This film is very good for learning to push forward with one’s goals in light of adversity. When things prevent one from attaining a goal or a sense of being, attitudes and habits from this film are of great help to not giving up one’s love or passions. Whether it be other people, unexpected events or limitations one sets out for themselves in the form of self-handicapping, this film addresses a means to deal with these obstructions.
The tools offered in the film are particularly useful for individuals who strive for greatness, which by its very nature is extremely difficult. The difficulty arises mainly in part of exceeding our expectations and the expectations of others. If we are unable to prove wrong the limited beliefs of ourselves and others, we will not be able to become.
The peaceful warrior is a film based on the book, ‘The Way of the Peaceful Warrior,` by Dan Millman. The film and book demonstrate principles related to the beginning of the journey towards a healthy mind. The main character begins this path through the development of self-awareness, an appreciation for the present moment, an awareness of one’s thoughts and modifying them if they are not helpful, and the development of a stable identity which is based on process not product.
Principles
Wisdom is doing
Mindfulness and being present
“There are no ordinary moments”
The ones who are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most
Be conscious of your habits and responsible for your choices
Happiness is found in the journey not the destination
Find the love in what he does
Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Knowledge and Wisdom
10:38 – 13:55
Soc “Help you with something?”
Dan “You can tell me how you did it”
Soc “You like things explained. Don’t you?”
Soc “How we doing tonight?” (to customer in vehicle)
Dan “Look, that roof has got to be at least 10, 12 feet high. No human can make a vertical leap over 4 or 5 feet high. I know, I am a gymnast. Toughest men’s sport in the world, most people don’t know that.
Soc “The Spartans of Ancient Greeks were Gymnasts too. They vaulted over bulls; trained their elite warriors that way. Did you know that?
Dan “I know more that you think.”
Soc “And you think more than you know. Knowledge is not the same as wisdom.”
Dan “Yeah, what’s the difference?”
Soc “You know how to clean a windshield, right?”
Dan “Yeah.”
Soc “Wisdom is doing it.”
Dan “I train 7 days a week, 50 weeks out of the year.”
Soc “Why so much?”
Dan “Are you serious? I am a heartbeat away from qualifying.
Soc “Qualifying for what?”
Dan “You watch the Olympics?”
Soc “No.”
Soc “Thanks for Stopping by.” (To customer in vehicle)
Dan “Look, as good as I am, I gotta do everything I can to make sure that I qualify.”
Soc “There is a lot you would have to know before you can understand what you saw.”
Dan “Go, ask me. Ask me something. Ask me anything. ”
Soc “Are you happy? You said I could ask you anything.”
Dan “What does happy have to do with anything?”
Soc “Everything.”
Dan “My dad’s got plenty of cash, schools kind of a breeze, I get straight A’s, I got great friends, I’m in great shape, and I only sleep alone when I absolutely want to.”
Soc “So, why can’t you sleep at night? Yesterday, you came here at 3am. Now, tonight. That’s two nights in a row.”
Dan “What are you some kind of a quicky mart philosopher or something like that?”
Soc “You need some philosophy?”
Dan “No thanks Socrates, I get enough at school.”
Soc “Last question: If you don’t make the Olympic team, what will you do?”
Dan “If I don’t what?
Soc “You must of thought about..”
Dan “What the hell are you talking about?”
Soc “What’s the problem?”
Dan “I don’t even know what I am doing here. You’re a freak and I don’t need you freaking me out.”
Are you happy?
Very important question, are you on the journey, your course of action relative to your mission and passions . If one is happy, then self is unified throughout experience and one can respond adequately to environmental stimuli.
Ex:meeting random girl on the street. You say the right things to attract her because you have met your own needs and have an open mind to respond to your environment.
Philosophical Discussion
The first point that Socrates brings up with Dan is the difference between knowledge and wisdom. As Socrates is clearing a windshield, he asks Dan if he knows how to clean it and states that wisdom is doing it. Knowledge here is factual whereas wisdom is something empirical or practical.
The second subject is happiness. Dan challenges Socrates to ask him anything. Socrates asks him if he is happy and identifies that Dan is unable to sleep at night. Socrates is identifying that if you cannot sleep at night, there is clearly a problem in your life. Later in the film, we learn that being yourself, living a life that is in line with your identity, is what will bring you happiness.
One of the fundamental lessons of the film is that happiness comes from the journey or the process, not the outcome. If you are a salesperson, focusing on socializing with other people and knowing your product or service is a process oriented approach, in contrast to an outcome oriented approach which would be basing your success on ‘making the sale.’
Socrates tests Dan on which orientation he has by asking him if he will not make the Olympic team. Dan is baffled at the blasphemous remark from Socrates, like asking a devout religious believer if god exists or not. Dan is in denial of the possibility that he may or may not make the olympic team.
There is something to be said for focusing on our goal to be successful. We can engage in a positive affirmation of the self-fulfilling prophecy. The third movie in the Critical Films course, Gattaca (1997), discusses this determination perspective. Both of these principles, being focusing on achieving the goal and also gearing success to the process, will help us attain and be motivated towards our goals and dreams. Fundamentally, being yourself in the world is what gives us happiness and is part of what it means to live a Eudaimonic and authentic life.
Eudaimonia is not related to a present state of mind but is a trajectory of meaning in one’s life that is found by having a purpose that is significant and coheres with your total identity. This is where being philosophical comes into play in terms of how we live our lives. Sellars said philosophy is ‘how everything hangs together.’ A psychologist who has a bunch of empirical, scientific facts is not sufficient to live a good life. Wisdom, how all of these psychological findings fit together, is needed. The psychologist needs to be a philosopher and the philosopher needs a little psychology.
Dialogue 2: Still Dreaming
17:15 – 24:25
Soc “What’s the matter? Couldn’t sleep again?”
Dan “What would you say if I told you I keep seeing those shoes in a dream I keep having?
Soc “I would say, maybe your still asleep. You can live a whole lifetime without ever being awake.”
Dan “Hey Socrates. You know so much. How come you’re working at a gas station?”
Soc “This is a service station. We offer service. There is no higher purpose.”
Dan “Than pumping gas?”
Soc “Service to others.”
Soc “How we doing tonight?” (To customer)
Dan “Japanese style, huh? So you know Socrates?”
Joy “Is that what you call him? I bet he loves that.”
Dan “Do you eat with him every night?”
Joy “Actually, I think one’s for you.”
Soc “Ahh, I see you’ve met Joy.”
Joy “Hey Big Buddha!”
Soc “Hey little Buddha. Joy, this is Dan.”
Joy “We’ve met…Socrates.”
Soc “Socrates.”
Joy “Bon appetite”
Soc “You look hungry.”
Dan “ouu, Joy do all that? Does she live around here? Is she related to you or something?”
Soc “You need to start asking better questions.”
Dan “What?”
Soc “Slow down, you might taste something.”
Dan “You sure got a lot of rules about stuff, don’t you?”
Soc “Not rules. Things I’ve learnt from my own life experience. That’s why I would say your eating is sloppy.”
Dan “Who cares?”
Soc “You do. That’s the difference between us Dan. You practice gymnastics, I practice everything. If I was your trainer, no meat.”
Dan “Seriously?”
Soc “None.”
Dan “I could probably handle that.”
Soc “No TV, no alcohol, no drugs, and no sex.”
Dan “And that’s why I’m glad you’re not my trainer.”
Soc “So it’s that and your training are making you all you can be?”
Dan “Absolutely.”
Soc “So how long can you stand like this?”
Dan “Name it.”
Soc “Five minutes, on the table.”
Dan “Done.”
Soc “You move so much as a muscle and I get to call you Jack for the rest of the night.”
Dan “Jack?”
Soc “Short for Jackass.”
Dan “What time is it? What time is it? What time is it? What time is it?’ AHHH!”
Soc “My son Jack.” (To customer)
Soc “Thanks for Stopping by. Everyone tells you what to do and what’s good for you. They don’t want you to find your own answers. They want you to believe theirs.”
Dan “And let me guess, you want me to believe yours?”
Soc “No. I want you to stop gathering information from outside yourself and start gathering it from the inside.”
Dan (Laughs) “What, are you part of some cult or something?”
Soc “People are afraid of what’s inside. And that’s the only place there ever going to find what they need. Why can’t you sleep? Is it because, maybe late at night, when all the noise dies down and your laying there in bed and there’s nobody around but you and maybe you get a little scared. Scared because suddenly everything feels so…empty. You tell me you want to be more than someone who gets up on those rings and performs a well-practiced stunt or two. You tell me you want to be someone who uses his mind and his body in ways most people never have the courage to. And I will train you Dan. To be a real warrior.
Philosophical Discussion
The first point that Socrates brings up is the notion of being awake. Dan references a dream he kept having and Socrates said maybe he is still dreaming. To be awake is something that Socrates discusses later in the film: to be conscious of one’s choices and responsible for their actions.
The second discussion is about the highest purpose in life is service to others. This is a reduction of an ‘unhealthy ego’ or sense of self. There is a difference between one’s selfish motivations and doing things to contribute to humanity and make the world a better place. When we only think of ourselves, we are in some ways using the world as a means to an end, and not an end in itself. There is a difference between a self-interested motivation and a community oriented one.
The Kantian philosophical principle called the categorical imperative, where we act in such a way to incorporate what the thing or person who is involved, into our decision making process. We take into account what the person wants and do not use them for our purposes only.
The third topic in this dialogue is the concept of rules versus life experience. Socrates and Dan sit down to eat and Dan eats so fast he can't even taste the food. Socrates gives Dan feedback that it is better to slow and taste it. Dan responds that Socrates has a lot of rules about life. Socrates responds by saying it is not so much rules but that he has life experience. After repeated trials of doing certain activities and being mindful of the results from those actions, Socrates has noticed a difference in the quality or results of the experience. This again goes back to the difference between knowing via fact and wisdom through doing.
The fourth subject is the value of being all the best you can be. Socrates criticizes Dans training and lifestyle, insinuating that it is Dan’s lifestyle that is preventing him from being his best. Socrates tells Dan the conditions he would place Dan under if he trained him. Socrates gives Dan a physical challenge that Dan accepts. Dan ends up failing at the challenge, proving that maybe Dan's way of being is not the best. Dan is confronted with his value of being the best and his attachment to other values like his choice in food, drinking alcohol, promiscuous sex, etc or his value of making the olympic team.
The fifth subject in this dialogue is where we derive our knowledge or answers from: either we get them from others or we learn to develop our own sense and get them from ourselves. There is a sense of judgment we can develop in knowing that we are correct about things and not relying on other people to think or make judgments for us. Socrates says the solution to this is to learn to start gathering information from inside himself instead of outside himself. People are scared of themselves and when they learn to overcome this, they can use their minds and bodies in ways others do not have the courage to.
Dialogue 3: People are not their Thoughts
26:30 – 29:14
Dan “Sometimes I don’t like myself very much. My first thought was about how Kyle’s fall could work out for me.”
Soc “People are not their thoughts. They think they are and it brings them all kinds of sadness. Toss me that wrench.”
Dan “I am not what I think?”
Soc “Of course not. The 5’8ths. The mind is just a reflex organ, reacts to everything. Fills your head with millions of random thoughts a day and none of those thoughts reveal any more about you than a freckle at the end of your nose. Take a swing at me.”
Dan “What?”
Soc (Slaps Dan in the face)
Dan “What are you doing?”
Soc “Come on, 10 bucks if you can slap me on the cheek.” (slaps dan) “Come on, take a shot.”
Dan “Knock it off man. I don’t want to hit you.”
Soc “You don’t want to hit me?” (Slaps Dan harder)
Dan “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Soc “I guess I’ll have to keep slapping you then.” (drops Dan)
Soc “Did you notice how the right leverage can be very effective?”
Dan (nods in agreement)
Soc “What if I were to tell you, that that’s what your training, even your life, is about? Developing the wisdom, to apply the right leverage, in the right place, at the right time. Take out the trash.”
Dan “You take out the trash.”
Soc “The trash is up here. That’s the first part of your training. Learning to throw out everything you don’t need in here.”
Dan “How?”
Soc “Meet me tomorrow, on campus. Strawberry creek bridge.”
Philosophical Discussion
In this dialogue Dan communicates how he had negative thoughts about one of his friends and that made him not like himself. Socrates responds by telling him that people are not their thoughts. This wisdom connects nicely with the information we have been learning in the Feeling Good book about automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions. Socrates explains how the mind is a reflex organ that reacts to everything. Socrates demonstrates this by getting Dan to throw him a wrench and Socrates catches it.
The next subject is about leverage. Socrates does a martial arts move on Dan to demonstrate the principle that the right leverage is very effective, which is what life is about: to develop the wisdom to apply the right leverage at the right time and the right place. In some ways we can allude to Aristotle’s notion of practical wisdom. There is a practice in learning how to apply the virtues to different situations so we have developed the skill in how to be courageous, wise, temperament and just.
Dialogue 4: Empty your Mind
29:38 – 32:36
Dan “Soc! Soc! Hey Hey, listen, I totally forgot about this. I got this thing at the gym. It’s pretty important, can we make this quick?”
Soc “Sure.” (Throws Dan off the bridge)
Dan “Ahhhh! Hey! Hey! I’m talking to you! What the hell’s wrong with you?”
Soc “You said you were in a hurry.”
Dan “So you pushed me off the bridge?”
Soc “I emptied your mind.”
Dan “What?!”
Soc “I emptied your mind.”
Dan “No you didn’t, you threw me into the river!”
Soc “And while you were falling, tell me Dan, what were you thinking about?”
Dan “I don’t know.”
Soc “Were you thinking about school?”
Dan “No!”
Soc “Grocery shopping?”
Dan “No!”
Soc “This thing you had to run off to? The present, the moment, 100% to the experience you were having. You even had a word for it,’Ahhh’.”
Dan “You’re out of your mind, you know that?”
Soc “It’s taken a lifetime of practice. We want you out of your mind too Dan.”
Dan “What is that you do? Some kind of martial arts move? I didn’t see it coming.”
Soc “You weren’t paying attention. Even now you’re not. Your mind’s filling up again. Your missing out on everything that’s going on.”
Dan “There’s nothing going on.” (Soc forces him to pay attention)
Soc “There’s never nothing going on. Take out the trash Dan. The trash is anything that is keeping you from the only thing that matters, this moment. Here, now. And when you truly are here and now, you’ll be amazed at what you can do and how well you can do it.”
Philosophical Discussion
The next dialogue begins with Socrates and Dan on a bridge over a creek at the University. Socrates throws Dan off the bridge as a demonstration to show Dan how to empty his mind. Dan, shocked and a little upset, asks what Socrates was intending by throwing him off the bridge. Socrates replies that he emptied Dan’s mind; while Dan was falling he had no thoughts, he was 100% committed to the present moment. Socrates is showing Dan what mindfulness is.
The next idea is that of ‘being out of your mind;’ not being stuck with our own thoughts and observing our experience and environment. To have a mindful attitude and observational perspective on life is a lifestyle practice. When our attention becomes fixated on one thing, we end up missing out on the present moment and what is going on around us.
The third subject in this dialogue is that there is never nothing going on. When we become mindful, we become aware that there is always something going on. Whether we are paying attention to our experience depends on how we practice and how we use our mind.
The last subject in this dialogue is the notion of ‘taking out the trash,’ which is anything that keeps you from this moment. Socrates is trying to teach Dan to focus on the present and not be distracted by the past or the future. Our thoughts lead us away from the moment. All of the ideas or things we can think about that come into our minds are trash, according to Socrates.
The present discussion does exclude the value of reflection that is discussed by the Ancient Greek Philosopher Socrates, in Plato’s dialogues. Socrates says in the dialogue the Apology,
“An unreflected life is not worth living.”
(Plato 38a) The reasoning behind reflecting on our experience is so that we can learn from it.
Taking the wisdom from both being present in our experience and reflection, there is a balance between both of these actions. Later in the film, Socrates asks Dan to sit on a car for a moment of reflection. Using Aristotle’s concept of practical wisdom, through experience we can develop a sense of when being 100% present is important for us and when reflecting on what we were previously immersed in is appropriate.
Dialogue 5: Mind Tricks
36:00 – 37:40
Dan “Soc! Argg! I wish you could have been there, you would of loved it. I used your trick, I used your mind trick and it worked, it totally worked. I was awesome.”
Soc “It’s not a trick.”
Dan “Yah, well whatever it is, I used it. I took out the trash. I mean, Trev, Trev is the guy I am always going up against. You should of seen, I demolished the other guy. You know, I wasn’t, I wasn’t worried about what did happen, or what might happen, what could happen. And I just I got up there and I cleared my mind and I was flawless. Listen, I am jumping in with both feet, alright. Whatever you tell me to do I am going to do. No beer, no meat, no girls, no problem.”
Soc “How long you’d stay that way? Clear, flawless. ‘I demolished that guy, you shoulda seen me.’ You’re in the past. Gloating. You’re not in the now, living. You havn’t learned anything. Go home. Training’s over for tonight.”
Dan “What do you mean? What do you mean?”
Soc “Go home I said.”
Philosophical Discussion
Dan uses the mindfulness technique and is excited to tell Socrates about it. Dan startles Socrates and is happy he learned this new ‘Mind Trick.’ Socrates is offended by Dan’s attitude towards ‘taking out the trash.’ Dan states he was not worried about what he did, what might or could have happened, and that he was acting and doing the move for the move. Socrates criticizes Dan for being in the past and not in the now and ends the training for the night to ensure Dan does not abuse the new skill he was taught.
Mindfulness is a practice. We are ultimately always with our self: as a conscious being we can continually control our breathing and our attention. This practice is a skill that can help with conditions like Attention Deficit Disorder. Mitchell et. al., (2015) wrote a paper on the effectiveness of mindfulness as a treatment for ADD in contrast to medications. As conscious beings, even in our dreams, under the influence of drugs or upset, we can master mindfulness and meditation as a means to have control over our state and bring ourselves back to equilibrium.
Dialogue 6: Reading Other’s Minds
38:54 – 42:55
Soc “Hey Dan” (waves for Dan to join him on the rafter)
Dan “Why do we have to be all the way up here where we could kill ourselves?”
Soc “I was hoping you could tell me.” (Dan hears the negative self-talk of his training friends)
Dan “They’re talking but their lips aren’t’ moving. Am I reading their minds?”
Soc “Maybe you just never really listened to them before.”
Dan “I can’t be doing this, otherwise I am losing my mind.”
Soc “Sometimes you have to lose your mind before you come to your senses.”
(Dan wakes up on the floor of the garage)
Soc “Go home I said.”
Dan “What did you just do to me?”
Soc “You have to be strong if you’re going to do this Dan.”
Dan “What did you do?”
Soc “Where I am going to take you, some of the things I am going to show you. You’re going to need strength. And you’re going to need to trust me.”
Philosophical Discussion
Dan follows Socrates to his gym, where his fellow friends are training. Socrates is sitting up in the rafters observing the gymnasts train and invites Dan to join. Dan joins Socrates and puzzled why they are so high up they could get hurt, notices something he has not. He can hear what his friends are thinking. Dan asks Socrates if he is reading their minds and Socrates responds that Dan hasn’t listened before. People will say what they say to you, what they say to themselves. We treat all humans the same in some ways and if you listen to the dialogue that the characters tell others, they actually tell themselves these same things.
The second subject is about losing our minds and coming to our senses. Dan wakes up from his ‘telepathic vision’ and becomes scared that now he has entered a new form of awakened awareness. He is in fear that his mindfulness has changed him and he can never go back. Socrates reminds Dan that sometimes we have to lose our mind before we can come to our senses. What Socrates is saying here is if we have built a mind that is not based in reality, we would have to deconstruct that illusionary mental state before we can build a more objective mental state. We will have to disregard a broken mind to create a healthy one. This is one of the constructive places for nihilism, the belief that there are no beliefs or the belief in nothing.
We can use a nihilistic foundation to deconstruct an unhealthy mind as a stepping stone towards building a healthier, non-nihilistic mind. Learning our critical thinking skills and valuing the process of understanding is a much more healthy mental structure than any specific content belief. The process and skills of evaluating beliefs are second-order beliefs. They are things that you use towards beliefs but are also beliefs themselves. These second order beliefs are more fundamental than any content, first ordered, belief one can have because they determine the truth or falsity of all beliefs.
Dialogue 7: Meditate in Every Action
47:10 – 49:15
Soc “Voyeur, how we doing tonight?”
Dan “How am I doing? I am tired, I’m hungry and I’m horny. How are you doing? I need some answers tonight. I need to know that this is all going somewhere. And I need to know it right now. I mean, what kind of a warrior trains by sitting around scrubbing toilets.”
Soc “When you become a warrior you learn to meditate in every action.”
Dan “Scrubbing toilets!?”
Soc “Let go of attachments, like your pride. Giving up your addictions.”
Dan “Yah, name one thing I am addicted to.”
Soc “Talking, especially interrupting, knowing everything when in fact you know nothing.”
Dan “You really think that this is going to expand my awareness of anything. My game is off, my coach probably thinks that I’m on drugs and I’m thinking…I just don’t have any more time for you right now.”
Soc “All you have is right now, Jack”
Dan “Did you just call me a jackass again? Because, you know, I am really starting to wonder with the life you’ve managed to put together could teach me anything. I mean are you really happy? Maybe you’re just the case of someone who not having made much of themselves says that the world is lost and all these things don’t matter. Be happy with less right? Less than what? Less than nothing?”
Soc “I call you a jackass when you act like a jackass. Like now Dan, when you’re letting your emotions control you.”
Dan “This isn’t emotion, this is common sense. You know what, let me tell you something, whatever your name really is. When I get what I want, I’ll be happy. For real and forever and anything else I’ll say it will be. Because I will make it happen.”
Philosophical Discussion
This dialogue is a breaking point in the relationship for Dan becomes upset with Socrates. The first principle that Socrates tells Dan is that a Warrior learns to meditate in every action whether it is doing house work or exercising. Next, Socrates tells Dan that it is best to learn to give up what he is attached to, like pride or addictions.
Dan becomes upset again with Socrates, leading into the next principle: do not let our emotions control us. Dan responds to this by saying that he will be happy when he gets what he wants. Dan is confused about the process vs outcome distinction in terms of happiness. It is important for us to develop healthy goals and values so that we do not lead ourselves into disappointment.
Dialogue 8: Realization of a Warrior
1:08:12 – 1:13:57
Soc “Go.Again” (Telling Dan to start the old vehicle)
Dan “I don’t know what to do now.”
Soc “First realization of a warrior.”
Dan “What is?”
Soc “Not knowing.”
Dan “What’s happening to me? I don’t cry.”
Soc “Apparently, you do.”
Dan “It’s embarrassing.”
Soc “Emotions are natural like the passing weather.”
Dan “What do you do, if you can’t do what you were born to?”
Soc “Everything has a purpose Dan, even this. And it’s up to you to find it.”
Soc “Go.” (Dan starts the vehicle)
Soc “Your training can now move to a new arena. An arena where you find your answers, from within. That old Plymouth sit on it, until you have something of value to tell me.”
Dan “That’s it?”
Soc “I don’t hear from you, until you have an insight worth sharing.”
Dan “That’s all?”
Soc “How we doing tonight?” (To customer)
Dan “Okay. Okay. Anger, hatred, violence they’re really all just fear. Fear then, not money, is the root of all evil.”
Dan “Chaos theory is correct, accept chaos is not chaotic at all but perfectly controlled.”
Dan “If you lend somebody 20 dollars and you never see that person again, it was probably worth it.”
Dan “When making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich you always first apply the peanut butter and not the jelly to the bottom half of the bread.”
Dan “The people who are hardest to love are usually the ones who need it the most.”
Dan “There is never nothing going on, there are no ordinary moments.”
Soc (Laughs) “Yeah. Welcome back.”
Philosophical Discussion
Dan is very upset about his accident and how his goals in life seem to be out of reach due to his physical injury. He begins to cry because he is so upset that the things that were most important to him he believes he cannot do anymore. He tells Socrates,
“I don’t know what to do”
and Socrates responds,
“First realization of a warrior…not knowing.”
The wisdom here is about courage. A warrior is one who uses courage and it is truly relevant when we are faced with the situation of the unknown.
When we do not know, we psychologically can experience fear and anxiety. In those emotional states is where we evoke courage, the persistence to move forward and understand what is going on. Not allowing negative emotional states, like fear and anxiety, to stop us from pursuing our goals and dreams requires courage. The peaceful warrior is about fighting the weaknesses of the human condition in our pursuit to become our best self.
Philosophically, the Oracle of Delphi stated that the Ancient Greek Socrates was the wisest person in Athens because he was not arrogant. Socrates believed ‘he knew nothing,’ and took a position of ignorance to develop his understanding of concepts and beliefs. From this position of ‘knowing nothing’ Socrates demonstrated the Socratic method, to inquire and ask questions based on the content of one’s dialogue or speech. It is important not to impose assumptions in being socratic and base our reasoning on the information given.
Friedrich Nietzsche, a 20th century German philosopher, introduced the concept of Nihilism, not having any beliefs, moral principles or meaninglessness. In the process of deconstructing an unhealthy mind, the concept of Nihilism can help us identify with the process of deconstructing itself by allowing our identity to rest on the process of consciousness. Buddhism has a similar perspective with the acceptance of no self. In the film, Dan is in a state of dismay because of an unexpected event. Here, he can use the concepts of nihilism or no-self for his identity so that he can grow from this position.
Accepting we do not know creates the space to build legitimate knowledge. Knowledge is known as something that is true, we believe it and can justify it. Accepting that we do not know takes courage. Simplifying believing something does not mean we know what we believe. If our belief is false or we cannot justify it, we would not know what we are talking about.
In terms of cognitive distortions, we may have a distorted belief but it is not knowledge because the justification of that belief is not supported. When we evaluate our automatic thoughts for distortions, we are looking at the integrity of the justification for the thought. When we feel an unhealthy emotion, like depression, we can use our self-awareness to be mindful of the automatic thought then draw out the distorted thinking within it. We are looking for why this belief is not true because it is not justified and hence cannot be knowledge. We want to translate our distorted thinking to empowering or realistic beliefs that we can justify and are true. Knowledge: https://www.achillesjustice.com/post/knowledge-theaetetus
In the film, Socrates responds to Dan who is feeling shameful that he is crying. He states that emotions are natural and like the passing weather. To have a better sense of not becoming consumed by our emotions and accepting them, we practice mindfulness meditation. It is important to not expect yourself to be perfect and not be emotional or catastrophize that you are emotional. When we feel emotions, it is important to be compassionate to ourselves for feeling things but at the same time make sense of those emotions.
Dan responds by asking what someone is supposed to do when they cannot do what they are born to do. Socrates explains how everything in life has a purpose and it is up to us to figure out what it is. This is a fundamental factor in having meaning in life, that we establish a sense of coherence in our experience. We want everything to fit together and make sense.
Some things are not in our control that are unexpected and seem to take us off track from our goals. It is important to determine firstly, what is in our control and what is not. Once we have a sense of that, we can focus our efforts on those things that are in our control. We want to make sure that our effort is not wasted and be mindful of the Pareto principle, the 80/20 rule: 80% of our results come from 20% of our effort. Determining what that 20% is can increase one’s effectiveness within control.
Know thyself. Know your identity and do not know anything that gets in the way of who you are. Build and grow from what you are around what you are given based on the environmental conditions you have.
Socrates then tells Dan to sit in the car until he has an insight worth sharing. Here, Socrates is instructing Dan to reflect. Plato wrote in his dialogue The Apology,
“An unreflected life is not worth living.”
(38a) It is important for us to know what happened, what we were in control of, and what we could have done differently. We determine this by reflecting.
Nietzsche’s revaluation of values is another principle that is relevant in our reflections. https://www.achillesjustice.com/post/revaluation-of-v We want to reflect on our values, understand the priority of them and whether what we deem is important is actually contributing to our wellbeing or in line with our identity. Once we are aware of how our values affect our lives, we can change and modify them as necessary. The principle Socrates was interested in Dan reflecting on was the value for the present moment. He wanted Dan to discover this value on his own.
In Dan’s time on the car reflecting, he comes to two important realizations. First, Dan states,
“people who are the hardest to love are usually the ones who need it the most.”
When someone is harmful to us, be understanding, compassionate and empathetic in response. Recapitulating the same negativity that others are expressing will only make matters worse. It is much better to respond constructively and be a role model for prosocial behaviour. At the same time do not tolerate others being abusive to you, respond assertively with boundaries and take space from them if necessary.
After many hours, Dan comes to the realization that Socrates wanted him to remember. Dan says,
“There is never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments.”
Socrates laughs in gratitude and welcomes Dan back to the present moment. It is from the present moment where we can deal with all issues that obstruct our purpose or goal. Therefore, it is in the present, via being mindful, can we become successful in that which is meaningful to us.
Dialogue 9: Habit and Intuition
1:14:05 – 1:19:19
(Soc pours Dan a drink of alcohol and lights a cigar)
Dan “You gotta be kidding me. This isn’t another vision is it? Cause I don’t see how this could be happening. What the hell are you doing?”
Soc “Something wrong?”
Dan “We don’t do this anymore, remember? We know better.”
Soc “We’re better than everyone that doesn’t know what we know or live the way we do. Is that what you mean?”
Dan “Not better maybe, smarter.”
Soc “There is no better. You will never be better, same way you’ll never be less than anybody else. The habit is the problem. All you need to do is be conscious about your choices and responsible for your actions.”
Dan “Is that why out of all the people you could of taught you choose me?”
Soc “Are you done flattering yourself? You chose me. “
Dan “Why should I believe you? You tell me yourself to listen to my own intuition.”
Soc “How do you know I am not your own intuition speaking to you right now?”
Dan “Maybe I made you up? Don’t mess with me like that.”
Dan “Everyone has it’s what?”
Soc “Every action has its price and its pleasure, recognizing both sides the warrior becomes..”
Dan “Realistic and responsible for its actions.”
Thug 1 “Your boy sounds bad over there man.”
Dan “Oh you’ve gotta be kidding me.”
Thug 1 “Money boys.”
Dan “You picked the wrong shit to pull this on boys. A little leverage at the right time in the right place.”
(Soc throws thug his wallet)
Thug 1 “Yours.”
Thug 2 “Looking around for something little tough guy. Thank you, good night.”
Soc “Didn’t you forget our watches?”
Dan “This is where your gonna do em right?”
Soc “Or maybe I should of said Dan’s watch, I don’t wear one.”
Thug 2 “Give it. Thanks old man. What are you, medium jacket?”
Thug 1 “Is he a what?”
Thug 2 “I am not taking your jacket.”
Soc “Its a good jacket, a nice warm lining.”
Thug 3 “I’ll take it. It’s a good jacket.”
Soc “You, your about Dan’s size. What size shirt you wear?”
Dan “Are you kidding, Christ, So how far are we going to take this?”
Dan “They could of killed us! They could have killed us! You could have kicked every single one of those guys’ asses. Instead, we’re probably going to get picked up for indecent exposure. You think that’s funny? Do you? Do you think that’s funny? You could of laid out every single one of those guys. Tell me, tell me what the hell you were thinking?”
Soc “That the one’s that are hardest to love are the one’s that need it the most. That knowledge is not the same as wisdom. Wisdom is doing.”
Dan “They could of killed us.”
Soc “It’s a transformation.”
Dan “Death?”
Soc “Yah, a bit more radical than puberty but nothing to get particularly upset about.”
Dan “What the hell are you talking about?”
Soc “Death isn’t sad. The sad thing is most people don’t live at all.”
Philosophical Discussion
In this scene, Socrates rewards Dan by taking him to a bar for a drink and a cigar to celebrate his accomplishment of being in the present moment when he was at his lowest point. It can be difficult for us to be in the present when it is painful or difficult for us to accept. However, it is in these moments, when we are at our weakest, that it is the most important time for us to be aware and make a decision that will make things better.
Incorrectly, Dan says that they can act this way because they are better than others. Socrates responds, ‘no, not better, for the same reason you cannot be less than others.’ We see this discussion of being better or less than others in Burn’s readings of self-esteem and deriving it from achievement. Socrates identifies that the problem is habit. The solution is being ‘conscious of your choices and responsible for your actions.’ This involves a sense of self-awareness and self-control.
Dan responds that Socrates himself told him to listen to his own intuition. Socrates replies that maybe it is Dan’s intuition speaking to him. Here, the film gives the audience the idea that maybe Socrates is a figment of Dan’s imagination. Independent of the reality of Socrates’ existence, the wisdom he has embarked on Dan is the same. Here, there is a large element of Aristotle’s practical wisdom in learning how to act virtuously. As we are confronted with different situations, we learn how to apply the abstract concepts of different virtues, like courage, to solve the situation in the conduct of our actions.
Dan is vomiting due to a bit too much alcohol. Socrates reminds him that
"Every action has its price and pleasure, recognizing both sides the warrior becomes..realistic and responsible for their actions."
This principle is consequentialist meaning that we determine how ethical an action is based on the consequences from that action.
Socrates comments on an attitude towards death as a transformation. Humans have existential angst when it comes to thinking about death. End of life anxiety leads to belief in religion, god and the afterlife in the form of terror management. Humans can in some ways control how they die by living a healthy life and avoiding preventable diseases or physical injury. Until we develop technology to prolong the physical body, cure illness, or upload our consciousness to some form of computer, it is best to focus on how we live rather than be anxious about what happens after. This goes back to the previous concept Socrates communicated,
“Death isn’t sad. The sad thing is most people don’t live at all.”
It is up to us to focus our attention, as much as we can on the present moment through mindfulness.
Dialogue 10: Find the Love
1:20:56 – 1:23:36
Dan “I’m scared but I feel like I got rid of all the old stuff and it was the right thing to do.”
Soc “When you feel fear, use the sword. Take it up here and cut the mind to ribbons, slash through all those regrets and fears and anything else that lives in the past or the future.”
Dan “I want to be able to do that. I think I’m ready.”
Soc “Ready for what?”
Dan “Devoting my life to a higher purpose.”
Soc “Really?”
Dan “Service to others right? That’s going to be me now. I’ll do whatever you think I should.”
Soc “I think you should continue your training as a gymnast. A warrior does not give up what he loves Dan. He finds the love in what he does.”
Dan “Look at me! Look at me! I have a metal rod in my leg.”
Soc “A warrior is not about perfection or victory or invulnerability. He’s about absolute vulnerability. That’s the only true courage.”
Dan “What kind of training you think I can do? Huh? I just had an accident!”
Soc “The accident is your training. Life is choice. You can choose to be a victim or anything else you’d like to be.”
Dan “And just ignore what happened to me?”
Soc “A warrior acts, only a fool reacts.”
Dan “What if I can’t do it?”
Soc “That’s the future, throw it out.”
Dan “How would we start?”
Soc “There is no starting or stopping, only doing. I want to show you something.” (Shows Dan the ring set up he made)
Dan “When did you do all this?
Soc “When you were laying in that hospital.”
Dan “While I was what?”
Soc “Now we can really go to work.”
Philosophical Discussion
Dan and Socrates are sitting on his couch having some tea. Socrates tells Dan that when he feels fear, that is the time to
"use the sword and cut the mind to ribbons.”
Anything that keeps one from the moment, the past or future, is irrelevant. To be immersed totally in the present is not realistic. At moments it is important for us to reflect and plan for the future. However, most of our time can be spent observing and experiencing what is happening in the now. We can use Burns’ distortion checklist to remove any unrealistic automatic thoughts, apply our critical thinking skills and enhance our motivation.
Dan is ready to commit himself to the same value that Socrates communicates at the beginning of the film; a higher purpose of service to others. Socrates responds by telling Dan to continue his training as a gymnast. Dan is shocked in disbelief, showing Socrates the large scar on his leg saying that a piece of metal is holding it together. Socrates says,
“Warrior does not give up on what he loves, he finds the love in what he does."
The ultimate service to others is being our best self. Each person has their own unique identity and purpose that will contribute to humanity overall. In our interactions with others we can be good to them as a form of indirect service as we pursue our own goals. From a phenomenological, conscious, perspective, being good to the self is #1. Through our self awareness we can see ourselves as an other and service to all selves, including our own is important. We take a fundamental priority over our autonomous self over external selves.
Socrates tells Dan that the warrior is not about perfection, victory or invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability which is the only true courage. It is important to be mindful of the ‘should’ distortion and creating unrealistic standards. Being realistic about the nature of learning and training gives us an opportunity for growth no matter what happens to us. We have the decision to take what happens in our experience and make the best of it. This means we embrace our mistakes by being self-aware of them. Applying our Aristotelian virtue of courage and the development of our practical wisdom in applying it within specific situations is fundamental.
Dan complains that he had an accident as if it was a permanent obstruction to the pursuit of his goals. Socrates responds quickly by saying that the accident is his training,
“life is choice, you can choose to be a victim or anything else.”
The narrative we frame our experience matters. We can have an internal or external locus of control in how we interpret events in our lives. With an internal locus of control, we are able to take responsibility for what we can change and make a difference in directing our experience towards our goals. That which is out of our control is a training exercise. We can embrace what happens to us and overcome obstructions as an opportunity for growth.
Dan shockingly asks if he is supposed to ignore what happened to him. Socrates responds by identifying that a warrior acts, whereas a fool reacts. Action is intentional whereas a reaction is an unconscious response and not of one’s volition, free will or agency. Dan anxiously wonders if he is able to be successful and Socrates reminds him that thought is future orientated and irrelevant. This is also the distortion of jumping to conclusions, the fortune teller error.
Dan asks how to start and Socrates responds,
“There is no starting or stopping, only doing.”
There is a state of being that Socrates is directing Dan towards. There is no starting or stopping what you are, there only ‘is.’ Be what you are. Training is a consciously directed way of being. There is a lack of procrastination in this attitude and helpful as a realistic cognition.
Dialogue 11: Suffering
1:30:17 – 1:33:56
Soc “Nearly all of humanity shares your predicament Dan. If you don’t get what you want, you suffer. And even when you get exactly what you want you still suffer, because you can’t hold on to it forever.”
Dan “He thought I couldn’t do it.”
Soc “It doesn’t matter.”
Dan “He doesn’t know that I will be there 100%.”
Soc “You don’t need him or any letter to get up on those rings and do what you love.”
Dan “Yes I do. Alright, I am talking about getting up there and winning the gold right now so yes I do.”
Soc “The gold is a craving. ‘If only I had it I would be happy.’ Can’t you hear that?”
Dan “It’s a dream Soc. Alright, I can’t think that dreams are bad.”
Soc “You don’t surrender your dreams Dan. You surrender the one thing you never have and never will; Control. Accept that you don’t control what will happen to you. That you may or may not compete in the Olympics. That you may or you may not Dan. And you are something exceptional either way.”
Dan “I was ready to give this all up, but you stood here and you told me that you wanted me to train again.”
Soc “I told you a warrior does what he loves.”
Dan “And this is what I love.”
Soc “Chasing gold, living in fear that you might fail. That’s what you love about it?”
Dan “No, dreaming of standing up there and winning this thing. I am doing what has always felt like the thing I was put here to do. I’ve been on a trampoline since before I could ride a bike because I loved it. Because it was the first thing that I was sure that I loved. I’m sorry, okay. I’m sorry. I thought I was strong but I’m not. Because I really tried to give this whole thing up but I can’t.”
Soc “Tomorrow morning, bring your hiking shoes. I’ve got a place I’ve wanted to take you since the first night you walked in here. It’s a long hike but I think uh, I think you’re finally ready to see it.”
Philosophical Discussion
After Dan’s epic training montage, he approaches his coach in anticipation that he has regained his strength after his accident. His coach does not share the same sentiment, viewing his presence at the gym and informs him that he denied his request to compete again.
Socrates reminds Dan that suffering is fundamental to the human condition and whether we get or not get what we desire, we suffer either way. If we don’t get what we want, we are disappointed with not achieving our desired outcome. If we do get what we want, we suffer because it does not last. This principle is discussed in Buddhism’s four noble truths that life is based on impermanence and hence the root of our suffering.
Socrates tells Dan that it does not matter what his coach thought and no one is necessary for him to do what he loves but himself. He tells Dan how the craving is the problem that prevents him from being happy,
“If I only had it I would be happy. Can’t you hear that?”
Dan is confused, responding that our dreams cannot be bad. Socrates replies that it is not your dreams that you surrender, but control over what happens to you. Regardless of what happens you are an exceptional person. Burns would be in agreement that our value as a person is independent of what happens to us.
The distinction between process and outcome orientation is very relevant here. If we attach value to the outcome, we can suffer unnecessarily if we do not achieve that outcome. If we attach ourselves to the process, it is within our control and we will not create unnecessary suffering. What we are doing is what produces value, not the results. It is important not to allow the outcome to affect our self esteem or the value we have for ourselves. The ‘should’ distortion can come up in the context of us telling ourselves we should achieve a specific outcome.
Essentially, the warrior does what he loves. When you do what you love, you are fighting for yourself. Only you can live for you. Living in the fear of failure is a problem of the ‘jumping to conclusions’ distortion, fortune telling, and catastrophizing.
Dialogue 12: Paradox, Humour and Change
1:34:17 – 1:37:10
Dan “Life has just three rules.”
Soc “And you already know em.”
Dan “Paradox, humor, and change.”
Soc “Paradox?”
Dan “Life is a mystery. Don’t waste time trying to figure it out.”
Soc “Humor?”
Dan “Keep a sense of humor, especially about yourself. It is a strength beyond all measure.”
Soc “Change?”
Dan “Know that nothing stays the same.”
Dan “Hey uh, can you tell me when we start getting a little closer? Come on, Soc. It’s been three hours man.”
Soc “Yeh, were here.”
Dan “We’re where?”
Soc “To what I came to show you.”
Dan “The view?”
Soc “There, next to your foot.”
Dan “The flower?”
Soc “nope.”
Dan “Better not be..”
Soc “The rock.”
Dan “There’s something special about this rock?”
Soc “Something wrong?”
Dan “Aww come on, Soc! This is what I was finally ready to see?”
Soc “Well the whole trip up here you were excited, you were happy.”
Dan “Well yah, I thought I was going to see something.”
Soc “You were like a kid on Christmas morning. You said so yourself. The whole trip up here made you feel good.”
Dan “Because for the last three hours I have been waiting to see this wonderful thing.”
Soc “Well, what changed?”
Dan “There’s nothing here but this rock.”
Soc “I probably should of told you that before we left. But I guess, I wasn’t sure what we’d find either. Never am. Sorry you’re not happy anymore.”
Dan “The journey. The journey is what brings us happiness not the destination.
Philosophical Discussion
Socrates takes Dan on a hike to teach him his last lesson. On the way, he reveals the three main principles of his philosophy. The first is paradox: life is a paradox so there is no point in trying to figure it out. This perspective is a way of giving up and not needed to accept. This is stated within Buddhist teachings and the point is because our suffering does not come from understanding the metaphysical workings of the cosmos. Suffering is derived from desire and attachment therefore that is where one’s well being will be increased.
Meaning in life can be achieved by establishing a significant purpose that is coherent with one’s narrative and identity. Overcoming trauma has this within it as an effective treatment. We have a responsibility to put things in place with our relationships in the context of coherence. Our social relationships can either give us great support or problems making them a priority for our development.
The second principle that Socrates tests Dan on is humor which is a form of self-love. Do what makes you feel good as an activity which is different from goals you may be planning productively. Learning to feel good is important in contrast to focusing on one’s goals. If we do not feel good or become ill, we will never have the means, ourselves, to get to our goals. We can do this by building emotional energy throughout our activities and create a positive emotional disposition. It is important to be mindful to not disqualify the positive as a distortion. The third principle that Socrates embarks on Dan is change. The concept of impermanence from Buddhism is clear here. Dan recognizes that nothing stays the same.
Socrates then tells Dan that they have arrived at their destination and points to the rock beside Dan’s foot. Dan is distraught, expecting something fabulous upon his arrival and disappointed to see what Socrates has to show him. Before he knew what the outcome was, he was excited and after he knew he was unsatisfied. Socrates says, “sorry you're not happy anymore.” Dan recognizes that life is a journey and it is the journey that brings us happiness, not the destination. Ultimately, all of our destinations is death. It is living that brings us happiness.
Enjoying the moment by not being aware of the finitude of our existence and making sure we do not take life for granted. We can take time to appreciate things we value and be grateful for what exists. We can develop a sound principle within our experience to appreciate life even though there will be moments of frustration or sadness. With sound principles, we can always guide ourselves back to the perspective of appreciation.
Dialogue 13: The Final Qualifier
1:43:21 – 1:45:17
Tommy “You did something that none of us can completely wrap our heads around, you know that right? It’s like a miracle or something Danno. Whatever you learned man, whatever that guy taught you. You think, uh, you think you could maybe rub a little of that magic on to me?
Dan “It’s not magic tommy. It’s getting rid of all that bullshit you have up in your head that tells you, you might not be enough. You get up there. You make every move about the move. Alright, not about the gold, not about what your dad thinks about, not about anything but that one moment in time.”
Tommy “But this is for the gold. Everything we do Danno, at least for me, my whole life is about those 20 seconds in front of those judges so they can give me that gold. You want to know what my dad would think of me if that happened? You want to know how my whole life would change? How everything that’s a problem right now would, pfft, wouldn’t matter anymore. I could have anything I want. I get to be happy. I get to be happy Danno.
Philosophical Discussion
Dan is now at the final qualifier for the olympics. His friend Tommy is astonished at Dan’s ability to recover from his accident and perform better than he did before it happened. Dan tells Tommy how the thoughts he is having are the reason why he is unable to perform to the best of his ability. It is important to not focus on the outcome but be in the moment, and not be directed by the approval of others.
Dialogue 14: This Moment
1:48:24 – 1:48:39
Soc “Where are you Dan?”
Dan “Here.”
Soc “What time is it?”
Dan “Now.”
Soc “What are you?”
Dan “This moment.”
Philosophical Discussion
As Dan is upside down, performing his triple flip, he hears Socrates speaking to him in his mind.
Where are you? Here
What time is it? Now
What are you? This moment.
Dan has learned the wisdom of the peaceful warrior and how to be present in the moment.
Mitchell, JT., Zylowska, L., Kollins, SH. (2015) Mindfulness Meditation Training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adulthood: Current Empirical Support, Treatment Overview, and Future Directions. Cogn Behav Pract. 22(2), 172-191. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2014.10.002. PMID: 25908900; PMCID: PMC4403871.
AJ 5.7.19, 27.3.20
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