Category Archives: READING MATTER

Books I read & recommend

DOKKODO (THE PATH OF ALONENESS)

Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The “Dokkōdō” (Japanese: 独行道?) (“The Path of Aloneness”,  “The Way of Walking Alone“), is a short work written by Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵) a week before he died in 1645.

Precepts:

  1. Accept everything just the way it is.
  2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
  3. Do not give preference to anything among all things.
  4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
  5. Be detached from desire your whole life.
  6. Do not regret what you have done.
  7. Never be jealous.
  8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
  9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
  10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
  11. Do not seek elegance and beauty in all things.
  12. Be indifferent to where you live.
  13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
  14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
  15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
  16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
  17. Do not fear death.
  18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
  19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
  20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor.
  21. Never stray from the Way.

SURVIVING ETERNITY

Republished by Blog Post Promoter

ONE KNOWS

ONE DOES NOT DISCUSS ETHICS
WITH A SNAKE WHEN IT STRIKES.

ONE DOES NOT SEEK JUSTICE
IN THE JAWS OF A SHARK.

BANKERS, SOLDIERS, POLITICIANS,
AND PRIESTS WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

POWER, CONTROL AND POSSESSION
ARE THEIR NATURAL SCHEME.

BEINGS OF GOOD WILL TREAT EACH OTHER
AS THEY WOULD BE TREATED THEMSELVES.

EVERY CREATURE SURVIVES
ACCORDING TO ITS KIND.

GOOD AND EVIL ARE SEEN THROUGH
THE EYES OF PREDATORS AND PREY.

SURVIVAL IS AVOIDING PAIN.
PLEASURE IS LOVE ETERNALLY.

ONE KNOWS THAT SURVIVAL IS A GAME
THAT IMMORTAL SPIRITS CANNOT PLAY
UNLESS THEY FORGET THAT THEY ARE THEY.

______________________________

Lawrence R. Spencer. 2013.