The Legend of the Ronin Philosophy of Life.
How the Principles of the “Masterless” Samurai Musashi are timeless & still relevant to this day.
During the Feudal period (1185–1868) in Japan, A Samurai who had lost his master or his elder's blessings was known as a “Ronin”. The meaning of Ronin was also associated with people who were looked upon as social outcasts and in the feudal age, warriors who broke the code of honorable death — Seppuku. Seppuku was an customary act of ritual suicide that a samurai had to follow if he was defeated in battle or combat or in most cases if he was unable to protect his master.
Other Samurais usually discriminated against these warriors( Ronins) because of their masterless & social identity. The Ronins were samurais who had lost or abandoned their fight, & had their nation conquered. They are greatly remembered for their fearless & solitary way of living life. Most importantly their will to master their craft was second to none.
One such example was Miyamoto Musashi, regarded as Japan's greatest swordsman, who had survived the battle of ‘Sekigahara’ when serving general Hideyori. He was a devoted follower of Buddhism, & an artist. He has a book named ‘Dokkudu’ in which he has laid down the principles of life for those who have taken the solitary path of life. Even though the book was written at a very old period, the principles can still be adopted to this age.
The book( Dokkudo) highlights 21 principles in total, but I have listed the seven Major principles which I believe provide great insight into his philosophy.
Accepting the current state of life
Musashi states that in order to move ahead in life, one should always accept things for what they are. By this, he means an individual's present social status, however good or bad it is, he should have the courage & the humility to make peace with it. It might be his profession, family, or anything else if he is unable to accept the reality of things, then that individual gives way for resentment and jealousy to absorb him, which proves to be detrimental for him. Acceptance of ourselves and life's current state is key for progress according to Musashi.
Don't seek pleasure for the sake of it.
Seeking pleasure leads to addiction to everything according to Musashi. He says that one should refrain from doing things in order to gain pleasure. For if one goes by that ideology, disappointment lies ahead. Pleasure should be a byproduct of your efforts says, Musashi. In other words, it should come naturally or you should let it happen instead of chasing it. This is easier said than done but there is no harm in trying it.
Never let partial feelings rule your mind and actions.
I believe this principle is true in so many aspects of life. It reminds me of the quote ‘A word said can never be taken back especially if it something said out of anger, hatred. This also applies if you are confessing your love or affection towards your family, friends, or lover. Musashi believes an individual should never make a decision if he is emotional because it diminishes the logic & reasoning while making an official decision about something. Here he also takes into account feelings of laziness, temporary urges, Conformity. Never depend on partial or temporary feelings says, Musashi.
Don't take yourself seriously in anything.
An individual should realize that not everything revolves around him, and there are many more significant factors and issues in the world which require more attention and assistance states, Musashi. In simple words, one shouldn't be too absorbed in himself, or his successes or failures otherwise he might become delusional or self-centered. Musashi asks us to think deeply about the world or things around us & think lightly about ourselves. Finding the perfect balance between Ego & superego.
Jealousy is not good for the soul.
Jealousy towards another person's success, social standing corrupts the soul. It is never a good thing to let jealousy dictate your feelings and action towards someone because it might lead to good results from a competitive standpoint , but in the long run, that feeling will burn out the individual from within. Musashi accurately says Jealousy gives way to resentment.
Try to keep away from desires.
Attachment is the root of all suffering said, Gautam Buddha. More so placing a high value on those desires which are external might lead to unhappiness. Musashi tells that that our internal compass can be controlled by us. If an individual desires a lot it will lead him to addiction. This will lead to a chain reaction that will end with unhappiness for us says, Musashi.
The past should be a source of Inspiration, not Regret.
Acknowledging the past is the best way to face the future. You should never regret the mistakes or the things you have done in the past, as long as you are mindful of your actions and the impact they had on people. Musashi believes that mistakes done in the past can act as a reminder to not repeat them in future circumstances. The past can also be viewed as a source of wisdom that will help us to make a better decision that leads to a good result in the future. Dalai Lama's quote sums up this principle perfectly.
‘’When you lose, dont lose the lesson’’ — By Dalai Lama
