“People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void. This is bewilderment.” -Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of 5 Rings In the void, there is no such thing as good or bad. No one way of doing things is [...]

“Other schools make accomplishments their means of livelihood, growing flowers and decoratively coloring articles in order to sell them. This is definitely not the Way of strategy.”- Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of 5 Rings It’s been windy in the desert lately. With no trees or tall buildings to block the wind, it sweeps across the [...]

“You cannot profit from small techniques when full armor is used.”- Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings Traditionally, the element of fire represents passion and inspiration. But fire also represents action. In writing, these representations combine. Passion is the fire that inspires and moves us into action. Musashi’s section on fire in the Book [...]

Water is fluid, flowing with the crashing waves. It is one of the most powerful elements. When a river is blocked, water finds a way around the obstacle. Water takes on the shape of a container without losing its essence. It erodes stone mountains, reducing them to pebbles. It might take time, but water perseveres [...]

“It is said the warrior’s is the twofold Way of pen and sword, and he should have a taste for both Ways. Even if a man has no natural ability he can be a warrior by sticking assiduously to both divisions of the Way”. – Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings In the day [...]

“Do nothing which is of no use.” – Miyamoto Musashi While cleaning off my bookshelves, I came across a book I hadn’t read in years: Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings. I bought it back when I studied martial arts in the mid-80s. At the time, the Book of Five Rings was a big hit [...]