AT THE END OF HIS 'CAREER'

     Musashi reflected on his mantra of life that the sword is widsom, ask the sword etc.  Finally, he said 'Was the sword essentially only weapon'  M.M.   Insteresting...

Auv Wanting to ieu mddg entrained

STUDYING THE WAY OF STRATEGY IS BASED ON OVERCOMING MEN

WHEN YOU CANNOT BE DECEIVED BY MEN YOU WILL HAVE LEARNED THE WAY OF STRATEGY

THE STANCE

“Stance in Strategy Adopt a stance with the head erect, neither hanging down, nor looking up, nor twisted. Your forehead and the space between your eyes should not be wrinkled. Do not roll your eyes nor allow them to blink, but slightly narrow them. With your features composed, keep the line of your nose straight with a feeling of

slightly flaring your nostrils. Hold the line of the rear of the neck straight: instill vigor into your hairline, and in the same way from the shoulders down through your

entire body. Lower both shoulders and, without the buttocks jutting out, put strength into your legs from the knees to the tips of your toes. Brace your abdomen so that

you do not bend at the hips. Wedge your companion sword in your belt against your abdomen, so that your belt is not slack - this is called "wedging in".”

MAKE YOUR EVERYDAY STANCE YOUR COMBAT STANCE

The gaze should be large and broad. This is the twofold gaze 'perception and sight'. Perception is strong and sight is weak.

In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things. It is important in strategy to know the enemy's sword

and not to be distracted by insignificant movements of his sword. You must study this. The gaze is the same for single combat and for large-scale strategy.

It is necessary in strategy to be able to look to both sides without moving the eyeballs. You cannot master this ability quickly. Learn what is written here; use this gaze

in everyday life and do not vary it whatever happens." -

TREAD FIRMLY WITH YOUR HEALS. ALWAYS NORMAL WALKING  

The principle of strategy is knowing one thing to know ten thousand things

When you have attained the way of strategy there will not be one thing you cannot see

The principle of this book is that you must train day and night

The way of strategy is based on overcoming people

When you cannot be deceived by people then you will have learned the way of strategy.

The way of the ichi school is the way of winning

Speed is not part of The Way of Strategy

The way of the warrior does not include others way

If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything

All things entail rising and falling timeing from the outset you must know the applicable and innaplicable timing...the distance timing...the

background timing is especially important. You win in battles by knowing the timing of the void born of the timing of cucnning by knowing the

enemies timing and using timing the enemy does not expect.

ALL THE 5 BOOKS ARE CHIEFLY CONCERNED WITH TIMING

This is for people who want to know my method:

1. Do not think dishonestly. 

2. The Way is in training. 

3. Become acquainted with every art.

4. Know the Ways of all professions. 

5. Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters 

6. Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for everything

7. Perceive those things which cannot be seen

8. Pay attention even to trifles. 

9. Do nothing which is of no use. 

Miyamoto Musashi was not just a violent warrior. Raised as a Buddhist by his uncle, Musashi followed a deeply spiritual and

cultivated path. He founded his own school of swordsmanship, the Niten Ichi-ryū school—which translates to “the school of the

strategy of two heavens as one,” a reference to Musashi’s trademark technique of fighting with two swords. His Book of Five

Rings is a classic in the philosophy and practice of martial arts, rivaled in popularity in the West only by Sun Tzu’s The Art of

War. The Book of Five Rings is a treatise on the “Way of strategy” broken into five books: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and

Emptiness.

The “Way of Strategy”of Miyamoto Musashi is equivalent to the Chinese “Tao.” It’s taken to mean the whole life of the warrior and

his devotion to the sword. “Generally speaking,” Musashi wrote, “the Way of the warrior is the resolute acceptance of death.”

The conclusion of the Book of Earth in The Book of Five Rings contains one of its most famous passages: Musashi’s Nine Precepts

for conduct and success. They contain universal wisdom not limited to swordsmanship, and can be applied to anything that

anyone does in life.

You are your own warrior following your own path. Let Miyamoto Musashi’s Nine Precepts be your map.

YOU WILL COME TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY BEAT MEN IN FIGHTS AND WIN WITH YOUR EYE

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BEAT TEN MEN WITH YOUR SPIRIT

The Four Oaths

“When you embark on something,” Musashi wrote, “before you start, fix your intention on the Four Oaths and put selfishness

behind you. Then you cannot fail.”

“The Four Oaths: 

1. Never be late with respect to the Way of the warrior. 

2. Be useful to the lord. 

3. Be respectful to your parents. 

4. Get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of man.”

Be aware of those things which cannot be easily seen with the eye. Develop intuitive judgment and a mind that freely controls

one’s body.

Don’t engage in useless activity. Don’t argue about useless things. Concentrate on your duties.

Itent on sath

then they are ridable

stickness is good entanglement is poor.

when you appreciate the power and timing of nature...

post unknown, unknowable, defeated and dismissed

there is timing in everything. cannot be mastered without a great deal of practice timing and rhythm in the

military in all skills there is also timing in the void in the whole life of the warrior all things entail rising and

falling timeing from the outset you must know the applicable timing first see the distance timing and the

background timing this is the main thing in strategy the timing of the void born of the timing of cunning

using the timing the enemy does not expect. broken rhythm too here there-up down-open-close=in

out....the way is in traning.. when you cannot be deceived by men you will have learned the way of

strategy. research the principles of strategy ceacelessly. combat stance everyday stance gaze large and

broad perception is strong sight weak. distance and close opposite

When you cannot be deceived by people then you will have learned the way of strategy.

They overextend into void, pull back and it is revealed who is actually the boss, they are then? healed/guided/protected/checked/injured

The willingness to be calmly assertive when you are ggg supported encouraged to do so.

There are in all 21 precepts. I have left out a detailed description of some, as to me they are self explanatory.

Yoyo no michiwo somukukoto nashi -

In no way should one act contrary to the great future

you have before you.

: Mi ni tanoshimi o takamazu -

Don't Try and look for an easy life.

Yorozu ni iko no kokoro nashi -

Don’t harbor a prejudice or have an attitude about everything.

Iko no kokoro nashi also means Satto jizai.

Satto means one’s homeland or motherland.

The possibility effortless birth.

Mi o asaku omoi yo o fu kaku omou - Consider your superficially and have profound thoughts for others.

Issho no aida yokoshin omoazu - Forget about human desire

Waga koto ni oite kokai wo sezu - Never have regrets about oneself or what you have done.

Zen aku ni ta wo netamu kokoro nashi - There should be no mind of enviousness in right or wrong

Izure no michi nimo wakare wo kanashimazu - Never have a mind of

adherence and attachment to all things..

Jita tomoni urami kakotsu kokoro nashi - There should be no thought of bearing a grudge against each other.

Rembo no michi omoi kokoro nashi - There is no time for thinking about a love life..

Mono goto ni suki konomu koto nashi - One should not have like or dislikes for things.

Shitaku ni oite nosomu koto nashi - Do not have preference to a particular domicile.

Mi hitotsuni bishoku o konomazu - As to the choice of delicious food with relation to society in general.

Dai mono naru furuki dogu shoji sezu - One should never let future generations become attached to old weapons.

Issho no aida yokoshin omoazu - Forget about human desire.

Wagami ni itari monoimi suru koto nashi - One should avoid superstition and taboo.

Dai mono naru furuki dogu shojisezu - To use equipment that you consider important and not to keep that which is of no use.

Michi ni oite wa shi o itowazu omou - Follow your way with preparedness for death

Roshin ni zaiho shoryo mochiyuru shoryo ni kokoro nashi - As you get old your gained possessions are not of great importance.

Bushin wa totoshi bushin o tanomazu - Respect the Gods and Buddha but do not count on them.

Mi o sutetomo myori wa sutezu - Do not abandon your good name, even if it means abandoning your own life.

Tsune ni hyoho no michi wo hanerazu - Do not stray from the path of Hyoho.

Path leading to Reigando

WHEN YOU KNOW OTHERS THREATEN YOU WITH WAR, DO WHAT YOU MUST BEFORE THEIR ATTEMPTED ATTACKS, SHUT THEM DOWN. DON'T ALLOW THEM TO COME OUT. THERE IS A MIRROR ON THEIR EVERY ISSUANCE. IT IS THEIR SUICIDE.  W.F.M.

Miyamoto Musashi used "strategy" (or "Way of Strategy") to mean a comprehensive understanding of conflict and life, emphasizing seeing the big picture, suppressing enemy action, mastering perception (seeing distant as near), maintaining a warrior's stance always, and studying all martial arts to find nature's rhythm, all leading to self-mastery and victory. Key sentences highlight that mastering strategy lets you understand everything, allows you to see through deception, and is about understanding the enemy's useful vs. useless actions.