The ultimate accomplishment of a warrior is joy.

- Carlos Castaneda, The Eagle's Gift

The Spirit of Ma'at wrote to Dan Millman, asking if he might share with us some of his thoughts for this issue. His responses were as gracious and kind as the being who wrote the books loved by so many, beginning with The Way of the Peaceful Warrior - ''a book,'' as his publishers claim, ''that changes lives.''

In this book, Dan relates how he came to the spiritual path through his experiences with ''Socrates,'' or ''Soc'' for short - Dan's name for an old-man-cum-sorcerer he meets who manages the night shift at a Berkeley gas station. The meeting is strangely prophetic, for Soc has already appeared to Dan in a series of dreams.

In the course of this book, Soc - in true Don Juan fashion - works at chipping away Dan's ''self-importance,'' and opening him to the beauty of a life unclouded by negative thoughts and judgments, past and future, striving and searching. The events that Dan describes on the way to doing life ''as a little child'' are partly symbolic. Dan told us his meeting with Socrates was actually ''brief.'' Yet the story format creates a dramatic expression of the timeless insights that led Dan to his path of service, and can do the same for us all.

At the magazine, we receive many, many questions from people who have recently become aware of the spiritual path, and are seeking guidance about what to do ''next.'' We asked Dan particularly to give us his insights in this regard.

SOM: What would you say to someone who has just become ''aware'' of the higher path?

Dan: Language - words - have their limits when speaking of such paradoxes as ''lower'' and ''higher'' paths. Wherever we step, the path appears beneath our feet. Whether we are on a lower or higher path depends upon our moment-to-moment awareness, as well as whether we behave with kindness.

I have personally gravitated more to moment-to-moment living with kindness and awareness in everyday life, rather than to abstract, idealistic concepts about ascension and so forth. The last chapter of my book Everyday Enlightenment provides a daily practice that adapts the body-mind to more enlightened behavior, even as we address the challenges of daily life.

SOM: Is it the ego that gets in the way of our enlightenment?

Dan: One doesn't reach enlightenment; one realizes Reality and accepts what is, with grace. The ego is simply our personality level, our conscious self; it serves a useful function. We don't need to get rid of the ego, but rather, to transcend it through self-knowledge and humor - not taking ourselves so seriously. Each of us begins where we are, and takes it step by step.

SOM: We appreciate your down-to-earth approach to spirituality. Do you think it helps more people to relate in that way, instead of having a more complex approach?

Dan: Different teachers express in different ways. As a past athlete, coach, and professor, I try to stay practical, grounded, and realistic rather than abstract or idealistic. What seems to matter in our lives is not what ideas we can talk about, but what we actually do with our knowledge. This doing-ness characterizes my work rather than the being-ness discussed by some other teachers.

SOM: We feel a special concern for the New Children. Could you give us your insights on sharing spirituality with children?

Dan: Children are like puppies. I have three daughters and two grandchildren. They don't need abstract ideas about enlightenment; they need to eat when hungry, get lots of hugs, and be given attention and care appropriate to their age. I don't believe in programming kids with our ideas. Let them discover their own innate spirituality in acts of kindness, nature study, etc. None of my daughters expresses a particular interest in my books or books on spirituality, but they are kind, aware young women, getting straight A's at Stanford and Harvard, and have strong individual characters. They will discover the transcendent in their own way. I didn't need to push it upon them.

SOM: As we mentioned earlier, the question that we get most often is this: ''I feel that I am supposed to be doing something. I'm just getting involved deeply in the spiritual path, and I don't know what to do next. What path shall I take? I am seeking guidance.'' Can you say a little more about that?

Dan: This is a common question, bred of the sense of dilemma many feel who have come to believe in the idea that their path is somehow other than where they now walk. I call it the ''Not-Enough, Not-Here, Spiritual-Grass-is-Greener on the other Side of the Fence'' syndrome.

Enlightenment - and faith - begin with the presumption that wherever we step, the path appears beneath our feet; that elsewhere isn't necessarily better.

That feeling of supposed-to-be-doing-something-else may be a deep, even ancient call to service. But we can serve our world and the people around us in many humble ways - even with a smile and a kind word. I pick up litter each day. I pay the toll for the person behind me when I drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. These simple actions do far more than ruminating on the ''something'' we should be doing elsewhere.

In my book Living on Purpose, I address questions of our spiritual journey in some detail. And for those gentle souls who like to have reminders, I can recommend a lovely book titled ET 101[*].

SOM: You had Socrates, and you mention others who have been important. What is the role of teachers in our spiritual path?

Dan: Yes, I've had a number of different mentors, as we all do if our eyes are open. When the student is ready - aware - the teacher appears. Everywhere! Teachers can be friends, adversaries, strangers, or loved ones. Lessons are pouring down on us; the question is, are we paying attention? I can say that if one wants to learn tennis, a tennis coach can be helpful; the same applies to other aspects of life. But we must be clear whether we are looking for a mentor - or a parent. The two sometimes get confused.

But ultimately we make our choices, and although with the guidance of others, we must ''go it alone.''

But again, many sweet souls need reminders that help ground them to simple, everyday, moment-to-moment reality. As Barbara Rasp wrote, ''The lessons are simple; the student is complicated.'' So I'd like to offer here an excerpt from my book The Laws of Spirit. The woman sage bids me farewell with the following words, words that I would say to everyone:

''These are my wishes and prayers for you, all the days of your life. May you find grace as you surrender to life, and find happiness as you stop seeking it. May you reconnect with the heart of nature, inherit the wisdom of the Earth, and feel the blessings of Spirit.

''The challenges of daily life will remain, and you will tend to forget what I have shown you,'' she said. ''But a deeper part of you will remember, and when you do, life's problems will seem no more substantial than soap bubbles. The path will open before you where before there grew only weeds of confusion. Your future, and the future of all humanity, is a path into the Light, into a growing realization of the Unity with the Creator and all creation. And what lies beyond is beyond description.

''Even when the sky appears at its darkest, know that the sun shines upon you, that love surrounds you, and that the pure Light within you will guide your way home. So trust the process of your life unfolding, and know with certainty, through the peaks and valleys of your journey, that your soul rests safe and secure in the arms of Spirit.''

SOM: Since meditation is a way of opening ourselves up to our spiritual energies, I wonder if you could close with some comments about how we connect with the Higher Self?

Dan: In Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior, and in No Ordinary Moments, I provide clear explanations of the Higher Self, as well as the conscious self and basic self, as a model that helps us better understand ourselves and our journey.

The best way I know of to build a bridge of inspiration and connection with our Higher Self is through selfless service - kind deeds, small or large. Meditation has certain benefits in terms of insight into the illusory nature of mind, and other health benefits, as well. But it is not a panacea, nor are temporary inner experiences of ''reaching the Higher Self'' substitutes for actual service in the world.

As on any spiritual journey, the practice of meditation, fasting and other dietary discipline, balancing exercise, and so forth, have their place. I have spent periods in my life where I practiced more meditation. More recently, I strive to remain mindful in the affairs of everyday life, and I find myself turning to relationship more and more rather than isolated internal practices. However, such practices may be completely appropriate for others; we each need to trust our hearts in this matter.

SOM: Dan, thanks. We'd like to close this with an eloquent quote that relates to what you just said, from your Final Notes in The Way of the Peaceful Warrior:

I'm not special; we all have our ''Socrates.'' He's your higher self. So be guided by the best that's within you. In any moment you can ask, ''What would my high self do?'' and you'll know the right course. Trust yourself. Trust the process that is your life.

 

YOU ARE THE SPIRITUAL BEING YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

 

Dan: Kind regards from a fellow traveler.

Dan Millman, whose gentle approach to spirituality has captured many hearts, is a former world trampoline champion, Stanford gymnastics coach, and Oberlin College professor. His books, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Sacred Journey, The Life You Were Born to Live, Everyday Enlightenment, and The Laws of Spirit, embody simple, down-to-earth spiritual principles.

''When I wrote Way of the Peaceful Warrior,'' he says, ''I didn't really know who might like it; I thought, maybe some college students. I had no idea that millions of men and women, children to elderly, and people from all walks of life would read it in nearly 20 languages worldwide. The reason my publisher used the subtitle 'a book that changes lives' was because of the hundreds of letters we began receiving.''

Dan's latest publishing endeavor, Living on Purpose, combines twenty-five spiritual principles that Socrates used to call ''The House Rules.'' Excerpts from this book are posted monthly on his website at danmillman.com.

Dan leads seminars and lectures internationally, influencing people from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, entertainment, sports, and the arts.

* E.T. 101: The Cosmic Instruction Manual, Zoev Jho, Diana Luppi