Way of the Peaceful Warrior Life, Consciousness, and Existence Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

“The brain can be a tool. It can recall phone numbers, solve math puzzles, or create poetry. In this way, it works for the rest of the body, like a tractor. But when you can't stop thinking of that math problem or phone number, or when troubling thoughts and memories arise without your intent, it's not your brain working, but your mind wandering. Then the mind controls you; then the tractor has run wild." (2.40)

When Socrates says he's against the mind, he's not opposing math or science or poetry. He says those things aren't of the mind; they're of the the brain or the intellect. The mind is all the bad stuff. One might find this correct or a little too convenient.

Quote #5

"Stressful thoughts reflect a conflict with reality. Stress happens when the mind resists what is." (3.8)

Okay so imagine you're stressed out over your paper that's due tomorrow, and you haven't even started. According to Socrates, the stress is because you're not accepting the truth of the situation. If you were a peaceful warrior, you wouldn't wish reality were otherwise. In fact, you wouldn't care one way or the other about the paper; you'd just do your best and be happy no matter what.

Quote #6

"The birth of the mind is the death of the senses" (6.22)

In other words, once the mind and language take over just a few years after birth, people tend to lose their ability to appreciate their sensory experience. Basically, Socrates is saying everything was better back in the day when you were six months old and had no mind.