Page 32 - Here and Now June 2022

Movie review

Engendering the “Peaceful Warrior”

Sanjyot Pethe
I am at the midpoint of my PDP journey and from this position the feelings are mixed. Clarity and confusion
coexist. There are shifts in me as a person and also enhancement in my understanding of processes and T
groups. The journey so far has been enriching, enjoyable, meaningful in many ways. There are moments
of being a warrior, a learner, a friend, a philosopher. It reminds me of movies like Kung Fu Panda, Peaceful
Warrior and others.

I was rewatching “Peaceful Warrior” and it reminded me of my journey in ISABS. The movie in many ways
brings back memories of my explorations, including my interaction with my mentor.

There are two major characters in the movie – Dan Millman, a university student and a gymnast who is
very restless and therefore steps out at night for a run. On one such occasion Dan comes across an old
man with whom he interacts and whom he later names as Socrates. Through repeated discussions, Dan
comes to value his advice and instructions.

Dan one day meets with an accident and Socrates, through his teachings and encouragement over a
period time, builds up his confidence and gets him to win a coveted championship. The movie is about
Socrates teaching Dan to be a gymnast and a successful person.

As in the case of the gymnast in the above-mentioned movie, there are twists and turns in our lives, the
memories of which we hold on to.
In the ISABS context, for me, there have been moments of joy, anxiety, sorrow, anger, reactions, and
helplessness and also the supportive words of my mentor, facilitators and coparticipants. But the hold
and the act are entirely mine. That’s my experience of this journey.

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