Library's review
'The authors have made classic samurai wisdom accessible to the modern martial artist like never before.'-Goran Powell, award winning author of Chojun and A Sudden Dawn.
'It's fascinating stuff!'-Steve Perry, New York Times bestselling author.
'The precepts offer priceless advice to anyone.'-Kate
'The five point prerspective inspired deep introspection. I have been elevated to higher and deeper levels of personal and professional growth by reading this book.'-Laela Erickson, Senior Business Development Executive.
Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) was arguably the greatest swordsman who ever lived, a legendary figure whose methods of thought and strategy have been studied and adopted across a wide spectrum of society, from martial artists to military leaders to captains of industry. The iconic sword saint of Japan was clearly a genius, yet he was also a functional psychopath-ruthless, fearless, hyper-focused, and utterly without conscience. Shortly before he died, Musashi wrote down his final thoughts about life for his favorite student Terao Magonojo to whom Go Rin No Sho, his famous Book of Five Rings, had also been dedicated. He called this treatise Dokkodo, which translates as 'The Way of walking Alone.'
This book you hold in your hands is the definitive interpretation of Musashi's final work. Readers are oftentimes subject to a single perspective about what some famous author from the past had to say, yet we are more holistic here. This treatise contains Musashi's original 21 precepts of the Dokkodo along with five different interpretations of each passage written from the viewpoints of a monk, a warrior, a teacher, an insurance executive, and a businessman. Each contributor has taken a divergent path from the others, yet shares the commonaiity of being a lifelong, martial practitioner and published author. In this fashion you are not just reading a simple translation of Musashi's writing, you are scrutinizing his final words for deeper meaning. In them are enduring lessons for how to lead a successful and meaningful life.
Br. Kris Wilder, OSF is a member of The Order of St. Francis, one of many active Apostolic Christian Orders. A National Representative for the University of New Mexico's Institute of Traditional Martial Arts, he has earned black belts in three styles, and teaches martial arts seminars world-wide.
Alain Burress, J.D. is a former US Army sniper instructor who taught at the 2nd Infantry Division Scout Sniper School at Camp Casey, South Korea. He is also and attorney, speaker, and personal security, safety and self-defense instructor who has earned a 5th degree black belt in Hapkido.
Wallace Smedley is an educator who has worked for Chuck Norris' KICKSTART KIDS Foundation since 2002, and helped develop their Character Education Values Curriculum. Teaching karate in the public school system, he has helped thousands of kids build character and enhance their self-esteem.
Lisa Christensen has worked as a Workers' Comp Claims Examiner for over 30 years. An insurance executive, she s cerfified to adjudicate claims in Oregon and retains an Oregon General Lines adjuster License. She has earned black belts in taekwondo and American Freestyle Karate.
Lawrence Kane, COP-GOV is a Certified Outsourcing Professional in Governance and a senior leader at a Fortune 50 corporation where, among other things, he is responsible for the strategy for a $1.1B per year organization. He has been studying and teaching martial arts since 1970.
Contents
Foreword by Dan Anderson
Introduciton
Musashi, the myth and the man; the truth behind the legend
Precept 1 Accept everything just the way it is
Precept 2 Do not seek pleasure for its own sake
Precept 3 Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling
Precept 4 Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world
Precept 5 Be detached from desire your whole life
Precept 6 Do not regret what you have done
Precept 7 Never be jealous
Precept 8 Never let yourself be saddened by a separation
Precept 9 Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others
Precept 10 Do not let ourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love
Precept 11 In all things, have no preferences
Precept 12 Be indifferent to where you live
Precept 13 Do not pursue the taste of good food
Precept 14 Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need
Precept 15 Do not act following customery beliefs
Precept 16 Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful
Precept 17 Do not fear death
Precept 18 Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age
Precept 19 Respect Buddha and he gods withouit counting on their help
Precept 20 You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor
Precept 21 Never stray from the Way
Conclusion
About the authors
Br. Kris Wilder, OSF
Alain Burrese, J.D.
Wallace D. Smedley
Lisa A. Christensen
Lawrence A. Kane, COP-GOV
Other works by the authors
'It's fascinating stuff!'-Steve Perry, New York Times bestselling author.
'The precepts offer priceless advice to anyone.'-Kate
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Vitasek, University of Tennessee.'The five point prerspective inspired deep introspection. I have been elevated to higher and deeper levels of personal and professional growth by reading this book.'-Laela Erickson, Senior Business Development Executive.
Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) was arguably the greatest swordsman who ever lived, a legendary figure whose methods of thought and strategy have been studied and adopted across a wide spectrum of society, from martial artists to military leaders to captains of industry. The iconic sword saint of Japan was clearly a genius, yet he was also a functional psychopath-ruthless, fearless, hyper-focused, and utterly without conscience. Shortly before he died, Musashi wrote down his final thoughts about life for his favorite student Terao Magonojo to whom Go Rin No Sho, his famous Book of Five Rings, had also been dedicated. He called this treatise Dokkodo, which translates as 'The Way of walking Alone.'
This book you hold in your hands is the definitive interpretation of Musashi's final work. Readers are oftentimes subject to a single perspective about what some famous author from the past had to say, yet we are more holistic here. This treatise contains Musashi's original 21 precepts of the Dokkodo along with five different interpretations of each passage written from the viewpoints of a monk, a warrior, a teacher, an insurance executive, and a businessman. Each contributor has taken a divergent path from the others, yet shares the commonaiity of being a lifelong, martial practitioner and published author. In this fashion you are not just reading a simple translation of Musashi's writing, you are scrutinizing his final words for deeper meaning. In them are enduring lessons for how to lead a successful and meaningful life.
Br. Kris Wilder, OSF is a member of The Order of St. Francis, one of many active Apostolic Christian Orders. A National Representative for the University of New Mexico's Institute of Traditional Martial Arts, he has earned black belts in three styles, and teaches martial arts seminars world-wide.
Alain Burress, J.D. is a former US Army sniper instructor who taught at the 2nd Infantry Division Scout Sniper School at Camp Casey, South Korea. He is also and attorney, speaker, and personal security, safety and self-defense instructor who has earned a 5th degree black belt in Hapkido.
Wallace Smedley is an educator who has worked for Chuck Norris' KICKSTART KIDS Foundation since 2002, and helped develop their Character Education Values Curriculum. Teaching karate in the public school system, he has helped thousands of kids build character and enhance their self-esteem.
Lisa Christensen has worked as a Workers' Comp Claims Examiner for over 30 years. An insurance executive, she s cerfified to adjudicate claims in Oregon and retains an Oregon General Lines adjuster License. She has earned black belts in taekwondo and American Freestyle Karate.
Lawrence Kane, COP-GOV is a Certified Outsourcing Professional in Governance and a senior leader at a Fortune 50 corporation where, among other things, he is responsible for the strategy for a $1.1B per year organization. He has been studying and teaching martial arts since 1970.
Contents
Foreword by Dan Anderson
Introduciton
Musashi, the myth and the man; the truth behind the legend
Precept 1 Accept everything just the way it is
Precept 2 Do not seek pleasure for its own sake
Precept 3 Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling
Precept 4 Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world
Precept 5 Be detached from desire your whole life
Precept 6 Do not regret what you have done
Precept 7 Never be jealous
Precept 8 Never let yourself be saddened by a separation
Precept 9 Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others
Precept 10 Do not let ourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love
Precept 11 In all things, have no preferences
Precept 12 Be indifferent to where you live
Precept 13 Do not pursue the taste of good food
Precept 14 Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need
Precept 15 Do not act following customery beliefs
Precept 16 Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful
Precept 17 Do not fear death
Precept 18 Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age
Precept 19 Respect Buddha and he gods withouit counting on their help
Precept 20 You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor
Precept 21 Never stray from the Way
Conclusion
About the authors
Br. Kris Wilder, OSF
Alain Burrese, J.D.
Wallace D. Smedley
Lisa A. Christensen
Lawrence A. Kane, COP-GOV
Other works by the authors
Show Less
ISBN
9780692563496
Publication
Stickman Publications Burien, WA 98146