The path of the peaceful warrior

The story tells about the meeting of a young gymnast Dan Millman and an employee of a gas station named Socrates, who becomes the spiritual teacher of an athlete. He helps Millman know the true path to become a “peace warrior”.

Dan Millman, a beginner gymnast, world champion in athletics, goes to the University of California, Berkeley , and his life seems to be successful. He wins a lot of prizes at sports competitions, copes well with his studies and enjoys the attention of girls.

However, lately, Dan has been having nightmares where he is in a dark alley. Death stands in front of him and is about to take his life when an old man appears from nowhere and confronts Death. One night, Dan enters a 24-hour petrol station, where he meets that very old man from his dreams.

Millman, nervous, immediately tries to leave, but, turning, sees that the man is already standing on the roof. Surprised that he can move so fast, Dan starts a conversation with him and calls him Socrates. Interested in the philosophy of the old man, the guy begins to meet regularly and talk with him.

Socrates ridicules Dan, pointing out that he is trapped in the illusions created by his own mind that gives him so much trouble. Dan begins to keep a diary and wonders how confused his mind is. He requires Socrates to teach him. The instructor begins his dedication, showing Dan the visions of his life; his purpose; the world and "rebuilds" the mind of a young man. The old man tells Millman that he must give up habits and attachments and live in the present, but warns him that this path will be painful. But Dan is befuddled by another protégé of Socrates - a mysterious girl named Joy, who suddenly appears.

A few weeks later, Dan gets into an accident, where he severely damages his right leg. Socrates comes to the guy and speeds up the healing process. He leads Millman to a cafe owned by his former student Joseph, who serves simple food. Socrates instructs Dan to take celibacy , consume only light foods, and avoid intoxicants.

Dan is disappointed and one day even fails, but resumes his path. Then Socrates proceeds to physical training of the young man, forcing him to work, correcting his posture and breathing, practicing Tai Chi, meditation and aikido and improving his gymnastic abilities.

Dan finishes university and Socrates decides to part with him. Now the athlete must go on his way on their own. Dan marries girl Linda, but marriage fails. He travels around the world for six years, learning new physical teachings, but he is not able to find peace. Depressed, Dan returns to Berkeley, to the old place that Socrates had once told him about.

He again meets Socrates, who is now more than a hundred years old. The teacher tells Dan that he is already close to achieving his goal. Puzzled, Dan follows an old man to the ancient burial of Native Americans. Under thunder flashes two come into a cave. The young man experiences a vision in which he dies, but remains conscious. He finally overcomes his fear of death. Socrates reminds Dan of his teachings, says that he should be happy without any reason. Socrates and Dan are returning home. But Socrates miraculously disappears, presumably dies. Dan returns home a wise man. He falls in love and marries Joyce, which turns out to be Joy.

The path of the peace warrior is accompanied by two continuations:

• The Mystical Journey of the Peace Warrior
• Socrates Travels

• Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives, HJ Kramer, 20th Anniversary Edition, ISBN 0-915811-89-8
• Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel, HJ Kramer, ISBN 1-932073-48-5
• The path of a peaceful warrior. The book that changes lives, Sofia, ISBN 5-220-00062-4