Awake and Fearless

I’m a believer in the power of applied humanities. In other words, I believe great works of art, especially literature and film, aren’t just for passive consumption. While there is something to be said for the sheer sense of well-being we can gain from viewing and contemplating art, we can also strive to actively use the emotions and thoughts generated by art in our daily lives. We can transform those thoughts and emotions into positive action to benefit ourselves and others.

An example of applied humanities—or, more specifically, applied literature—is explored in my vlog series called “The If Project.” During the nine-part series, I take Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” and discuss the life lessons found in the text, and consider their practical, everyday application in life.

Another great work of literary art from which I pull inspiration is Frank Herbert’s Dune. If you’ve never read it, I highly suggest you do so! Though it’s considered science fiction, like all masterpieces of literature it transcends genre. Dune carries messages about a wide range of subjects, from environmentalism and religious zealotry to politics and the dangers of blindly following powerful people. A new film adaptation of the book is slated to be released this year. Though, of course, I can’t speak to the upcoming film’s quality sight-unseen, I’m hoping it will at least serve to spark interest in the book.

There are two concepts from Dune I’d like to explore in this article. They have served me well over time, and I encourage you to consider incorporating them into your daily practices. They have become mantras for me, tools of mindfulness to focus and calm myself during the ups and downs of life. I hope they can be of similar benefit to you as well.

The Sleeper Must Awaken

This bit of wisdom actually straddles both the book and the 1984 Dune movie directed by David Lynch. I’d also recommend watching Lynch’s film, by the way. While it has its flaws and questionable digressions from the source material, it is ambitious, psychedelic, and has a star-studded cast.

One of the themes in Dune is the celebration of the human intellect. This includes the importance of cultivating our consciousness, which separates us from all other animals. In the novel, Paul Atreides is tested to see if he can resist the urge to run away from pain, and therefore prove his ability to consciously control his instincts. At another point in the novel, Paul references the training of his mind and body as having “awakened the sleeper” within him, in conjunction with the influence of his genetic heritage and the substance called “the spice.” In Lynch’s film, Paul’s father Leto tells his son that “without change something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.”

The lesson here is to remember we have a tendency to slip into a mindless routine in the course of life. We can be lulled by repetition and habit into sleepwalking through our days. Unless we find ways to remind ourselves to live consciously, we often only awaken because of forces outside ourselves. Instead of depending on the whims of random chance to shock us out of our stupor, we should train ourselves to make a habit of living with intention. In addition, the lesson includes the understanding that change doesn’t have to be only negative. While often unpleasant, change can be an opportunity to awaken and retake control of our lives in a conscious way.

Ultimately, you can use the phrase “the sleeper must awaken” as part of a meditative practice, make it a screen saver on your devices, or even get a tattoo of the phrase if you’re so inclined. However you incorporate it into your life, it’s a means to inspire mindfulness and a willingness to embrace change.

The Litany Against Fear

In Dune, a secretive group called the Bene Gesserit have many practices to control their minds and bodies. One of their tools is the Litany Against Fear. It’s like a prayer they repeat in order to calm themselves in the face of difficulty. The Litany is as follows:

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. When it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

Fear is inevitable, but we can overcome its effects through conscious practices. Using deep breathing exercises, visualization, the recitation of inspirational words like the Litany Against Fear, and other techniques, we can mitigate the effects of our worries. The Litany is also a reminder that fear can “kill” our higher mental functions and cause us to react to things without thought. But if we don’t resist it and let the feeling pass, we realize it is only temporary in the grand journey of our existence. In the end, like all emotions, fear is actually one of our inner resources that can be harnessed for our use.

Control Yourself, Control Your Universe

I encourage you to explore the lessons awaiting you in great art like Dune. The wisdom to be found can give you deeper insight into your own human condition. Within each of us is a universe of possibility. If you take the opportunity to learn from timeless works of the human imagination, and strive to make self-awareness a priority, you’ll gain greater control of yourself and the universe within.

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