Thanks for reading, Mr Raven. Wisdom comes from many places and I liked Musashi's clarity. He lived in tougher times than us, so probably some hard won lessons.
In the words of the late Ian Dury: "There ain't 'arf been some clever ba**ards". Great analysis and contemporisation (is that a word?) of the quotes used. Thank you. I'm glad I clicked through from your other piece to find this.
We've worked diligently, in world societies, to evolve past these archaic, primitive, backwards ways of thinking and living - to embrace the freeing, equitable right to sloth, laziness and debauchery. It is an enlightened people who will throw off the chains of self control and truth, to dive headlong into narcissisms, self aggrandizement and self worship.
The Ronin (or should I say Trumpers) of history, should count themselves lucky, to not have lived today, where they would've surely and quickly fallen in the social media duels with the purple haired hoards of flag waving Yokai. They would be cancelled before they could draw their first Katana.
Something tells me our Japanese friends from the past may have spent a little more time beheading the cancellers and who knows what they would have done with the woke brigade.
The more things change the more they stay the same. People are people. Weak, vain, indulgent. A bit of discipline goes a long way, then and now.
Lots of reacting today. Race, gender, perceived gender, wealth, you name it. All eminently exploitable by the psychopaths.
And thank you for subscribing. I liked using the quotes as a jumping off point. It made me think deeply on how they applied to us today in a different world from Musashi. Not so different after all.
I am planning some more. Possibly the main stoics and a few others. Same formula, use their quotes to examine our own world.
Musashi is credited with sixty victories in single combat and his legend includes many stirring tales. His book is about life, and how to survive it.
I think the Hagakure a fair companion to his work, written by a samurai in a time of peace. “I know that the way of the samurai is death”, it says, including amongst other tips how to yawn without giving offence - and the correct use of makeup to conceal a heavy night on the sake. “Hidden among the leaves” is one translation of this gnomic title.
I would argue industrialization for all of it's benefits separated us from nature literally and psychologically, encouraging us to pollute and exterminate species without regard for consequences. The task for the future would be to reconcile that I think, or face increasingly dire consequences like the endocrine disruptor or pollinator crisis. Meanwhile the so-called carbon crisis is just more disconnection from reality, a deliberate distraction and mostly an excuse for managerial control freaks to aggregate more power.
Well put, and well-written thank you for this, it was honestly the best written article hereon substack I've ever read, and the best and most meaningful written one I've ever read in years. No criticism no debate points, and no quibbles. Standing ovation.
Standing ovation! 🙌👏
Thanks 🤓
Important hard truths, thank you.
Thanks for reading, Mr Raven. Wisdom comes from many places and I liked Musashi's clarity. He lived in tougher times than us, so probably some hard won lessons.
In the words of the late Ian Dury: "There ain't 'arf been some clever ba**ards". Great analysis and contemporisation (is that a word?) of the quotes used. Thank you. I'm glad I clicked through from your other piece to find this.
Thank you. I am glad you liked it. Musashi gives us a lot to think about.
Very well done!
We've worked diligently, in world societies, to evolve past these archaic, primitive, backwards ways of thinking and living - to embrace the freeing, equitable right to sloth, laziness and debauchery. It is an enlightened people who will throw off the chains of self control and truth, to dive headlong into narcissisms, self aggrandizement and self worship.
The Ronin (or should I say Trumpers) of history, should count themselves lucky, to not have lived today, where they would've surely and quickly fallen in the social media duels with the purple haired hoards of flag waving Yokai. They would be cancelled before they could draw their first Katana.
Something tells me our Japanese friends from the past may have spent a little more time beheading the cancellers and who knows what they would have done with the woke brigade.
The more things change the more they stay the same. People are people. Weak, vain, indulgent. A bit of discipline goes a long way, then and now.
Thanks for reading.
Very true.
Excellent post!
I am a big fan of the book of his life and of the film also, starring Toshiro Mifune.
(Oh, by the way, I am also a big fan of Spaceman Spiff...!)
Of the two Spiff is clearly the superior, lol.
Thanks for reading.
I feel smarter after reading this, subscribed!
Love the succinctness of this quote "To a skilled enemy our reactionary nature can be a tool. It can be fatal for us to be fooled like this."
Lots of reacting today. Race, gender, perceived gender, wealth, you name it. All eminently exploitable by the psychopaths.
And thank you for subscribing. I liked using the quotes as a jumping off point. It made me think deeply on how they applied to us today in a different world from Musashi. Not so different after all.
I am planning some more. Possibly the main stoics and a few others. Same formula, use their quotes to examine our own world.
Musashi is credited with sixty victories in single combat and his legend includes many stirring tales. His book is about life, and how to survive it.
I think the Hagakure a fair companion to his work, written by a samurai in a time of peace. “I know that the way of the samurai is death”, it says, including amongst other tips how to yawn without giving offence - and the correct use of makeup to conceal a heavy night on the sake. “Hidden among the leaves” is one translation of this gnomic title.
Based on what you write, I believe Musashi would feel quite at home if he lived today. It looks like Man has changed little since his time.
Perhaps. Although he had a sword, so maybe we would have seen a few beheadings 😜
That would be a plus.
I would argue industrialization for all of it's benefits separated us from nature literally and psychologically, encouraging us to pollute and exterminate species without regard for consequences. The task for the future would be to reconcile that I think, or face increasingly dire consequences like the endocrine disruptor or pollinator crisis. Meanwhile the so-called carbon crisis is just more disconnection from reality, a deliberate distraction and mostly an excuse for managerial control freaks to aggregate more power.
That said, you might appreciate this:
https://williamhunterduncan.substack.com/p/the-warrior-archetype
Well put, and well-written thank you for this, it was honestly the best written article hereon substack I've ever read, and the best and most meaningful written one I've ever read in years. No criticism no debate points, and no quibbles. Standing ovation.