Miyamoto Musashi's Dokkodo: First 5 Principles of Discipline

Background

• Miyamoto Musashi: Undefeated samurai in 61 duels.
• Dokkodo: Written a week before his death; translates to "The Way of Walking Alone".
• Key Topic: 21 principles for living a disciplined life. This lecture covers the first 5 principles.

Principle 1: Accept Everything Just the Way It Is

• Acceptance prevents delusion.
• Delusion hinders effective action and leads to failure.
• Success requires seeing the world clearly, which begins with accepting reality.
• Disciplined individuals work with reality, not against it.

Principle 2: Do Not Seek Pleasure for Its Own Sake

• Pursuing pleasure as the highest goal leads to degeneration.
• Immediate pleasures (junk food, drugs, etc.) are often unhealthy.
• Painful activities (running, studying, etc.) are beneficial in the long run.
• Disciplined people seek growth through challenging activities rather than shallow pleasures.

Principle 3: Do Not Depend on Partial Feelings

• Partial feelings indicate doubt.
• Best action: don’t make decisions hastily; reserve judgment.
• Keep exploring truth until doubt is resolved.
• Disciplined individuals act only with certainty and avoid rash decisions.

Principle 4: Think Lightly of Yourself and Deeply of the World

• Overthinking about oneself is unproductive.
• Self-awareness and growth come through action in the world.
• Actions' impact on the world and others provides true self-understanding.
• Disciplined people focus on the world and their impact rather than themselves.

Principle 5: Be Detached from Desire Your Whole Life Long

• Attachment is the source of suffering, as per Buddha.
• Lack of attachment reduces suffering when desires aren't met or are lost.
• Disciplined individuals have desires but are not attached to them, minimizing unnecessary suffering.

Conclusion

• Review of first five principles:
  1. Accept everything just the way it is.
  2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
  3. Do not depend on partial feelings.
  4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
  5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
• These principles help in building self-discipline.
• Looking forward to part two for more interpretations of Musashi’s work.