As a physical being - I'm a good animal; As a mental being - I'm a compassionate man; As a spiritual being - I'm a passionate soul :):
Friday, December 10, 2021
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
7/12/21 Musashi's Dokkodo
This is my personal rendition of Musashi's legacy; the opening lines are from https://owlcation.com/humanities/Dokkodo. I am doing this as a mental note to myself. I try to be as minimalist as possible so as not to dilute Musashi's wisdom with my variation.
Dokkōdō
In the final days of his life, the mythical [legendary] Japanese samurai Musashi Miyamoto retreated to a cave called the Reigandō. (Spirit Rock Cave) In that cave, he spent the final months of his life meditating and writing his views on the world. While secluded in the cave he wrote two works. The Go Rin No Sho (Book of Five Rings) and the Dokkōdō. The Go Rin No Sho he imparted with all of his samurai martial arts. The Dokkōdō contains his very own soul. Each of these books is the result of years of his life spent as a samurai and ronin. While the works themselves speak of Japanese culture and sophistication, especially in the warrior class, he also speaks of strategy, combat, and the arts.
Both of these works are dedicated to his favorite disciple Terao Magonojo.
Lines of Wisdom
The Dokkōdō means "The Path of Aloneness" or "The Way to be Followed Alone". Musashi wrote this work a week before his death. It is 21 lines long, each line containing a different idea one would live by.
1. Accept Everything Just The Way It Is.
This resonates with my own philosophy in life. What I can control, I do my best. What I cannot control I have to let go. What I can control is my effort, what I cannot control is the result. That I let go.
2. Do Not Seek Pleasure For Its Own Sake.
As I read this percept, I am reminded to not pursue indulgence. I derive pleasure from doing things that bring benefit to my mind and body like running. reading, playing shogi, drawing, and writing (Run, Read, Rule, Render, Write). I normally lace them with music coming from TraXXfm or 24/7 Continuous.
3. Do Not, Under Any Circumstances, Depend On A Partial Feeling.
Move with certainty. Don't allow Fear, Doubt, and Certainty (FUD) to cloud your judgment. Doubt and genius don't coexist.
4. Think Lightly Of Yourself And Deeply Of The World.
This to me is the Attitude of Servitude. A samurai's job is to serve. Therefore a person with a samurai's mindset is to contribute towards the greater good of the society selflessly.
5. Be Detached From Desire Your Whole Lifelong.
In my opinion, this is non-neediness. You achieve this by being content. The koan for that is to look up for inspiration but to look down for satisfaction. The Arabic term for contentment is qanaah.
6. Do Not Regret What You Have Done.
Seize the day. Do your very best at a particular moment. Once you are done, move on without looking back. Otherwise, you are living in a loop.
7. Never Be Jealous.
Jealousy is the disease of the heart. It eats from within. When you are jealous, you operate from scarcity. There is never enough. The remedy is just a simple mindset change; think in abundance. There are plenty where it comes from when you think in abundance.
8. Never Let Yourself Be Saddened By A Separation.
This is true in the case of death and distance. In Malay, we have a saying, far from sight, close to heart. As long as you hold on to the secure attachment, death and distance are relative.
9. Resentment And Complaint Are Appropriate Neither For Oneself Nor Others.
Negative thoughts beget negative thoughts. If you allow weeds to grow in your garden, pretty soon they invade your garden. Keep pulling the weeds and burn them so that they become the fertilizer to nourish your plants.
10. Do Not Let Yourself Be Guided By The Feeling Of Lust Or Love.
A lot of men fell for this trap. They let their gonad do the thinking instead of their brain. Chances are they are not able to think straight under the influence of testosterone or dopamine. Most crimes of passion can be avoided should they follow this advice including excessive spending on the opposite sex,
11. In All Things Have No Preferences.
This is common sense; loyalty to none. Everything must be based on the best-case scenario.
12. Be Indifferent To Where You Live.
I like this very much. Whenever I am, that is home.
13. Do Not Pursue The Taste Of Good Food.
Eat to live not live to eat. The decision of what food to eat should be based on what is good for the body. Not just what is good for the tongue.
14. Do Not Hold On To Possessions You No Longer Need.
I totally agree with this precept. While some items you possess may just collect dust, they may be of service to others. Don't hold on to things. Another man's junk is another man's treasure. If you own them use them.
15. Do Not Act Following Customary Beliefs.
Act base on reason, not rote. To a certain extent, a warrior walks alone. After all, there is no truth beyond what you believe in.
16. Do Not Collect Weapons Or Practice With Weapons Beyond What Is Useful.
Even if you are a collector, don't collect in excess. Whatever you collect takes space and time to maintain. As I grow older, I realize that I am becoming less and less dependent on manufactured weapons and depend more on my limbs and bare knuckles.
17. Do Not Fear Death.
Death is just a transit. Rather than fearing death. we should think of living life disease-free. If we are living life with full rigor until our demise, that is the highest achievement a man can achieve.
18. Do Not Seek To Possess Either Goods Or Fiefs For Your Old Age.
As we get older, we should move towards liberation. Material possessions are good up to a certain point. Beyond that, we will experience the Law of Diminishing Return
19. Respect Buddha And The Gods Without Counting On Their Help.
If it is to be, then it is up to me. Man proposes God disposes of. God's delay is not God's denial,
20. You May Abandon Your Own Body But You Must Preserve Your Honor.
This is to me is to die with honor. It reminds me of the samurai credo; Shinu Kikai O Motomo (Looking for the Opportunity to Die). At the same time, it is a reminder for me to live a Principle-Centered Life.
21. Never Stray From The Way.
My way is the Athlete4Life lifestyle. This is the path that I choose though it is the path less traveled. In pursuing this lifestyle, I develop my own rituals and practices that I follow religiously
Epilogue
As a whole, I am happy Living the Martial Way. Yes indeed, it is the Way of Walking Alone. I don't mind at all, every day is a masterpiece in the making. Solitude is a choice and a resource, unlike loneliness. As a parting thought:
"The only place you can kiss your mirror reflection is on the mouth." - Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Avoir!
#traxxfm I managed to complete my personal rendition of Musashi's Dokkodo: sharudinjamal.blogspot.com/2021/12/171221
Personally, I resonate with his philosophy. So now is to reinforce that as my Code of Conduct.
I already have his Nine Percepts as my Universal Values:
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