The Book of Five Rings (Audio Book)

The Book of Five Rings

The Book of Five Rings was written nearly 400 years ago in Japan by Miyamoto Musashi. It is about swordsmanship and strategy. Due to it’s subject matter it’s difficult to draw lessons and parallels to the modern world without taking quite an abstract view of the author’s meaning. However there is an underlying philosophy running through it. It’s an important work which is still read today in Japan. 

There are several books within the Book of Five Rings. They are: The Ground Book; The Water Book; The Fire Book; The Wind (Tradition) Book; and finally, The Book of the Void.

Musashi emphasises the following points several times:

Get Beyond Love and Grief and Live for the Good of Man

Life presents us with different situations where we will feel either love or grief. The trick is not to yearn for love. Likewise we should not to get caught up in grief should a situation arise where we suffer the loss of someone we love.

Make your life about living to help others. This is the Warrior’s Way.

Do Nothing that is of No Use

Don’t have a flashy combat style, as this is of no practical use. Don’t complain, as this has no use. Do not waste time on meaningless tasks or pursuits. Everything that you do should be aligned with where you want to take your life to.

Step by Step Walk the Thousand Mile Path

Once you’ve determined where you want to be, be present in the moment and take it one step at a time.

Musashi also talks about being focused during a battle or duel; or dying. He no doubt was an expert at achieving a state of flow and achieved this by constant practice, rather than a typical form of meditation.

Self-absorption is a distraction and useless when it comes to battle. It’s also pretty bad for your mental health.

In Strategy You Must Know The Ways of Other Schools

If you learn one particular style of martial art, you should also get acquainted with other styles so that you know how to counter their approach to you should you need to defend yourself.

A Thousand Days of Training to Develop. Ten Thousand Days of Training to Polish

This quote sounds a lot like the 10,000 hours rule – to become a master at something, you need to practice for 10,000 hours. There’s also the 80/20 rule – in that you can gain 80% competency in 20% of the training required to become ‘masterful’ at something.

The 80/20 rule can actually be applied to lots of different scenarios – see this video.

Resentment and Complaint are Appropriate Neither for Oneself or Others

Complaining is pointless. Resentment is pointless. Both waste and take up energy, so don’t bother with either.

Do Not Act Following Customary Beliefs

Question everything. Conventional wisdom would have us believe that high carbohydrate diets are the healthiest – but are they? Lose your preconceived ideas and research it for yourself.

Accept Everything Just the Way it is

Go with the flow. Change things if you can, but if you cannot, just accept them.

Never let Yourself by Saddened by a Separation

If someone dies, or leaves, be respectful but not saddened. This serves no purpose.

Pragmatic Thinking is Essential

Observe your thought processes. Are you overthinking on life? Is what you are thinking helpful to you? You can always command your spirit to take the thoughts that you think from your head and put them into your heart. Then you will connect with your intuition and be able to follow your highest wisdom.

Being angry, jealous and resentful is generally not helpful, unless you can use these thoughts to motivate yourself to do something positive.

Feeling sorry for oneself is rarely helpful to anyone, so don’t do it.

It will seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first. Bows are difficult to draw, halberds are difficult to wield; as you become accustomed to the bow so your pull will become stronger.

Everything is difficult at first. Tolerate the struggle, learn, build strength and improve.

Quotes

1. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
2. Accept everything just the way it is.
3. Never be jealous.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
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. In all things have no preferences.
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. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
19. Do not fear death.
20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.
21. Never stray from the Way.
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