here is a list of my favorite martial arts books:
[Karate-do My Way of Life] (http://www.amazon.com/Karate-Do-Way-Life-Gichin-Funakoshi/dp/1568364989/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368043735&sr=1-1&keywords=Karate-do+my+way+of+life) by Gichin Funakoshi - definitely my favorite martial arts book. This is the autobiography of Gichin Funakoshi. He talks alot about the history and culture of Okinawa and karate in general. His life is clearly a prime example of the spirit of karate-do.
[Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Twenty-Guiding-Principles-Karate/dp/4770027966/ref=pd_sim_b_2) by Gichin Funakoshi.
Basically anything by Gichin Funakoshi
[Beyond The Known] (http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Known-Ultimate-Martial-Classics/dp/0804834652) - More abstract. Presents some wonderful philosophical ideas about the unity of martial arts, the unity of spirit, and the higher purpose of the martial arts. Perhaps a better read for later in your training.
[Zen in the Martial Arts] (http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Martial-Arts-Joe-Hyams/dp/0553275593/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368043973&sr=1-1&keywords=zen+in+the+martial+arts) - Everyone should read this once. It presents basic, but very important spiritual ideas relevant to the martial arts.
[Way of The Peaceful Warrior] (http://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368044020&sr=1-1&keywords=Way+of+the+peaceful+warrior) - Absolutely fantastic (and entertaining) spiritual, development novel about a college age student seeking a higher meaning in life. Not exactly about martial arts, but the mindset and spiritual lessons are the same. I highly recommend this book.
[The Weaponless Warriors] (http://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368044020&sr=1-1&keywords=Way+of+the+peaceful+warrior) - More of the mythical/legend type stories about many of the famous okinawan karate practitioners. None-the-less an exciting and entertaining read about the many legends of karate.
My top recommendations is "karate-do my way of life" by Gichin Funakoshi. My second recommendation would be "way of the peaceful warrior". Most of the books I recommended are not technique books. Honestly, I don't find technique books very useful. They have their places, but I think the spiritual lessons are better learned from books, and the motivation that can be derived is beneficial as well.
>Thanks. Are you a guru?
You're welcome. Ask the easy questions, why don't you!! Haha!
As to the word guru, my first reaction to it is EEK, for two reasons. First, it's what all those gurus we put on pedestals have later been caught doing. Second, it's all the bad press that gurus in general have receieved in the North American press (Perhaps there are religious politics involved there). I am ignorant off how gurus are seen in other places.
In India, where the word comes from, gurus are at the top of the caste system, above Kings (Rajas) and princesses, above presidents, judges, doctors, lawyers, millionaire businessmen and women, and so on. They are an elite bunch who are difficult to approach. A poor person might spend ten years earning their way to the front of the line before they access the knowledge and wisdom of the teacher. Those with money can often jump the line, and do.
I am not at all that kind of guru.
The system of Kundalini into which I was introduced does not teach this particular method to the masses. It's a one-on-one way of teaching, so quantity is low. However, the techniques and skills involved give me the understanding to assist those with Kundalini questions at pretty much all levels. I am not formally trained in other systems, though, (Maybe one day), so I cannot give exact advice with respect to something like Kundalini Yoga, as I don't know their repertoire of Kriyas. I would be able to suggest things like, "ask your Kundalini Yoga teacher this question", or "How about trying this idea, this technique, this adjustment to the Kriya". They have a system that works, works well, and for the most part is one of the more "peaceful" ways of entering into a Kundalini path. It's something you might consider. Hint hint.
For what it's worth, my own teacher's teacher was a Sikh in India, and the www.3HO.org system emerged from a teacher in the Sikh community, Yogi Bhajan Singh.
My teacher thus explained to me how he did not quite fit the definition of the word guru. He certainly was not at the top of the caste system of North America!! Yet once in a while, he'd playfully refer to himself as my guru, usually with a big mischivous smirk on his face, and usually some aspect of teaching was involved. He IS a teacher of some cool spiritual techniques, sure. He spent three years going from guru to guru in India before the Rock-and-Rollers got there. He had money, so he jumped the line. Being half Native, he did not feel the necessity, (once back home), to observe the meatless tradition of India, which exists for reasons other than just morals. Surprise, surprise.
In the Kundalini Yoga system, you will see obvious advancement, and two years of active work will yield amazing results, with many years of integrating and evolving still part of the package afterwards.
/ramble
So, no I'm not really a guru. I am just a qualified teacher of an oral tradition Kundalini path. If you stick me up on a pedestal, I'll drag you up there with me then knock you off. When you land, (The higher the pedestal you make, the harder you fall), I'll have my feet firmly on the ground waiting for you at the bottom. Smiles. Maybe I'll record it to post on YT for everyone's amusement. /jkg.
Did you know your question might be such a juicy one when you asked it? Answered well enough?
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>I have been doing meditation on and off for the last 2.5 years and did 1 year everyday before that. The reason for my on and off meditation is my addiction to pornography. I know that when kundalini and porn meets, it's a disaster. I can't sleep on nights when I have watched porn because the energy has been going down to my root chakra.
This speaks of you having good self-knowledge and self-observation skills. Yes, reading this you might go, "Well it's SO OBVIOUS to me". Accepted, yet not everyone will make those connections. Having that self-knowledge equips you with the ability to make choices and try new things.
Have you read /u/JCashish's post on a_tantric_perspective_on_the_use_of_sexual_energy?
You could also try his advanced method. Hint hint.
As soon as you get that horniness twinge... make the time to do the exercise. THEN you use the energy far more constructively.
Have you started developing any understanding about your addiction to porn and what drives it, and what consequences follow? Do you recogise any positives other than the pleasure of orgasm? Asking and working on these ideas could free up your addiction. Porn would then be an aware choice, not a compulsion, as you would also have new choices, new things to do with the energy.
It's a conversation we can have here if you wish.
>I usually do mindful meditation where I try to stay mindful of anything like my breath, sounds etc.
Very good. Have you also done anything which helps you become aware of inner energy flows. Yoga. Taichi. Qi Gong... and often medittaion, etc? In order to have a peaceful Kundalini awakening, one must become able to sense these flows too, and not just observe the reactions of flows such as not being able to sleep after porn. One must be able to notice and then intentionally release tensions, obstructions or reguide the energy, at times.
For this, any of the concentration meditation paths are very useful. Concentration and mindfulness. One for observing, one for focus.
>I like to exercise, run, listen to chanting/Sufi songs.
Super. Any links that you might share? I've not heard many Sufi songs.
>I try to stay active because it feels easier when I am exercising, taking showers twice a day etc.
Perfect! You are adapting and listening to your own needs. This is what Socrates (In Dan Millman's book The Way of the Peaceful Warrior ) refered to as body wisdom. Respecting your temple is a basic place to start.
>I have been to one of the Shaktipat program about 2 years back but it was without a teacher.
I don't understand how you can have a shaktipat program without a teacher, as shaktipat involves the sharing of grace BY a teacher. No teavher, no shaktipat. Was it more like a preparatory course, as in preparing for future shaktipat? If it was the latter, an in-person teacher might also adapt each person's execises to their own specific needs. Humans aren't made with cookie cutters. We all have our differences and obstacles to transform into challenges and sources of learning.
> It was more like an intensive meditation/chanting for a day.
That makes sense. Why the word Shaaaktipat then? Any ideas
>Right now, I don't have a physical teacher but I do listen to Osho whom I consider as my guru. His lectures have helped me tremendously.
I like Osho and much of what he said and wrote, but I'm not too familiar with what he said and wrote about Kundalini. As a guru he made monstrously big mistakes, ones especially deaing with the failure to extend morals to his followers. One could philosophically back up and say he played a role in healing a sexually-repressed and a religiously-repressed society. For sure.
What I see as his big failure, though, has a direct relation to Kundalini which does demand the most respect and the utmost respect of morals, so in a sense, you can use Osho's ideas to get past your own indoctrination, but must not adopt his rebelliousness, as this would, not might, would lead to disaster where Kundalini is concerned for your future. Do you get what I'm trying to share here?
In a very real sense, calling Osho your guru places a significant obstacle to your advancing in Kundalini. So, that becomes a choice for you, and only one you can make for yourself. Go ahead and use his ideas to free yoursef up from the ideas you swallowed up as true in your past. That's a terrific way to honour what he taught. Exercise respectful caution where energy work is concerned. So many women, and a few men, have spoken to me about inappropriate behaviours from Osho followers that I must respect their voices.
The other choice is to enjoy what Osho offered WHILE developing your own deep understanding of the Yamas and Niyamas, and applying them as you can to the best of your abilities. There's nothing wrong with reading a line from a guru or master teacher and coming to a sentence and concuding he/she messed up here. Yes, you are evaluating the quality of the teachings. You're always expected to do this, else you are a blind follower. Kundalini does not tolerate such blindness, so make an effort to find tha hazardous vaguenesses and moments of poor thinking as you read Osho's or anyone's writings... and of course, mine included.
>I used to read books on meditation/kundalini.
That doesn't narrow it down much. On Kundalini, due to the vast ignorance on the topic, some writers took creative liberties at producing much pleasant smelling BS, IMNSHO. Rarely, that BS was dangerous. More often it was merely clutter and confusion which would impair anyone's progress. Totally impair. Again... explore what you've read and accepted as true. Test it in daily life. Throw out the crap - keep what works while continuing to test it.
Re your use of the word peaceful... the further you wish to develop your Kundalini, or that Kundalini draws you forward too, based on your choices and actions, the more intense some of it may be. Intense. If you stand well-grounded and not fight with it, it remains intense. If you resist the learninga nd unlearning process, it won't at all be peaceful. The suggestion here is to really get good at non-attachment. There are some HUGELY important subtleties involved with the concepts or equanimity, non-attachment, "letting go". Go discover these, and peacefulness will be enhanced.
Good peaceful journey, with a few wonderfully exciting bits!!
EDIT: Typos as usual. I'll master typing NEXT lifetime. Edit 2:A few more missing letters found.
he assigned “way of the peaceful warrior” by dan millman to many of his players. it’s the story of a professional athlete on a sort of spiritual journey.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives https://www.amazon.com/dp/1932073205/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_h3C7AbY96EHQR
No book will be a solution for anything. But I re-read three books on a yearly basis. I don't view them as "facts of life" or "biblical", I simply find them to correlate with my own values, ethics and morals, so they serve a bit as an anchor if I start drifting. They aren't necessarily great works of art or terribly educational.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior.
i always recommend these to people who are genuinely interested in giving fewer fucks:
http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0861719069
and
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376776535&sr=1-1&keywords=way+of+the+peaceful+warrior
Pema Chodron: When Things Fall Apart
Daniel Millman: Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Don Miguel Ruiz: Four Agreements
Maya Hornbacher : Waiting
Bill W.: 12 Secular Steps
You might find meditation worthwhile. There are many forms of meditation, my favorite is Vipassana or "awareness" meditation. You pick something as your focus, often it's your breath, but it can be other things like walking, archery, even dancing or art. The gist is, whatever you are doing, DO THAT. As stray thoughts come into your mind, notice them, and let them go.
Say you're focusing on walking, feeling each lift-move-place. A random thought comes in, you notice it and label it "Thinking", and let it go. You might find yourself judging yourself for not being able to focus, so just notice that: "Judging," and let it go. By cultivating mindfulness and a level of detachment from stray thoughts and emotions, you gain that time to process new information more skillfully, and things don't seem as intense.
It's not forcing thoughts out of your head, nor clinging to them. It's just letting them go.
The Experience of Insight is a great book on meditation and Buddhist insights.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior is also worth a read, and Peaceful Warrior is actually a good movie too.
Here is a scene from Peaceful Warrior.
Dan Millman. Here's the book link.
Peaceful Warrior is a book about a college student who meets a master and learns the philosophical side of Kung Fu.
I have not yet read Scholar Warrior yet but its a book about applying Kung Fu to everyday life.
Here is good book on Chinese acupuncture, which is a very useful skill that can be used to either hurt or heal another person
Reminds me of the book "Way of the peaceful warrior" in which the protagonist also has a motorcycle accident. Relevant quote: "There are no accidents, everything has a purpose."
I recommend two:
The Power of Self-Coaching is a very practical guide for improving your self-esteem and confidence. Some of the best times of my life are the handful of months directly following a re-reading of this book. Very good.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior is a more "spiritual" approach to life, although I don't really like using that term because I don't really even know what that means anymore. But this book is certainly a life changer. It is also a great place to start if you are looking to begin a more balanced, peaceful, and mindful existence.
I think this is why i asked in the beginning what you're expecting. Especially if you're comparing yourself to others, you may be expecting more than is reality. Just because people say they have a relationship, doesn't mean it's anything more than their own feelings or imagination playing tricks on them. So, don't rely too heavily on 'mountaintop moments' or the right 'feeling' to come along.
Do you like to read? If so, I know an awesome book that goes through a man's experience as he begins to unlearn all he'd learned about what life is truly 'all about'. It's sharing a Taoist, or Buddhist thought of seeing the trip, the present moment, as what's important rather than the destination. A relationship with God looks much the same. If you focus on the feelings or the enlightened moments, you'll miss the whole experience of going through life with Him!
The book is called "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman It's kind of an autobiography of sorts.
If that doesn't tickle your fancy, another book that helped me quite a bit with my relationship with God was a rather popular one: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
another great book would be this one. i know many different people who read it, and all of them took something good away with them! maybe you have the means to check it out. it's more of a taoist angle iirc.
Path of the Peaceful Warrior is a good one.http://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205
Its basically a book about Zen and similar philosophies. There are however some funny scenes in it like that one, because one of the principles is that a warrior should fully embrace not only death but life, which includes finding joy in the smallest things. The idea is that a "peaceful warrior" is one who lives life to the fullest with integrity and honor. Similar to /r/stoicism in a way actually.
The first book (linked below) was far better than the second IMO but they are both good.
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205