So I’ve found something really cool. It’s called the Dōkkōdō or “Path of Aloneness” which is a series of 21 Precepts the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi wrote a week before his death.
I liked it because the precepts are very similar to my own values (although mine are not quite as ascetic) and puts into simple words what I strive to achieve. I’ll color code each precept to show how I feel about it and then follow up a little more in depth after each one.
What I strictly follow/agree with
What I’m working on
What I don’t strictly follow/agree with
- “Accept everything just the way it is.” - I often waste too much energy worrying about the past or how things will happen in the future, but….there’s not much I can really do about all that. I snap my fingers and try to center myself whenever I find that I’m straying too far away from the present.
- “Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.”
- “Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.” - I don’t fully understand what Musashi is trying to say here. I can see how it can apply to swordsmanship, but I’m still trying to see how it incorporates into everyday life.
- “Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.” – Naturally, this is how I am, but not nearly as much as I think I should be. I’m not personally looking to take this as far as constant self-sacrifice on behalf of the world, but I could be doing a whole lot more to benefit it.
- “Be detached from desire your whole life long.” - Well, I agree kinda, but not enough to make it a precept to live by. I’d try my best, but it’s one of those things that I’m not gonna kill myself over if I don’t follow it full heartedly.
- “Do not regret what you have done.” - If you live your life right, there’d be nothing to regret anyway.
- “Never be jealous.” - Okay, I’m guilty. I find myself getting jealous over my sister’s preferential treatment or friends’ more fortunate lives a lot, but then I ask myself “Why am I being so materialistic. Worldly possessions don’t really matter. They’re nice to have, but not the difference between life and death. Also, why would I want to be more like anybody else other than myself?”
- “Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.” - I think what Musashi was trying to say here was that it’s okay to feel sadness after separation, initially. It’s a healthy part of life to mourn, but don’t let it linger for too long. It becomes an unecessary burden. there’s more that I’m trying to say here, but I don’t know how to say it yet. Best I can get to is an analogy: Leaves falling of a branch in autumn. (Soooooo Japanese of me, right?)
- “Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself or others.” - Instead of resentment, either set a course of action to make things right or let go. Most of the time, it will probably come to the latter. Same goes for complaints. Nothing good comes of them, and are counterproductive.
- “Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.” - Heh, if he was influenced by samurai at all, then he was probably referring to celibacy. I don’t intend to take it that far at all, but I know where he’s coming from. Also, I think I know a little bit about what happens when you let love take the reins coughcoughrachelcough
- “In all things have no preferences.” - Say what now? Anywho, it just seems like this wouldn’t really apply to me enough to make the precept my own.
- “Be indifferent to where you live.” - Here, I think what he’s trying to say is that you miss out on too many of life’s experience if you stay in one place too long. Also attachment to worldly possessions can apply to real estate as well. All in all, a sedentary lifestyle is not that worthwhile. However, I do find value in settling down nowadays. A big difference in the way it was back in Musashi’s time and today is the sheer amount of experiences at our disposal. Now, we have a surplus of experiences. I think the task at hand in the present day is weeding out the worthwhile experiences (world travel, community service) from the wasteful ones (most of the trash that’s spouted from teh boob tube)
- “Do not pursue the taste of good food.” - Musashi. Dude. You’re crazy. Call it my greatest vice, but I love food. However, I do believe in all things moderation. This applies to food especially. Also, quality of food counts (enriching foods vs. McDonalds).
- “Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.” - it’s not that I disagree with it, I just don’t support it as strongly as Musashi does about it. I guess you could say it’s too ascetic for my tastes.
- “Do not act following customary beliefs.” - I can see where he’s coming from with this one, too, but I do see where it is beneficial to follow customary beliefs. Those beliefs hold value as well, and most were founded with good intention. However, customary beliefs should NEVER hold you back from progressing.
- “Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.” - I’m already breaking this. I have some ornamental katana, wakisashi, etc. from Chinatown on display on my dresser. Really, though, i’m kinda iffy on this precept. With martial arts especially, I believe in only learning practical uhhh…..practices. It’s good to be practiced in CQC, some jujitsu, and even to go so far as to say trapping. However, to learn swordsmanship today serves no practicality. It’s all for show. On the other hand, there are other lessons to be learned from these now impractical martial arts styles that apply to other aspects of life that I don’t think should be overlooked. As its name conveys, martial arts is an ART and unlike most art it is functional AND serves a purpose. Oy, I could go on and on about this so I’m gonna end it on this note: This precept does not just apply to weapons and fighting, but to life as well. I’ll leave it up to you to determine how (cuz I would probably end up with an essay length explanation)
- “Do not fear death.” - Sure, I still get scared sometimes, but for the most part I don’t fear it anymore. The problem is, my METHOD for not fearing it. This lack of fear sprouts more from ennui, and that’s something I’m trying to change. I’m still in the process of fully accepting death and all that comes with it, but for the RIGHT reasons.
- “Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.” - this one is just obsolete. Nuff said. (although alot can be said about hoarding wealth)
- “Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.” - This also applies to other religions. I’m not saying this is how everybody should believe, but it is definitely how I believe. I’ve always believed in God, but I don’t see Him as answering to my every beck and call. I think it’s kind of disrespectful. I mean, I think we were left here alone to learn, not to be babied around and holding His hand the whole way. It’s not that He’s completely detached from this world’; He still has a hand in it. However, I think there’s a reason why He’s not as involved as we’d all like to believe. I’m sure that could have been more delicately put, but I don’t know how to explain this one any other way. Hopefully you understand what I mean?
- “You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.” - I still have trouble defining what exactly honor is, but I do know that mine at the present is different from the traditional Japanese definition. Now, some of you may be thinking “Well this precept conflicts with what he was saying in precept 15.” I’ll tell you one thing. Honor is NOT a customary belief. Methods of preserving it are. I personally do not believe in seppuku.
- “Never stray from the Way.” - The way is a razor’s edge. On one side is a wall of great fire while the other is a torrential wave of water. I do believe I’ve burned myself quite a few times, and gotten wet to say the least. However, I’ll keep on trying for as long as I live.
Does any of this apply to the rest of you guys?
