Heroes

The video about the Hero's Journey spoke of the metaphors in pop culture (like Star Wars) and the general meaning of a hero's journey.

First we should define heroes- they are the people that sacrifice themselves for the good of others, complete an amazing feat, or stray outside the realm of the "expected" and "average" to contribute positively to society. When I think of heroes, I think of Olympic athletes (they all face more adversities and pain in training than most normal people), mythological figures like Hercules, spiritual figures like Jesus, and everyday people who stepped forward to help others and sacrifice their own well-being and comfort.

Metaphorically, the heroes journey, no matter what the circumstances, are all based on the universal quest of enlightenment. In video games, the goal may well be to reach the last level, and to conquer the last enemy....but according to Campbell, the last enemy is always something we prize- our mind.

Our ego is much like a dragon; it guards the illusions we hold dear, and in return imprisons us in our own limited and disordered thinking. Many self-help gurus speak of the "Power of Now".....but instead of this, we all trap ourselves in our thoughts. The hero in all of us wants to conquer this enemy, and the last triumph, the defining moment of the hero, is the disowning of the ego. Jesus and the Buddha embarked on journeys of spiritual awakening and were tempted by three different temptations, which represent the ego. In Star Wars, Luke is tempted by Darth Vader to "go to the dark side", which is a metaphor for giving into the ego. By using "The Force", Jesus, the Buddha, and Luke Skywalker managed to achieve something few realize.....the knowledge of the pure goodness at our core, and the wisdom to dispel our darkest egoic tendencies. The true hero is the one who learns these truths....so in the end, we can all be heroes.