Musashi

I just finished reading a book I've read at least a hundred times in my life to date. I will most likely read it another hundred times before I am done and I'll probably never fully understand it. The concepts that the author brushed onto paper hundreds of years ago in a cave along the hillside of Japan still has profound lessons for martial artists today.

In the Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi lays out the philosophy that lead him to win over 60 duels in his life but he doesn't do so in the same way a teacher today would do. A modern martial arts manual would read: "Do step one, see the picture? Look like that then do step two." But in a way that truly speaks to the warrior poet in me Musashi says stand in a natural way, hold your sword like this, contemplate the meaning of the next 3 books, harness your spirit and you will be unbeatable!

He didn't use marketing tools, he wasn't trying to expand his readership or his school's membership. Musashi lived in caves or in hillside wilderness for most of his life, comfort and riches were not things he cared for. He didn't write for royalties or for fame, he was actually dying at the point he finished his great work. No, he wanted his students to understand... to know The Way. To know that it doesn't matter if you have perfect technique, if you do not have mind, body and spirit in focus you will fail and die.

He lived as I wish to live, unfettered, unadorned and he simply was. When he fought, he did so with his whole heart and devoted his full attention to the moment. He didn't concern himself with life and death, wining or losing, only with this moment. When he decided to paint, he did so in the same manner and created beautiful works of art. He brought that same focus to the moment to the arts of sculpting, poetry, carpentry and flower arranging.

In my own life, I sincerely hope I never need to fight another duel... but I do want to have that same focus in the moment that Musashi used in so many other arts. I have a lot going on right now, and the focus of a warrior is definately something that will come in handy.

<3 Danger