Miyamoto Musashi, the sword master and founder of the school "of the two heavens" (jap. 二天一流, Niten Ichiryū), stated in his writings in various places that it is crucial not to have preferences. Only in this way, he said, could one succeed in battle. An example of this is the following quote from the Gorin-No-Sho (The Book of Five Rings):...
The customs of the samurai are characterized by fighting and disciplined practice. It is therefore not surprising that there is a quote from the most famous samurai that addresses both issues: "You can only fight the way you practice." - Miyamoto Musashi In this article, we will take a closer look at why the teachings...
Japan, the land of the rising sun, has a strong faith culture but also an impressive work ethic. The following quote from the 17th century, addresses these two aspects: "Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help." - Miyamoto Muashi What did the legendary samurati mean by these words? Muashi pointed out with these...
There are several quotes from Far Eastern philosophies that have a strong fascination for us Westerners. This quote from Miyamoto Musashi is one of them: "Fixation is the way to death. Flowing is the way to life." - Miyamoto Musashi What did the samurai, born in the sixteenth century, want to express with this statement?
Even if we are not always aware of it, a low income is not particularly well regarded socially. And this is despite the fact that low to medium salaries are actually the norm. A paradox that we will take a closer look at in this article. That and why a low income can actually be okay, as long as it's right for you....
There have certainly been situations in which you missed crucial things and the outcome was not as ideal as it could have been in retrospect. It was precisely to prevent such situations that the Japanese Rōnin included the following core statement in his teachings: Learn to look at the situation you are in as a whole. - Miyamoto Musashi, for example...
There is much more behind these words than just a simple phrase. Miyamoto Musashi did not give them a lot of meaning for nothing. Just because something sounds banal at first, we shouldn't simply dismiss it, and that's exactly how it is with this quote from the Japanese sword master and Zen Buddhist: "Accept everything as it is....
There are many wise quotes and often they sound like a rather trivial phrase. But that doesn't mean they hold much truth and great utility - if we take them to heart. This quote by Miyamoto Musashi belongs exactly to this category. Originating from the time of the samurai, it therefore still has relevance today: It...
The Japanese concept of Ikigai, has been making its way more and more into our western world for some time now. I have noticed, however, that we Westerners have imported this concept too - what would be the right word to describe it correctly - "clumsily". Too unreflective, respectively not holistic enough. And that brings problems with it. If...
If at some point during the pandemic you also felt a numbing sense of joylessness and aimlessness, you're not alone. It had been with me for months before I really realized what it was: Languishing. In psychology, the term defines the simple absence of well-being. This condition is in the...
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