The Way of the Modern Ronin, Part 1

Essays and Thoughts on The Dokkodo
Part One

C.S.'s Note: I hope you enjoy the essays that follow in this series.  These essays are really the seed of a book idea I've had brewing for some time.  I have been apprehensive in starting it as a book, seeing the odd "niche" that it abides in might find it hard for it to get picked up by a publisher.  But niche as it MAY be, I finally decided that it would work best as a series of essays on Integral Strength, and we'll just see what happens from here.

Contemporaneous painting of Musashi from the Edo Period (courtesy Wikimedia)

     Terao Maganojo gazed at the dojo ahead of him.  Over the past decade - when he retired from one of his many successful duels - he always came here to refine his technique, to improve his speed, to perfect his timing, and to learn the history of the sword school in which he practiced.  But most of all, he came to spend time at the foot of his master.  

     All of that was coming to an end.  His master lay dying.

     Maganojo took a deep breath as he reached the door of the dojo - the training center of the Niten Ichi-Ryu school of swordsmanship that had also acted as a hermitage these past several months for his master.  He took off his sandals, slid open the screen door, walked inside, and prostrated before his master.

     Miyamato Musashi sat in full-lotus upon his zabuton.  He slowly opened his eyes.  His piercing gaze found his pupil.

     Maganojo never knew what his master was thinking.  Even as death approached, it was no different.  "It is time," Musashi said.

     "If it is to be, then so be it," Maganojo replied, lowering his head even further.  Although he didn't voice it, he secretly wondered what he would do once his roshi was gone, and what would happen to the Niten Ichi-Ryu Sword School ("The School of the Strategy of the Two Heavens as One").

     "Look at me," Musashi said, as if he knew what Maganojo was thinking.  "This is your answer." he added, picking up a rolled parchment next to his zabuton.  "I have written it for you, and all those swordsmen who will follow you... and our school."

     Maganojo prostrated.  He touched his forehead to the cold, wooden floor.  Tears filled his eyes.  He didn't know - until that very moment - that he would be the successor to the school of Musashi.  "I do not deserve such an honor."

     "Look up," Musashi said.

     Maganojo picked his head from the floor, his neck bent.  He still did not look at his master.

     "Take it," Musashi said.  He handed his pupil the parchment.  Maganojo took it with reverence.  His master continued: "When you and I have been long forgotten, when our sword school is no longer known upon this earth, if this is remembered then true budo will not cease."

     "Should it not go to your son?" Maganojo asked, still feeling unworthy.

     Musashi laughed slightly.  With kindness in his eyes, and an ever-so slight smile upon his lips, he replied, "Lori is a good swordsman, as you can attest, but if I were to ask him, 'why did Bodhidharma come east?' do you think that he could answer, truly answer: 'The oak tree in the garden'? (referring to the well-known Zen koan).  "You know that he could not," Musashi added, answering his own question.

     Maganojo looked at the fine, thin parchment that he held in his hand, as if noticing it for the first time.  Having already received his master's "The Book of Five Rings", this tome was considerably smaller.

     Musashi commanded, "I do not want you to train today.  You are probably tired from your journey, anyway.  You are only to read this, meditate upon it today and this evening, and we will discuss it in the morning.  Live by this.  Die by this.  It is the Way."

     "Does it have a title," Maganojo asked.

     "I call it 'The Way of the Ronin'."

     Maganojo retired to his hermitage.  He opened all the windows to let in the cool breeze of the afternoon air.  Leaves of the Momiji tree fluttered in the breeze.

     He settled down on his own zabuton, and unrolled the parchment.  It was indeed short, nothing like The Book of Five Rings.  Slowly, Maganojo read threw the 21 "thoughts" of his master's Dokkodo:

1. Accept everything just the way it is.

2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.

3. Do not, under any circumstance, depend on a partial feeling.

4. Think lightly of yourself, and deeply of the world.

5. Be detached from desire your entire life.

6. Do not regret what has been done.

7. Never be jealous.

8. Never allow yourself to be saddened by a separation.

9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself or for others.

10. Do not allow yourself to be guided by feelings 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 onto possessions you no longer need.

15. Abstain from fasting, and other things, that affect you physically.

16. Do not collect weapons, nor practice with them, beyond what is useful.

17. Do not fear death while following the Way.

18. Do not seek to be rich in your old age.

19. Respect Buddha and the gods without relying on their help.

20. You may abandon your body but you must preserve your honor.

21. Never veer from the Way.

     

On the following entries, I will reflect upon each one of pithy sayings of the Dokkodo.  Each entry will be one of the sayings.  Also, more stories of Musashi and his disciple, Maganojo.