| Favourite Quotes concerning Budo and life |
| Courage: Young men should discipline themselves rigorously in intention and courage.This will be accomplished only if courage is fixed in one's heart. If one's sword is broken he will strike with his hands.If his hands are cut off, he will press the enemy down with his shoulders. If his shoulders are cut away, he will bite through 10 or 15 enemy necks with is teeth. Courage is such a thing. (Tsentomo Yamamoto) |
| Seize the moment: There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment. A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment. If one fully understands the present moment, there will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue.Live being true to the single purpose of the moment. |
| Wisdom: Being superior to others is nothing other than having people talk about your affairs and listening to their opinions. The general run of people settle for their own opinions and thus never excel.Having a discussion with a person is one step in excelling him. In seeking correction from others you excel them. |
| Resolution: There is something to be learned from a rainstorm.When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet.When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking.This understanding extends to everything. |
| Preparation: Among the maxims on Lord Naoshige's wall there was this one: " Matters of great concern should be treated lightly. " Master Ittei commented, " Matters of small concern should be treated seriously." Thinking about things previously and then handling them lightly when the time comes is what this is all about.To face and event and solve it lightly is difficult if you are not resolved beforehand., and there will always be uncertainty in hitting your mark. However, if the foundation is laid previously, you can think of the saying " Matters of great concern should be treated lightly ", as your own basis for action. |
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| No mind: When you first notice the sword that is moving to strike you, if you think of meeting that sword as it is, your mind your mind will stop at the sword in just that position, your own movements will be undone, and you will be cut down by your opponent. This is what stopping means. Although you see the sword that moves to strike you, if your mind is not detained by it and you meet the rythm of the advancing sword; if you do not think of striking your opponent and no thoughts or judgements remain; if the instant you see the swinging sword your mind is not the least bit detained and you move straight in and wrench the sword away from him; the sword that was going to cut your down will become your own, and, contrarily, will be the sword that cuts down your opponent. (Takuan Soho) |
| No Mind: As for the Kannon, to what purpose would it have a thousand arms attached to one body ? This form is made with the intent of pointing out to men that if their immovable wisdom is let go, even if a body have a thousand arms, every one will be of use. |
| No mind: When facing a single tree, if you look at a single one of its red leaves, you will not see all the others.When the mind is not set on any one leaf, and you face the tree with nothing at all in mind, any number of leaves are visible to the eye without limit. But if a single leaf holds the eye, it will be as if the remaining leaves were not there. |