I finished listening to the audiobook “Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives
I believe the master / disciple paradigm and other particulars in the journey described are not necessarily features in 21st century spiritual paths — nonetheless there’s still much joy and inspiration be had in this warm presentation.
There was a clarification near the end of the book that really struck me. The journey is
The way *OF* the Peaceful Warrior.
NOT
The Way *TO* the Peaceful Warrior.
This, for me, was a brilliant capture. It’s not where we are on our journey, or how far we are to becoming some sort of ideal. It is in how we process each experience, moment to moment, that DEFINES the warrior path.
We do have this notion that we are building strength, courage, wisdom, compassion, humility, forgiveness, and love…so that we can one day, someday, become a peaceful warrior. That might be partially true, but there’s a deeper cut.
The reality is, I find, the way of the peaceful warrior is simply that we ARE processing moment-to-moment experiences. We might right NOW be demonstrating the way of the Peaceful Warrior.
A peaceful warrior fumbles, trips up, goes crazy, does awkward stuff, fights, judges, blocks out, runs away, and explores different extremes. What actually defines a peaceful warrior isn’t how ‘balanced’ or ‘aligned’ or ‘present’ he might exhibit his behavior to be, or even what he is trying to become, but in the maturity with which he continues to process his experiences, and work through inner challenges each step along the way, step by step…uncovering love within.
Everyone’s load is different, and path is unique. That’s the nature of it all. But that said, it’s the commitment to process each experience, each moment, not where we are on our journey, that defines the way OF the peaceful warrior…and as it relates to this project, even the way perspective maps are built.
Ranjeeth Thunga
rkt@interposting.com