TO:
Dr. Joe Scarcella
FROM:
DATE:
RE: 503BR
Dan Millman is a world-champion athlete, a writer, teacher, student, husband and a father. He is also someone who, despite all his success, had a feeling that his life had no meaning or purpose. He had an overwhelming desire to find where he fit in this world we live in and where he was headed. The one person who plays a major role in his life is an old man named Socrates that he met in a gas station. Some of the experiences he had with Socrates are quite extraordinary and bizarre. Although some of these encounters with Socrates seemed to be far fetched he made some valid points throughout the book about the benefit of controlling ones anger, having patience and a keeping a sense of humor. One such experience he had was when Socrates performed some kind of hypnotism or altered state on him. During this time Dan seen himself grow up from a little boy until the time of his death and was not very pleased. In the end Dan finally finds himself and is able to live happy, content, and have a great sense of humor.
Some of the most important concepts in the book are that it is not so much as to what happens to us in life that matters as to how we respond to what happens to us. Another important concept I understand from reading this book is that one must learn how to relax and not be too serious about life and learn to laugh at ourselves accepting change as a part of life and controlling anger. How most of these benefits are obtained and maintained is by reducing stress and purifying the mind through meditation. Lastly what I believe to be the most important concept is learning how to love and live in the moment in the here and now.
The most personal value I gained from the book is the idea to not take myself too serious and to laugh more often. I have already applied these traits to my personal and professional life and notice a significant change in my attitude and outlook on life. One of the lines in the book that I cherish is “old urges continue to arise, but urges do not matter; only actions do”. Because I still have urges to control things and get back into my old behavior in my workplace and home life and want everything to be perfect. But as many people know, life is not perfect and the more I try to control things and “run the show” the worst things are for me and everyone around me. These things are kept to a minimal through having a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of my spiritual condition from prayer and meditation.
Books by Dan Millman:
Guidebooks
For Children