Miyamoto Musashi is widely considered to be the greatest samurai warrior, if not the greatest warrior of all time. He fought hundreds of battles to the death, never losing a single one. After he wrote his famous “The Book of Five Rings,” he wrote down his “21 Ways of Self-Reliance.” Below are the 21 points that he lived his life by:
- Do not stubbornly rebel against the ways of the world.
- Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
- Do not rely upon any half-hearted feelings.
- Think lightly of yourself and think deeply of the world.
- Remain detached from desire.
- Do not regret what you have done.
- Never be jealous of others.
- Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
- Abandon resentment and complaint.
- Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of love.
- Disregard your personal preferences.
- Accept your dwelling and living conditions.
- Do not pursue the taste of good food.
- Do not hoard ancient treasures intended for future generations.
- Do not mindlessly follow the ways of the world.
- Do not become obsessed with weapons or fighting.
- Do not run from death.
- Do not accumulate goods and riches for your old age.
- Respect the gods, without relying on their help.
- You can abandon your own body, but never let go of your honor.
- Never depart from the way of strategy.
It is easy to see why a man who lived his life through these principles was so accomplished. How do you stack up to these principles? Do you follow any of them?
