The Way of Peace

Saturday Stories

February 15, 2019

The Way of Peace 
By Jonathan Aquino

I

Robert Louis Stevenson once said "Keep your fears to yourself, but share your inspiration with others." Somebody asked me what movie do I want the world to see. I said one of them is "Peaceful Warrior," inspired by the novel "Way of The Peaceful Warrior" by world champion athlete Dan Millman. It is the story of a gymnast who broke his leg – and recovered by healing his spirit.

II

Dan was a national champion, the star of the college team, and on the way to the Olympics. Life was good. But he felt a sense of being incomplete, yet not knowing why. One night, as he walked along the campus, he saw a service station where an old man was sitting on a chair just outside. When he came to the door, he saw the impossible – the man was standing on the rooftop.

III

That was how the student met his teacher. The man was mysterious, so Dan just called him Socrates, after the Greek philosopher who was one of the wisest man who ever lived. Dan's life would be changed forever. "Everything you'll ever need to know is within you," said Socrates. "The secrets of the universe are imprinted on the cells of your body."

IV

My favorite scene is when Socrates taught him to quiet his mind. Dan sat on a rock behind the service station, and on the roof of a vintage car in the movie. When morning came, as he was watching people go about their lives, he was inspired by a profound idea – "There are no ordinary moments." Socrates smiled and told him: "Welcome back!"

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Peaceful Warrior

The Movie Version

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