More than a legendary figure or the greatest swordsman of all time, Miyamoto Musashi has dedicated his life to perfecting himself as a human being.
After winning no less than 61 deadly duels and developing his famous style of fighting with two swords (Niten Ichi-ryū), Musashi became a teacher of martial arts, strategy and Knowledge – transposing his wisdom far beyond combat as a warrior.
As the author of the famous “Go Rin No Sho”, The Book of Five Rings, his sharp thinking spans the centuries and can be used for the most different purposes, helping the personal development of anyone who is seeking inspiration for their own trajectory.
Here is some wisdom from his writings – and may the force be with you:
“It may seem difficult at first, but all things are difficult at first.”
“Do nothing that is of no use”
“Fixation is the way to death, fluidity is the way to life. This is something that should be well understood.”
“Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.”
“The fact of the matter is that the world does not care about you or me, our hopes, our desires, or our dreams. And, the world of dreams, hopes, and desires that is constructed between our ears it is not necessarily a reflection of what is actually going on around us.”
“Step by step walk the thousand-mile road.”
“Whatever the Way, the master of strategy does not appear fast.”
“Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is. And you must bend to its power or live a lie.”
“Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased. Even when your spirit is calm do not let your body relax, and when your body is relaxed do not let your spirit slacken. Do not let your spirit be influenced by your body, or your body be influenced by your spirit.”
“To know ten thousand things, know one well”
“Why would you want to appear as one thing and be another? If you are a warrior then you are a warrior and if you are not a warrior then you are not a warrior. The Way of the warrior is the Way of the warrior. To be a warrior, look like a warrior and stand like a warrior. Do not be false to yourself.”
“A bullet from a gun does not make a distinction between practice and combat. You are training to be one and the same way in your life”
“What I call the void is where nothing exists. It is about things outside man’s knowledge. Of course the void does not exist. By knowing what exist, you can know that which does not exist. That is the void.”
“It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet”
“There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.”
“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world”
“You can only fight the way you practice”
― Miyamoto Musashi
