Life Lessons from Japan's Greatest Samurai
Do you know who Musashi Miyamoto is?
He was an artist, sculptor, calligrapher, and most notably, a Buddhist and a swordsman.
He was born in 1584 and died in 1645. In his later years, Musashi spent much of his time alone meditating and writing in the Reigandō cave of western Japan.
Musashi is regarded as Japan’s greatest samurai. These are some of his teachings:
Accept everything the way it is
Allow life to flow naturally. This does not mean become apathetic but rather don’t make things worse.Do not seek pleasure for pleasure’s sake
This creates an endless loop that can never be satisfied. Appreciate each moment for what it is and remain happy even if you aren’t experiencing pleasure.
Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world
Focus on helping others over serving your own ego. Be humble.Preserve your honor
Again, stay humble. Do the right thing and never stray from the righteous path.Be detached from earthly desires
Be comfortable and grateful for what you have right now.Do not let regret control you
You can’t change the past. Learn from what happened but do not dwell needlessly.Never be jealous
Jealousy is usually rooted in insecurity with one’s self. Be grateful for who you are and what you have.Never be saddened by separation
Appreciate what you have shared with another. Dwelling in sadness won’t help you be any closer to the one you wish to be with.Resentment and complaint are not appropriate
They only raise your own toxicity. When necessary, take action to uphold what is righteous and true but remain in control of how you react.Do not be guided by feelings of lust
It will only fulfill you temporarily.Do not pursue only the taste of good food
Focus on eating for nourishment. Desiring only what tastes good leads to addiction.Do not keep possessions you don’t need
If something isn’t benefitting your life, get rid of it. Only collect what is useful.Do not fear death
Fighting against it will only cause anxiety. The human body is just a physical container. It is our soul that we should strive to preserve.
Do you have an interest in Japanese culture just as I do?
Yes? Well, then we’re not the only ones!
The Returned Messiah, Lord RayEl, has a special place in his heart for Japan and the Japanese people. To learn more about the reason why click here
If this is shocking news and you have not yet learned of Christ's return, then click here
Love God. Love Each Other.
Japan and their people have always been amazaing to me. Musashi was someone I studied when I was learning swordplay.
I also like Musashi!
And master the versatility of dual wielding in both swordsmanship and life.
I've had this image on my computer for a few years now myself. I like to think of it when I encounter the drivel of new-age philosophy claiming thoughts control reality. Sure, there's a relationship, but nobody ever got wise by telling themselves they were wise, and nobody ever got rich by telling themselves they were billionaires. The rich men have something to sell, and the wise have experience.
I believe I have heard of him...
I've always been fascinated by Japan and its history and culture even when I was a child. I think I must have been there in a past life or two. He was very wise and his words should inspire and remind us all to keep moving forward and bettering ourselves. Thanks, brother!
I love the quote from him