Living a Vagabond Lifestyle with Happiness

Practice the Art of Solitude, like Musashi

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Miyamoto Musashi fought for his master, Toyotomi Hideyori, and lost in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. His sole purpose in life as a samurai was to serve his lord in victory and defeat, in life as in death. The Sekigahara loss caused Musashi to leave and become a “ronin”, a samurai without a master, instead of returning in shameful defeat.

Musashi lived his remaining life in solitude and deep meditative contemplation. During his vagabond lifestyle as a ronin, Musashi developed into an iconic personality whose martial ideas and strategy are said to have been applied across all aspects — work, life, play, war — of Japanese society. Musashi was regarded as the greatest Japanese swordsman, whose famous 2-sword fighting method made him practically invincible as well as fearless, ruthless, focused, and projecting little conscience.

During the week before his death, Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645) wrote “Dokkōdō” (獨行道), which has been variously translated as “The Path of Aloneness”, “The Way to Go Forth Alone” or “The Way of Walking Alone”. To me, it is “The Art of Solitude”. He dedicated it to his favourite disciple, Terao Magonojō, to whom he had also dedicated the earlier The Book of Five Rings.

THE ESSENCE IN THE 21 LESSONS OF SOLITUDE LIVING

Each of the 21 lessons refers to the motivation of different practical principles for living an effective and holistic lifestyle.

(1) Accept Everything Just The Way It Is.

Worrying achieves nothing. Learn to accept change, especially the permanently changing life situations. Do not waste time but spend it on self-improvement and self-mastery.

(2) Do Not Seek Pleasure For It’s Own Sake.

All pleasures are temporary. Happiness is episodic. Pursue Joy which is continuous happiness. Beware of medicinal and chemical addictions. Do whatever makes you happy but be prepared for the moments of depressions, regrets, and pain when the addictions end.

(3) Do Not, Under Any Circumstances, Depend On A Partial Feeling.

Do not be reckless. Act with certainty. Do not be confused by subjective feelings and emotions. Be very sure before taking the next step.

(4) Think Lightly Of Yourself And Deeply Of The World.

Be humble. Be mindful. Listen. There is much wisdom around you. Pay attention to everything. Be introspective of your own actions. Develop and obtain insights into events and happenings.

(5) Be Detached From Desire Your Whole Lifelong.

Live your own life. Do not live the life designed by others. Chase your own visions or you will run forever after other people’s dreams. Learn to be content with your achievements. Do not let your goals be your master.

(6) Do Not Regret What You Have Done.

The past has passed. Regrets often drive bitterness. Understand your actions and accept them. Learn your lessons and move on. Be better.

(7) Never Be Jealous.

Be different from the rest, not better than the best. Do not waste time in envy of other people’s gains or accolades. Earn your own credits. Use your energy productively in pursuit of realistic goals.

(8) Never Let Yourself Be Saddened By A Separation.

Life is transient. People come and go. Death is inevitable. Treasure the memories but do not live in them; rather, live with them. Loved ones never truly left, they live within your heart and soul.

(9) Resentment And Complaint Are Appropriate Neither For Oneself Nor Others.

The world does not care about your bitching, mourning or grief. Re-direct the energy from yourself to others in deeper pain and inescapable situations. You will become a better self as you devote your energy to improving others.

(10) Do Not Let Yourself Be Guided By The Feeling Of Lust Or Love.

Love others as you would love yourself. True love satisfies and justifies all things. Real love is directed at the welfare and safety of the other person. Build networks of bridges with love.

(11) In All Things Have No Preferences.

Listen to all options and suggestions. Keep an open mind. Do things differently all the time. Have no fixed methods. There are never any solutions that are permanent for all situations.

(12) Be Indifferent To Where You Live.

Make yourself happy where you are. It is how you live, not where. Your unhappiness is due to something else. Just keep warm and safe

(13) Do Not Pursue The Taste Of Good Food.

Eat right, but not in excess. Eat well and right. Too much good food is not good. Do not be addicted to good food. Remember to eat and be constantly nourished.

(14) Do Not Hold On To Possessions You No Longer Need.

Whatever you cannot discard controls you. Better to give away your possessions as you near your death. Give away your things gradually and regularly. They are not needed in your next life, or wherever you think you are going.

(15) Do Not Act Following Customary Beliefs.

Follow your own paths and beliefs. Think and act independently of group-think. Beware of self-appointed masters and teachers. Know, think and decide for yourself. Past methods are the surest way to failure and defeat.

(16) Do Not Collect Weapons or Practice With Weapons Beyond What Is Useful.

A sword has many uses and many ways of using it. The master swordsman wins without using his sword. The greatest general wins without fighting. Your mind is your greatest weapon. Every other instrument is just optional.

(17) Do Not Fear Death.

Death is the only certainty in life. Once born, you begin the slow process of dying. The fear of death is a waste of time. It is how you live that is important, not when you die. Prepare your death by living well through contributing to the welfare of others and impacting other lives positively.

(18) Do Not Seek To Possess Either Goods Or Fiefs For Your Old Age.

You cannot enjoy your possessions when old. Collect only what is useful. Share what is wonderful. Give away whatever you also enjoy. Do not waste space on stuff unnecessary for bettering yourself.

(19) Respect Buddha And The Gods Without Counting On Their Help.

Good if your Gods or gods help you in times of trouble, but do not count on it. Waiting for divine interventions has driven many civilisations to extinction, as well as many persons to madness and deep depression. Pray without ceasing, but know your possibilities. Depend best on yourself.

(20) You May Abandon Your Own Body But You Must Preserve Your Honor.

You have only one body. Respect it. Feed it well with good food, not junk food. Do not poison it with nicotine, chemicals, and unnatural stuff. Be healthy, fit, and mobile. Continue to win battles even as your body ages.

(21) Never Stray From The Way.

Live by moral principles. Devote to a life of service and bravery. Practise servant leadership. Help the vulnerable, protect the young and weak. Care for the sick and needy. Be faithful to the practice of all the above.

MUSASHI’S OTHER TEACHINGS

The path to enlightenment is an endless life journey. To most of us living like vagabonds, without a master’s branding and protection, life’s many struggles are not unlike numerous battles fought by way of the sword. Mere existential survival is challenging, to thrive through occasional violence is even more challenging, and to finally achieve the ultimate victory of success in life is the greatest challenge of all times.

A vagabond lifestyle, living like a wanderer without purpose, is not for everyone. One has to subdue the ever-present darkness in the world in order to discover the full measure of meaning and reason to drive life empowerment towards the pin-hole light in the far distance. And to survive with an honourable life of integrity among often untrustworthy and dishonest men and women. The Way of “Dokkōdō” (獨行道) is the path to endless, sustainable and everlasting happiness in a Life of Solitude.

MORE MIYAMOTO MUSASHI QUOTES:

“Do nothing which is of no use.”

“It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet”

“You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain”

“Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is. And you must bend to its power or live a lie.”

“A man cannot understand the art he is studying if he only looks for the end result without taking the time to delve deeply into the reasoning of the study.”

“Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.”

“Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy, it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.”

“Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.”

“Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased. Even when your spirit is calm do not let your body relax, and when your body is relaxed do not let your spirit slacken. Do not let your spirit be influenced by your body, or your body be influenced by your spirit.”

“When your spirit is not in the least clouded, when the clouds of bewilderment clear away, there is the true void”.

“There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.”

“From one thing, know ten thousand things.”

“Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.”

I also found other insightful guidance to perfect the Art of Solitude living from so many wiser persons –

“Solitude is the place of purification” — Martin Buber

“In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.” -Albert Camus

“I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity” — Albert Einstein

“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, there is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more.” — Lord Byron

“Solitude is not the absence of company, but the moment when our soul is free to speak to us and help us decide what to do with our life.” — Paulo Coelho

“Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it’s not because they enjoy solitude. It’s because they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them.” — Jodi Picoult

“I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.” ― Henry David Thoreau

“The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the religion of solitude.” ― Aldous Huxley

“A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.” ― Arthur Schopenhauer

“To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions”. — Deepak Chopra

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