The peaceful warrior

I saw a great movie yesterday (again). The peaceful warrior. For those who don't know it, it's about a student athlete preparing for the Olympics qualifiers. He is just like most people, a thinker, restless and plagued by ambition and the fear of not being able to reach his goals. He finds a master in the gas station clerk, which he calls Socrates because he won't tell him his name. He shows him the way of living in the here and now, beyond the thoughts and feelings that trouble us and blind us. The gymnast is still quite rebellious and challenges Socrates ideas.

When the gymnast gets hit by a car and shatters his leg, the doctors say there's no way he can ever compete again. His heart and ego are crushed and he wants to get back to training for the Olympics. His coach says it's madness and that he should forget about it. When he is ready to give up he tells Socrates that he will do what ever he tells him to. He's willing to dedicate his life to service of others, just like Socrates. Socrates responds "I want you to continue your training as a professional gymnast". The student gets angry and frustrated and says it is impossible.

He responds that doing what you love is the biggest service you can perform for mankind. Doing it because you love it and not worrying about the outcome, about the chances of reaching the goal, in absolute vulnerability is the way of the peaceful warrior. You need to let go of the things you can't control. He may or may not compete in the Olympics, but that shouldn't stop him from doing what he loves.

He follows his advice, trains hard, becomes conscious of the here and now and not only qualifies for the Olympics, he gets the gold. The movie is based on true events and he is currently a university professor, writer and sports coach. The message is so true, so profound and inspiring. It actually doesn't matter if he ever made it back to his old level (and went over it). The point is that he dared to choose for something he loved and that others said was impossible. He chose for the activity, for doing, for here and now, not for the gold at the end of all the work.