The Philosophy of Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi’s later years marked a period of reflection on his life, accomplishments, and the profound wisdom he had gained through his martial journey. He was driven by the desire to pass on his knowledge and philosophy to future generations, which led him to write two of his most renowned works: “Dokkodo” and “The Book of Five Rings.” These books serve as valuable insights into his approach and tactics in battle, the philosophy of the samurai, and guidelines for living a meaningful life.
Musashi’s personal philosophy, as articulated in these works, centers on living in alignment with the Bushido, the traditional samurai code. At its core, Bushido emphasizes values such as respect, honor, integrity, honesty, courage, compassion, and loyalty. Musashi embodied these values in his own life and encouraged others to do the same.
Key principles that emerge from Musashi’s writings include the importance of self-discipline, the relentless pursuit of excellence in one’s chosen art, and unwavering focus on daily self-improvement. He demonstrated the willingness to forego immediate comfort and short-term gratification in favor of long-term goals, emphasizing the value of integrity and the preservation of honor.
Musashi’s philosophy also encourages individuals to push their boundaries, venture into the unknown, and carve their unique path in life. Self-mastery is a recurring theme in his works, advocating that one must strive to become the best version of themselves.
Throughout “The Book of Five Rings,” Musashi repeatedly stresses the importance of thoroughly investigating and understanding each concept he presents. He underscores the need for readers to fully grasp these principles and apply them in their lives, highlighting his commitment to the depth of knowledge and its practical application.
Musashi’s “Dokkodo” (The Way of Walking Alone) and “The Book of Five Rings” offer profound wisdom and insights into martial arts, philosophy, and the art of living. They encourage self-reflection, the pursuit of excellence, and a dedication to living a life of honor and integrity. Musashi’s philosophy remains timeless and continues to inspire individuals seeking to better themselves and find their path to personal growth and self-realization. His writings serve as an enduring source of guidance for those who aspire to follow a similar path of self-mastery, wisdom, and a life well-lived.
I want to allow you to read these quotes and works to sculpt your own understanding and ideas from them. I will be explaining my takeaways and perspective on them in the next blog.
Dokkodo (The way of walking alone)
- Accept everything just the way it is
- Do not seek pleasure for it’s own sake
- Do not under any circumstances, depend on partial feeling
- Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world
- Be detached from desire your whole life long
- Do not regret what you have done
- Never be jealous
- Never let yourself be saddened by separation
- Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others
- Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love
- In all things have no preferences
- Be indifferent to where you live
- Do not pursue the taste of good food
- Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need
- Do not act following customary beliefs
- Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful
- Do not fear death
- Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age
- Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help
- You may abandon your body but you must preserve your honor
- Never stray from the way
“Generally speaking, the way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death”
“The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things.”
“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy’s cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.”
“Even if you kill an enemy, if it is not based on what you have learned it is not the true Way.”
“It is not difficult to wield a sword in one hand; the Way to learn this is to train with two long swords, one in each hand. It will seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.”
“Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet situations without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased.”
“Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is. And you must bend to its power or live a lie.”
“There is nothing outside yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside yourself.”
“Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy, it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.”
“Do nothing that is of no use”
“You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain”
“If you wish to control others you must first control yourself”
“All man are the same except for their belief in their own selves, regardless of what others may think of them”
“If you do not control the enemy, the enemy will control you”
“To know ten thousand things, know one well”
“from one thing, know ten thousand things.”
“You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you.”
“If the enemy thinks of the mountains, attack like the sea; and if he thinks of the sea, attack like the mountains.”
“Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.”
“It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet.”
Thank you for reading. Look forward to seeing you on the next blog!