Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) was the greatest ever swordsman that the Japan had ever seen. According to the legend, he was never defeated in a duel. Born to a Samurai family of ordinary means, he abandoned his home earlier because of his abusive father. He took the sword as his way of life. He spent 4 years of his lifetime in forests mastering the art of swordsmanship. He fought in the battle of Sekkigahara but on the losing side. He came unannounced to challenge many legendary swordsmen of his time. Most of them were a duel to the death. He defeated Yoshioka brothers in Kyoto, defeated lance wielding monks at Nara and defeated the legendary swordsman Sasaki Kojiro. He travelled extensively throughout Japan. His sword was just a tool for attaining perfection. It is an art for mind control and a tool for attaining enlightenment. He was a ronin and was a master artist. During his last days of his life, he compiled his teachings into the now famous ‘book of five rings’ and these were his last teaching before he left the mortal world. He summed up his lifetime experiences in these 21 precepts.
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| Musashi with a wooden sword defeated Kojiro in a single stroke. |
1. Accept everything just the way it is.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
3. Do not give preference to anything among all things.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
11. Do not seek elegance and beauty in all things.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
17. Do not fear death.
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor.
21. Never stray from the way.
Thank You.
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mhj, looks from imitation of christ
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