Manual for the Awakening Warrior

The declassified story of the U.S. Army’s elite mind science training program

• Reveals the once-classified story of the most advanced biocybernautic training in the history of the U.S. Special Forces

• Shares the “Jedi Warrior Training Program” blending Aikido warrior wisdom and psychospiritual skills for mastery and self-transcendence

• Teaches skills to develop your inner “special forces,” awaken courageous presence, and respond wisely to complex challenges

Imagine training twenty-five elite soldiers whose actions could start or stop the next world war. What would you teach them? The authors once faced this profound question in creating the U.S. Army’s Jedi Warrior Training Program.

This book details this secret program, described by West Point leaders as "the most exquisite orchestration of human technology we have ever seen." The comprehensive Jedi training encompassed intensive meditation, mindfulness, neurofeedback and cyberphysiology, energy healing, Aikido, and mission simulations. Emerging at the pinnacle of the psychic-ops era of research into extraordinary human abilities, the program was founded on the Army’s vision of Evolutionary Tactics: A Manual for the First Earth Battalion. George Leonard and Michael Murphy, cofounders of Esalen—epicenter of the human potential movement—called it "the most intensive leadership and human development training program in modern times."

Designed for elite soldiers, the practices in this training are valuable for everyone aiming to heighten focus, deploy ethical discernment, and cultivate responsive awareness and "kindfulness." Learn how to befriend your inner enemies, avoid self-sabotage and ambush by distractions, and respond skillfully to challenges with deeper courage and compassion. With these teachings, readers can awaken the strength to transform the battlefield of daily life into a zone of peace and navigate these uncertain times with grace, wisdom, and courage.

“If you really want to understand how to bring meditation sciences, the wisdom traditions, and mind fitness technologies to leadership and human performance contexts, this book is for you. The Leveys have fifty-plus years of experience awakening the “special forces” within all of us. Written as a memoir, the story of the Jedi Warrior training is packed with profound insights and practical advice for mastering the great challenges we all face together today." Jutta Tobias Mortlock, cofounder of Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness Research (CEMR), City Unive
“The Trojan Warrior [aka Jedi Warrior] project described in this superb book changed my life. This training protected me from moral injury in Iraq and Afghanistan and prevented PTSD while enhancing my performance in high-risk operations. These transformational enhancements will bolster decision-making, resilience, warrior ethos, and organizational readiness throughout the national defense enterprise.” Fred Krawchuk, U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel (Ret.), Deputy Director for Operations at Southeaste
“I was mesmerized by the page-turner narrative of this ‘Mission Impossible’—how Joel and Michelle brought these inner practices to the Special Forces. A story of dedication, discipline, experimentation, bravery, and love. This is crucial training for us now, as we too are engaged in a battle for the human spirit and the Spirit of Life.” Margaret J. Wheatley, Ed.D., teacher and author of Who Do We Chose To Be? and Leadership and the New
“Manual for the Awakening Warrior by Michelle and Joel Levey is one of those rare books that offers down to earth pragmatic skills for living a fulfilled life as well as the depth of wisdom that is necessary for a genuine transformation of self, institutions, and, may I say, nations. I unequivocally recommend this book for anyone who wishes to walk the warrior’s path of skillful action, grounded compassion, and pragmatic wisdom.” Richard Strozzi-Heckler, author of Embodying the Mystery and In Search of the Warrior Spirit
“This evolutionary tale by two pioneers in the field offers a thrilling glimpse of whole-being education. Awakening warriors, protectors of life, the ‘Earth Battalion,’ take note.” Kolin Lymworth, founder of Banyen Books
“Offers a blueprint to cultivate warriors who are not only tactically superior but mentally and ethically invincible. The Jedi Warrior program described in this book sets a new gold standard for warrior training—one that forges not just fighters, but enlightened leaders.” Major Deependra Sengar, Sena Medal, veteran Indian Special Forces officer (Ret.), whose life inspire
“A must-read for anyone committed to transformative change. This is more than a book—it’s a field manual for those ready to meet this moment with clarity, courage, and compassion.” Colonel Deb M. Lewis (Ret.), founder of Mentally Tough Women
“From a first responder’s perspective, this book exemplifies the importance of confidence, candor, commitment, and courage during emergencies, when the mind, body, and spirit must thrive to survive.” Captain Kirk McKinzie (Ret.), fire and rescue professional
“A remarkable resource for the modern warrior within us all.” Hal Myers, Ph.D., founder and CIO of Thought Technologies
“A compelling guide for all who are seeking to live wisely, meaningfully, resiliently, and courageously in these profound times.” Adam Engle, J.D., cofounder of the Mind and Life Institute

Joel and Michelle Levey pioneered the integration of contemplative science, deep resilience, and optimal performance into leading organizations around the globe for five decades. Founders of Wisdom at Work, they have dedicated their lives to personal transformation as a catalyst for profound social change. The Leveys live in Seattle and Hawaii.

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