Tag Archives: code of bushido

Today’s Bushido

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Dear Satoru,
I am a Zen Buddhist. I live a moral, happy, reflexive, meditative life. I use the ancient Samurai Bushido credos as my guidelines. But of late I am having some difficulty dovetailing its principle’s into the standards of today’s world. Your serious site is always evocative and informing. Can you give me some insights into this problem?

I like to keep my blogs short and succinct. I do this because it allows the readers time to think about a specific idea. If the idea is valid and adaptable, a person can use it to change their life for the better. However, since I have been asked numerous times about this problem, and to aid in your inquiry, I will devote the next several blogs to elucidate this difficulty. I will start the next blog with an edited review of the principles of Bushido.
Satoru

Bushido Love

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A student asks, “Can Zen and Bushido, the code of the Samurai, be adopted to daily living, and especially to relationships?

The philosophies of Zen, and the code of Bushido, have both evolved in order to be significant to modern individuals. The first path toward enlightenment in Zen is Proper views. The first principle in Bushido is Honor. Since both are moral compasses, they just needed to use more contemporary language.

Proper views. For a successful relationship love it for what it is, not for what you want. Take into account that great love and great achievements require great risks.

Bushido. In serving serve, in fighting kill, in loving give all and keep your heart as open as the sky.

Bushido Meditation.

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All Samurai practiced meditation as part of their code and philosophy. The code of bushido has seven principles to guide a Samurai, the most outstanding being honor.
Though we often live unconsciously, “on automatic pilot,” every one of us can learn to be awake. It just takes practice.

Meditation is about letting in an eternal life force, becoming more aware of the now, clearing your mind, and heightening your awareness of your body. It is not about cutting you off from the world, but opening yourself up to it. Meditation can be done in any position and can be made a part of your life. How hard can it be to just sit and breathe? This is the start of stress release, total self-awareness, and communication with the universe.

Remember there is no form of contemplation that is without ethical values. When your perception has been cleansed and you perceive the world as a jewel you assert all virtues and positively influence everything around you. Satoru