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Well, that was a long absence... sweatdrop

-i have a gentlemen asking me for information on samurai and I thought I might share a poem I found;


The Samurai Creed


I have no parents; I make the heavens and earth my parents.
I have no home; I make the Tan T'ien my home.
I have no divine power; I make honesty my divine power.
I have no means; I make docility my means.
I have no magic power; I make personality my magic power.
I have neither life nor death; I make A Um my life and death.

I have no body; I make stoicism my body.
I have no eyes; I make the flash of lightning my eyes.
I have no ears; I make sensibility my ears.
I have no limbs; I make promptitude my limbs.
I have no laws; I make self-protection my laws.

I have no strategy; I make the right to kill and restore life my strategy.
I have no designs; I make seizing opportunity by the forelock my designs.
I have no miracles; I make righteous laws my miracle.
I have no principles; I make adaptability to all circumstances my principle.
I have no tactics; I make emptiness and fullness my tactics.

I have no talent; I make ready wit my talent.
I have no friends; I make my mind my friend.
I have no enemy; I make incautiousness my enemy.
I have no armour; I make benevolence my armour.
I have no castle; I make immovable mind my castle.
I have no sword; I make No Mind my sword.

-well, there it is. I found it on a site somewhere. Thought it had some great wisdoms in it. Thought I'd share it with those of you who haven't seen or read it before.

-Also, I thought I share some things from the Book of Five Rings itself;

THE WAY OF SELF-RELIANCE

1. Do not turn your back on the various ways of this world.

2. Do not scheme for physical pleasure.

3. Do not intend to rely on anything.

4. Consider yourself lightly; consider the world deeply.

5. Do not ever think in acquisitive terms.

6. Do not regret things about your own personal life.

7. Do not envy another's good or evil.

8. Do not lament parting on any road whatsoever.

9. Do not complain or feel bitterly about yourself or others.

10. Have no heart for approaching the path of love.

11. Do not have preferences.

12. Do not harbor hopes for your own personal home.

13. Do not have a liking for delicious food for yourself.

14. Do not carry antiques handed down from generation to generation.

15. Do not fast so that it effects you physically.

16. While it's different with military equipment, do not be fond of material things.

17. While on the way, do not begrudge death.

18. Do not be intent on possessing valuables or a fief in old age.

19. Respect the gods and buddhas, but do not depend on them.

20. Though you give up your life, do not give up your honor.

21. Never depart from the way of the Martial Arts.


-All of these are very wise; among my favorites are numbers 3, 4, 11, 16, 19, 20 and 21.


For those of you studying the martial arts, there are rules for puting it into practice;

1. Think without any dishonesty.

2. Forge yourself in the way.

3. Touch upon all the arts.

4. Know the ways of all occupations.

5. Know the advantages and disadvantages of everything.

6. Develop a discerning eye in all matters.

7. Understand what cannot be seen by the eye.

8. Pay attentyion to even small things.

9. Do not involve yourself with the impractical.


That was a list of rules for martial artists, from the Book of Five Rings, also.

When I find more material or think of anything to write, I will make another entry,

-feel free to comment on my entries or PM me.

Itakimasu! ninja