Miyamoto Musashi : (March 12, 1584 – June 23, 1645)
Miyamoto Musashi was one of the greatest Samurai fighters who fought 61 duels in his life without losing any. He wrote two books, namely ‘The Book of Five Rings’ and ‘The Path of Aloneness’, both of which were given to his most favorite student, Terai Megonojo, a week before his death. He was a swordsman, philosopher, strategist and ronin, a drifter. The first one deals with the strategy of fighting while in the second book, he mentioned 21 precepts of the way of life, from which one can really have an idea about his personality. All the precepts mentioned by him are very much relevant in all times. It’s a pleasure to share same with the readers today.
- Accept everything just the way it is.
- Do not take pleasure for its own sake.
- Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
- Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
- Be detached from desires, your whole life long.
- Do not regret what you have done.
- Never be jealous.
- Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
- Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor for others.
- Do not let yourself be guided by feelings of lust and love.
- In all things exercise no preference.
- Be indifferent to where you live.
- Do not pursue the taste of good food.
- Do not hold on the possessions which 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 of fiefs for your old age.
- Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
- You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.
- Never stray from your way or path…Each of the these precepts is a gem and hope all the readers will benefit from it…………..Om!