The previews ended and the movie was starting, or was it? Black screen and no sound. It took me awhile to realize, but I believe the director was trying to get the audience to be present. I of course was in the future, "When's something going to happen?" Being in the moment is one of many enlightened messages in the movie, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. It was one the first books on spiritual growth that really made a difference in my life.
The story is about a chance encounter with a wise stranger that changes the life of a college gymnast, and is based on real occurrences in Dan Millman's life. Dan Millman is the author of many self-help/spiritual growth books, Peaceful Warrior being his most popular. The movie opened nationwide last weekend. I gathered eight friends and we headed out with low expectations (the critics didn't give it rave reviews). The critics are entitled to their opinions, of course, but everyone of us liked the movie. This passage from the book which is depicted in the movie is one reason why:
"Then I look up at the shining mountain peak. If the jewel is to be found, it must be at the top. I climb and climb, beginning an arduous journey that takes many years. At last I reach my journey's end. I stand bathed in bright light. My eyesight is clear now, yet the jewel is nowhere to be found. I look upon the valley far below, where I began the climb many years ago. Only then do I realize that the jewel had always been within me, even then, and that the light had always shined. Only my eyes had been closed."
The movie condenses a book's worth of messages into a couple of hours. Important things like, be present, there are no ordinary moments, enjoy the journey, what you give you receive, trust yourself, are some examples. Everyone can get something from these messages. The more we expose ourselves, remind ourselves, reteach ourselves (we already know this on some level, we just need to be reminded), the more we live in that enlightened place. By living in that enlightened place I mean applying the principles of spiritual growth to all we do, and all we are. That is our purpose, to grow and live fully in a life of spiritual awareness.
Copyright (c) 2007 Char Cooper RN, MSN, APRN
This movie actually was released in very limited viewing areas some time ago but never at a location near me. So I waited and watched for it actually hoping to pick up the DVD when it was released. So to my surprise months later, I luck up on an internet link to free tickets for opening weekend, now a much wider release which included my location. I tell you the Law of Attraction is always in action.
I take my fourteen year old and off we go. Let's just say I was already feeling good because I didn't have to whip out my wallet. I don't have the words to relay just how inspired this movie made me feel. I've followed Nick Nolte's career here and there, I find this movie to be some of his best work ever. I liked the fact that he was not all perfect looking and cuddly, his scratchy voice is his trademark. Yeah, it does get a little cheesy in some spots but these are very minor if you're able to look at the big picture.
After the movie, my fourteen year old and I talked and recited quotes from the movie all the way home. If this doesn't sound amazing to you, that's because you don't know my son. This young man doesn't waste his words and if I can pull one to two sentences a day out of him I'm lucky. We both left feeling good, motivated and inspired. Maybe these quotes from the movie and Dan Millman's book Way of The Peaceful Warrior on which the movie is based will inspire you, give you food for thought and make you feel good.
1. There are no ordinary moments.
2. This moment is the only thing that matters.
3. Wake up! If you knew for certain you had a terminal illness'if you had little time left to live?you would waste precious little of it. Well, I'm telling you?you do have a terminal illness: It's called birth. You don't have more than a few years left. No one does! So be happy now, without reason'or you will never be at all.
4. The first realization of a warrior is not knowing.
5. Every action has it's pleasure and it's price.
6. You haven't yet opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior's way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability'to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt. All along I've shown you by example that a warrior's life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior's sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.
7. Find the love in what you do.
8. Everything has a purpose. It's up to you to find it.
9. If you don't get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you don't want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. Free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is law and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.
10. Some people live their whole lives without ever waking up.
11. Knowledge is not the same as wisdom.
12. Moderation? It's mediocrity, fear and confusion in disguise. It's the devil's dilemma. It's neither doing nor not doing. It's the wobbling compromise that makes no one happy. Moderation is for the bland, the apologetic, for the fence-sitters of the world afraid to take a stand. It's for those afraid to laugh or cry, for those afraid to live or die. Moderation'is lukewarm tea, the devil's own brew.
13. I call myself a Peaceful Warrior?because the real battles we fight are on the inside.
14. Find your answers from inside.
15. Pain is a relatively objective, physical phenomenon; suffering is our psychological resistance to what happens. Events may create physical pain but they do not in themselves create suffering. Resistance creates suffering. Stress happens when your mind resists what is?the only problem in your life is your mind's resistance to life as it unfolds.
16. Those who are hardest to love are the ones who need it most.
17. Throw out everything that is keeping you from this moment.
18. Where are you? Here. What time is it? Now. What are you? This moment.
19. There is never nothing going on.
20. Three principles of reality: Paradox, Humor, and Change.
21. There is only the journey.
I'd gladly pay this time to see the movie again and most certainly will add this one to my DVD collection right next to The Secret and What the Bleep Do We Know. I take these quotes and add them to my son's school agenda, a type of notebook his school uses to track homework assignments and parental communication. So instead of just signing my name every night, I write a quote or a positive kudo for my son to read to himself in school the next day.
If you have the time this weekend do you think you would check this DVD movie out?
Both Char Cooper Rn, Msn, Aprn & Priscilla Parham are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Char Cooper Rn, Msn, Aprn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Beauty Tips, Cars and self improvement and motivation. We all have a core desire to Feel Good. So why don't we feel good more often? When you work with Char you will learn how to break through unresourceful behaviors, & beliefs that prevent you from Feeling Good. Using her expertise as a Nurse Practitioner, L. Char Cooper Rn, Msn, Aprn's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Priscilla Parham has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fathers Day, Family and Retirement. If you love movies, you are about to be inspired and entertained. You'll find access to movies, free audio affirmations, and other secret tools to download at