Nabila Tabassum Chowdhury’s Reviews > The Five Rings: Miyamoto Musashi's Art of Strategy > Status Update

"Tameshigiri (試し切り) or "test cutting" - to test the quality of a blade, the skill of a swordsman, or both (see also note 5 in "Water"). Its most callous and horrific form, outlawed by the Edo bakufu government in 1602, was tsujigiri (辻斬り)-"street-corner killing" - in which some bushi endeavoured to test their blades or skill by cutting down random passersby on the road."

"Buddha and the gods are to be revered, but do not make requests of them."

"No matter what, never be jealous of others.
On whatever the path, do not be sad about parting ways."

"Think little about yourself; think deeply about the world."

"Make your mind become a measure, and apply it quickly, pulling the cord and observing; [in this way] a person's mind can be understood well."

"Strategy of the upper level is neither forceful nor weak, is not showy, nor fast; it does not appear impressive, but neither does it present itself badly. Strategy that is made broad and straight, and which appears calm and quiet - this is the highest level."

"without weakening, becoming entangled, trying to figure things out, or fearing, make the heart full of intent and the mind broad and like water. According to the situation, the mind is one that adapts to things. Water has a deep blue colour. There are single drops. There are vast oceans."

"the hand that forgets cutting and becomes fixed is called a "dead hand"."

"In Emptiness there is Good;
There is no Evil.
There is Wisdom,
There is Principle,
There is the Way -
The Heart
is Emptiness"

"With so many ways to become lost, people call it "emptiness" when it seems there is nothing that can be done, but neither is this true Emptiness."