Musashi: An Epic Novel of the Samurai Era

by Eiji Yoshikawa

“Get hold of yourself! People don’t die from diarrhea.

Yes they do. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/global/programs/Globaldiarrhea508c.pdf

“Don’t you see?” he said, with a wave of his arm. “’Marry thyself to the truth’ means that you shouldn’t become infatuated with a mere mortal but should seek the eternal.” “But, Takuan,” Otsū asked impatiently, “what is ‘the truth’?” Takuan let both arms fall to his sides and looked at the ground. “Come to think of it,” he said thoughtfully, “I’m not really sure myself.”

“This temple is poor, so leave as much as you can. Especially you rich folks—I know who you are; you’re wearing those fine silks and embroidered obis. You have a lot of money. You must have a lot of troubles too. If you leave a hundredweight of cash for your tea, your worries will be a hundredweight lighter.”

Mo money, mo problems? Easy solution: give away your money.

“Well, what do you plan to do?” “Do about what?” “Oh, don’t be so difficult! You do remember, don’t you, the promise you made to the captain?” “Why, yes, of course!” “Well, if we don’t bring Takezō back—” He interrupted her. “I know, I know. I’ll have to hang myself from the old cryptomeria tree. But don’t worry. I’m not ready to die just yet.” “Then why don’t you go and look for him?” “If I did, do you really think I’d find him? In these mountains?”

Zen humor is catchy

“I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. It wasn’t a fair fight.” “In the long run, Takezō, it doesn’t make any difference. You were outwitted and outtalked instead of being outpummeled. When you’ve lost, you’ve lost.

This book is fiction, but this is an excellent example of how it stays true to the real Musashi. As a principle, you either win or you don't. How you go there doesn't matter. Seek victory, regardless of style. "You should investigate this thoroughly."https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25800.The_Book_of_Five_Rings

“Please test the lowly Musashi with hardship. Let him become the greatest swordsman in the land, or let him die.”

This is what commitment looks like.

“I want to lead an important life. I want to do it because I was born a human being.”

She returned with a youngish woman, whose shaved eyebrows indicated she was married—presumably the proprietor’s wife.

https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Japanese-women-shave-their-eyebrows-in-the-old-days

Nikkan had told him he was too strong, that he had to learn to become weaker. This was the point that sent his mind off on tangent after tangent, for he couldn’t fathom the meaning. Wasn’t strength a warrior’s most important quality? Was that not what made one warrior superior to others? How could Nikkan speak of it as a flaw?

“Fighting isn’t all there is to the Art of War. The men who think that way, and are satisfied to have food to eat and a place to sleep, are mere vagabonds. A serious student is much more concerned with training his mind and disciplining his spirit than with developing martial skills. He has to learn about all sorts of things—geography, irrigation, the people’s feelings, their manners and customs, their relationship with the lord of their territory. He wants to know what goes on inside the castle, not just what goes on outside it. He wants, essentially, to go everywhere he can and learn everything he can.”

“What is sword fighting without a sword?”

“They called me a coward, said I couldn’t fight like a man! Well, I haven’t surrendered yet, not by a long shot. I didn’t run away. I just made a tactical retreat.”