“Without a global revolution in the sphere of human
consciousness, nothing will change for the better in the sphere
of our being as humans, and the catastrophe towards which
this world is headed, be it ecological, social, demographic or
a general breakdown of civilization, will be unavoidable. . . .
The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in
the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human
meekness, and in human responsibility.”
Vaclav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic,
“Speech to the U.S. Congress,” February 22, 1990
As you read these words, you are crossing a threshold into a remarkable story illuminating the special kind of courage needed in our world today to be fully present and wisely responsive to whatever life may bring. This book reveals the story of the historic, once-secret Jedi Warrior program for the U.S. Army Special Forces and its origins in Lieutenant Colonel James B. Channon’s visionary manual Evolutionary Tactics: A Manual for the First Earth Battalion. In the early- to mid-1980s we, along with several inspired colleagues, developed and implemented an immersive six-month pioneering program to train twenty-five Green Berets in advanced mindbody-spirit training. Using this remarkable story of the Jedi Warrior program as a springboard, we weave together a wealth of wisdom that offers a glimpse of how each of us, not just elite warriors, can awaken to our own innate extraordinary potentials to thrive amid great challenges and opportunities and in doing so develop our communities and inspire generations to come.
Our intention in revealing this mind-blowing story is to illuminate the potent relevance of this program for all who are seeking to live wisely, meaningfully, and courageously in these profound times. We’ll offer insights, guidelines, principles, and personal practices to help you follow this path and realize these potentials for yourself and for the benefit of those within the sphere of your influence.
The metacrisis we face in our world today makes it clear that old norms of business as usual are woefully inadequate, unsustainable, and unwise and are killing us in many ways. Things are heating up. The oceans are rising. Fragile unsustainable systems are collapsing. It’s time now to equip ourselves for this Earthwalk in wiser ways together. Never before in human history have the stakes been so high, the existential dangers so vast, the timeline for wise and effective response so urgent, or the need for wise, compassionate, courageous, and capable leadership and engagement so great. The challenges and opportunities of these pivotal times call for a massive upgrade of our personal and collective consciousness and capabilities.
This book is your invitation and guide to join the global r/evolution in the sphere of human consciousness, to learn new skills that open and activate your mind, heart, and will, and to realize extraordinary capacities that can expand your potential to serve the greater good. The methods and insights described in these pages have been tested and refined over decades of research, study, practice, world travel, and teaching. Many of these methods have been empirically tested and validated over millennia of applied research in ancient warrior-monk and contemplative disciplines. Understanding these transformational disciplines will help you to realize your extraordinary human potentials and live as a force for good.
These times call each of us to awaken the special kind of courage it takes to keep our eyes, minds, and hearts wide open in our rapidly changing and increasingly complex world and to be ever more deeply attuned and wisely responsive to the needs within and around us. Our hope and prayer is that you will take this story to heart and experience a deep yearning rising within you to discover the precious “special forces” within yourself.
Through this awakening may you open your eyes and mind to a deeper view of our collective, extraordinary human potentials and the treasures of our deep humanity that are seldom dreamed of, pursued, or realized. Many are hearing the call and enlisting in this noble endeavor. May you find and gather a circle of wise and trusted allies and mentors to make this journey with, and together awaken to this special kind of courage to live your lives wisely and compassionately and help others to do the same.