To Jim Jarmush
Well, happily, after a period of stagnation and stoppage, now we're moving again. However some friends have deserted us, without even a word but new friends are joining us...
I've arranged the grades again, some people like SIlver Wolf were upgraded and some like Vino were downgraded. Anyway, let's just finish this Post with some words from a Samurai Master:
The way of a samurai
Death
The way of a samurai is found in death. Meditation of inevitable death should be perfomed daily. Everyday when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate on ripped apart arrows, riffles, spears and swords, being carried aways by surging waves, being thrown into the mist of a great fire, being struck by lightenig, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease, or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And everyday without fail one should consider himself as dead. This is the substance of the way of the Samurai.
the Way
It's bad when one thing becomes two. One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. It is the same for anything else that is called a Way. If one understands things in this manner, he should be able to hear about all Ways and be more and more in accord with his own.
Importance of Master in Samurai way
If one were to say in a word what the condition of being a Samurai is. Its basis lies first in seriously devoting one's body and soul to his master. Not to forget one's master is the most fundemental thing for a retainer.
Dream and our world
It is a good viewpoint to see the world as a dream. When you have something like a nightmare, you will wake up and tell yourself that it was only a dream. It is said that the world we live in is not a bit different from this.
Matters of great and small concern
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."
Taking an enemy link hawk the hunter
According to what one of the elders said, taking an enemy on the battelfield is like a hawk taking a bird. Even though it enters into the mist of a thousands of them, it gives no attention to any bird other than the one that it has first marked.
Making decisions
In the words of the ancients, one should make his decisions whithin the space of seven breaths. It is a matter of being determined and having the spirit to break right through to the outer side.
Revenge
Even if a Samurai's head were to be suddenly cut off, he should still be able to perform one more action with certainty. If one becomes like a revengeful ghost and shows great detemination, though his head is cut off, he should not die.
When Samurai's appearance is not well enough
It is good to carry some powdered rouge in one's sleeve. It may happen that when one is sobering up or waking from sleep, a samurai's complexion may be poor. At such a time it is good to take out and apply some powdered rouge.
Do it straight (dash in headlong!)
When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it will not do to think about going at it in a long roundabout way. The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy, and it is best to dash in headlong.
Form and Emptiness (Creation)
Our bodies are given life from the midst of nothingness. Existing where there is nothing is the meaning of phrase, "Form is emptiness." That all things are provided for by nothingness is the meaning of the phrase, "Emptiness is form." One should not think that these are two separate things.
Present 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.
Knowing that it will happen to you whether you want or not
There is something to be learned from a rainstrom. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. By 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 will still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to all things.
The Spirit of an Age
It is said that what is called "the spirit of an age" is something to which one cannot return. That this spirit gradually dissipates is due to world's coming to an end. For this reason, although one would like to change today's world back to the spirit of one hundred years or more ago, it cannot be done. Thus it is important to make the best out of every generation.
That is the end of everything, that is important
In the kamigata area they have a sort of tiered lunchbox they use for a single day when flower viewing. Upon returning, they throw them away, trampling them underfoot. The end is important in all things.
