The Essence of Bushi-Do – Samurai Art

At the end of the day, I always feel grateful that I was able to live through the day. I say in my mind “Ikashite-itadaite arigato gozami-masu. Then again in the morning, I say the same thing for the new day. I am always living the moment being consciously aware about life and death.

I do have a healthy body. In spite of my health, I am strongly conscious about life and death. I think this is my asset and advantage. I believe that being conscious about life and death in every moment is the essence of Bushi-do(武士道), the Art of Samurai.

To attain the skills to fight or kill others is not the purpose of Bushi-do. The true Bushi-do is about realizing the precious life we have in front of us.

The true Bushi-do should be about maintaining a healthy body and to protect the body that is carrying his precious soul.

As in today’s modern world, someone who cares about others, who would drive safely so neither oneself or others would not be injured… He/she is a practitioner of a Bushi-do. Until the Meiji Period (1868~1912), I sense that most of the people had the consciousness to care about oneself and others. Today it had declined.

Those who are in gratitude about their own life know that life is precious and would take care of his/herself as well as others.

When you are practicing the ancestral worship with gratitude, you will start to feel that every moment is valuable. There might be a moment when you feel that everything and everyone feel so dearly close to your heart. Then you are in the right path. You might be showing a lot of emotions in the surface but deep inside you heart is becoming very strong and grounded and no matter what happens, you will be able to remain clam.

It is better to be aware when your body is still healthy. Once you are sick, it is hard to start being grateful.

Going to work with your healthy body is something very valuable and worth thanking for. Don’t allow yourself to wound your heart at work. Look at the problem from a perspective between life and death. As long as you are alive, problems will always start to change and come to an end. This is only possible in this World of Reality.

He or she who could look at a life from the point of life and death will be able to live strong and enjoy fully.

Ikashite-itadaite Arigato-gozaimasu

Thank you for letting us live