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An Art of Spiritual Warfare: A Guide to Lasting Inner Peace Based on Sun Tsu's The Art of War

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Grant Schnarr is someone who has experienced addictions and has had many spiritual battles of his own. He is now a Swedenborgian minister, and uses the lessons of his spiritual battles to help his readers understand ways to make more spiritual progress. In The Art of Spiritual Warfare, he draws on 13 selected readings from Sun Tzu's, The Art of War (often a source for thinking about business strategy), as the base for pursuing our own spiritual journeys. Candor about his own life and thoughts make this book more appealing and useful.

If you are not familiar with Sun Tzu, he was a profound thinker about the strategy of warfare who lived in China about 2,000 years ago. He is best known for the book that is the basis of this one. That description makes it sound like he was some kind of militant war-monger. Actually, Sun Tzu was more of what I would call a "judo" thinker -- use your enemy's strengths and weaknesses to avoid battle and retain the upper hand. "Those who win every battle are not really skillful -- those who render others' armies helpless without fighting are the best of all . . . ." He especially counseled on the importance of spies to help you understand the enemy and advance thinking to select the ground for confrontation in a way that would give you an overwhelming advantage that would discourage the enemy from attacking. So, long before Freud, Sun Tzu was really looking at the nature of human psychology to appreciate how to influence it positively for yourself in the very dangerous business of military preparations and battle.

The strength of this book is that Grant Schnarr is very effective in translating Sun Tzu's principles into insights about how to know yourself better and make spiritual progress easier and more certain. The book is simple, clear, and well-written.

For example, in chapter 4, he cites Sun Tzu as saying "In ancient times skillful warriors first made themselves invincible and then watched for vulnerability in their opponents . . . ." Mr. Schnarr interprets that meaning that we need to focus on ourselves, to "become strong in areas that are weak, seek health where there is spiritual sickness, and build upon the moral and spiritual strengths which already exist within." To do this, he proposes using spiritually guided meditation to prepare stronger defenses against one's own negative feelings. You will still have the negative feelings, but you learn to control them before acting on them. You are then able to step outside the passion of the moment and see yourself objectively, and select the action (or inaction) that best serves your spiritual needs.

There were several useful insights that I received from this book that had never occurred to me before. Perhaps they will help you, too. First, if you find negative thoughts and actions are associated with a given situation . . . stay out of that situation. He tells the story about a woman who fought with her son every morning about getting ready for school on time. This was tearing their relationship apart and making both of them feel terrible all day. Mr. Schnarr recommended that she ask her husband to handle this with their son, instead. The father and son had few problems, and the mother was able to stay in bed. Everyone was much better off.

Second, if you are finding a given spiritual conflict too difficult, retreat and work on an easier one. For example, if you cannot control your anger, but can control your overeating, work on the latter. The spiritual strength that you gain from making progress where you are strong enough to do so will serve you well in those areas where you are not. Eventually, you can return to working on your anger and expect to be more successful because your spiritual capability has grown.

Third, get a better understanding of when you are at your best and worst spiritually. Then use those understandings to week out the former circumstances and avoid the latter. Also, learn to change the way you think in the latter situations. To me, this is a most valuable concept for introspection.

Last year, I attended a discussion of spirituality that left me feeling quite challenged. The speaker, a rabbi, proposed that the correct spiritual standard was to have no thought of doing the wrong thing spiritually or physically. That seemed impossible and unattainable. But Mr. Schnarr's advice helped me see that by organizing my life correctly, I could spend more time in circumstances and thoughts that would leave me with no such temptations. Thank you for these insights!

The book is organized so that each chapter begins with a quotation from Sun Tzu. Frequently, that quotation is also used as part of the text of the chapter. Then you will find examples of spiritual battles, and how Sun Tzu's principle can be applied to them. Next is a brief section called "Further Applications" that looks specifically at one or two examples. Finally, there are tasks (usually three) at the end of each chapter to help you apply what you have just learned. Often these tasks involve introspection and meditation. I found the tasks to be very helpful. In an appendix, there is a guide for using these materials in a workshop if you wish to teach them to others. This is perfect for a mountain retreat type of conference.

After you have finished the book and applied its lessons, I have another task for you. Think of a book that has profoundly influenced you for the better. Write down the 10 most important lessons that you learned from that book. Then, spell out how to apply those lessons to improving the spiritual lives of those you care most about. After you have done that, repeat the process with another influential book. This will keep you on the spiritual offensive and help you become stronger spiritually.

May health, happiness, peace, and prosperity follow you all the days of your life!

I've read a lot of spiritual warfare books, and also Eastern warrior philosophy. What is different about this book is that it draws from all sides of the issue. The Eastern discipline is here, and the best of Sun Tzu, Lao Tzu, Buddha, and the others, but you can definitely see Schnarr's Christian leanings about the battle against the "dark forces" and about the conflict between devils and angels. What this does is instead of alienating one side or the other, the book appeals to the best in all. Whether it's the Holy War of Islam, the conquering of self of Eastern philosophy, or the bold fight against the forces of evil in Judeo-Christian terms, it's all there, and all are called to battle. I also like that the battle starts with the individual, and is not some sort of call to change the world and forget about your own problems. He says if you want to change the world, begin with yourself. It's the best book on spiritual warfare I have ever read.

This book is so effective because it teaches us how to honestly evaluate our thoughts and behavior. It inspires us to want to change for our own happiness and for the sake of others, without self-condemnation. Tackling destructive thoughts and behavior becomes exciting work. It teaches us how to look to a higher power to do this. Because of the universal truths involved in spiritual battle as described by Grant Schnarr, we can use the book and still feel true to our personal religious faiths. It also will greatly appeal to readers for whom traditional religions haven't worked. Anyone who feels something is missing in their life, who feels disconnected from others by depression, anxiety, or boredom or who needs a fresh approach to personal growth will love this book. I see it as especially useful for young men because it engages the masculine mind to do spiritual battle in a way that inspires the best that is within them. This, in turn, brings a sense of connectedness to other people, fulfillment and a sense of peace. It can be very effective for everyone, but I think this book is ground breaking for men who have been looking for the right approach--creative and active--to personal growth.

A Guide to Inner Peace based on Sun Tzu's Art of War? Well think about it--this is a world of paradoxes. What is the biggest obstacle to achieving inner peace? Perhaps it is our own self. What if we waged a war against our inner negativity, our doubts and our fears? Could we use the optimal book on war to conquer our inner demons and establish a beachhead for a state of personal bliss? This book gives detailed advice on how to view your internal dialogues as potential enemies and allies and finding peace. Remaining always aware and alert to how we think and believe is great advice. The book realigned how I view my personal commitment to self improvement.

Michael Peter Langevin Publisher of Magical Blend Magazine Issue # 73 through Nov. 2000

Grant Schnarr has successfully interpreted and applied Sun Tzu's ancient military teachings to our own individual spiritual lives and battles.

This book is a well written and easily readable resource for anyone pursuing a journey of self-improvement and spiritual growth. It is unique in its application of ancient Chinese wisdom in a modern spiritual context. Already embraced by leaders of the men's movement, I predict this book will reach far beyond any one movement or group of people.

As a physician, who is also a martial arts student and someone interested in spiritual development, I find this book to be very useful and entertaining.

Mr. Schnarr is to be congratulated on writing a book that brings together ideas from ancient Chinese thought, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity and other religions. He forms a cohesive vision of spiritual development and growth that encompasses all people who have a sincere interest in spiritual growth. By growing ourselves we help others.

As Mr. Sncharr writes towards the end of the book; "...by walking with intention and nobility, as a true spiritual warrior, you make this world a better place for all of us."

This book gets right down to it. It's about the battle between you and your own destructive wants and desires. This book helped me move beyond recovery to FREEDOM!

I thought this book combined spiritual teachings with practicalities in a brilliant way. This isn't just a book you read and put down. You can read it again and again and get new meaning. It's deep, especially Sun Tzu's teachings which have been used as tactics to fight our own shortcomings. But it's also very practical, and Schnarr's personal examples hit home.

I have the utmost respect for the spirituality and integrity of the friend who urged me to get this book. I tried but couldnt read it... way too much structure and information and it felt to religious... will try again.