Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai

About a month ago, a friend of mine lent me The Book of the Samurai, a text outlining Yamamoto Tsunetomo's thoughts on the Way of the Samurai over a seven year period, recorded and later published by Tashiro Tsuramoto.

It's clear to me that this book has had an impact on many people since it's publication, my friend included, and now potentially myself. Though I wouldn't liken my experience of having only read through this book once to that of others who have cherished this book for years, I decided upon receiving it that I would read this book actively, and make a genuine effort to understand what I could and to come away with some new ideas.

There are many parts of this book that, due to my lacking knowledge of Japanese history, I'm sure could potentially have greater impact on me at another time, if I have the chance to read this book again. In my effort to really embrace what I could understand of the book and the philosophy outlined, I kept track of the segments that caught my attention. They are quoted below, more for myself to refer back to, but feel free to read at your leisure.

"There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But 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 still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything."

"Lord Naoshige said, 'The Way of the Samurai is in desperateness. Ten men or more cannot kill such a man. Common sense will not accomplish great things. Simply become insane and desperate..."

"It is spiritless to think that you cannot attain to that which you have seen and heard the masters attain. The masters are men. You are also a man. If you think that you will be inferior in doing something, you will be on that road very soon..."

"If one is but secure at the foundation, he will not be pained by departure from minor details or affairs that are contrary to expectation. But in the end, the details of a matter are important. The right and wrong of one's way of doing things are found in trivial matters."

"A faultless person is one who withdraws from affairs. This must be done with strength."

"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. Live being true to the single purpose of the moment.
Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were somewhere else. No one seems to have noticed this fact. But grasping this firmly, one must pile experience upon experience. And once one has come to this understanding he will be a different person from that point on, though he may not always bear it in mind.
When one understands this settling into single-mindedness well, his affairs will thin out. Loyalty is also contained within this single-mindedness."

"...This is proof that 'right now' is no different from 'when the time comes'..."

"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 said the world we live in is not a bit different from this."

"Okubo Doko is said to have remarked:
Everyone says that no masters of the arts will appear as the world comes to an end. This is something that I cannot claim to understand. Plants such as peonies, azaleas and camellias will be able to produce beautiful flowers, end of the world or not. If men would give some thought to this fact, they would understand. And if people took notice of the masters of even these times, they would be able to say that there are masters in the various arts. But people become imbued with the idea that the world has come to an end and no longer put forth any effort. This is a shame. There is no fault in the times."

"Once a group of ten blind masseuses were traveling together in the mountains, and when they began to pass along the top of a precipice, they all became very cautious, their legs shook, and they were in general struck with terror. Just then the leading man stumbled and fell off the cliff. Those that were left all wailed, 'Ahh, ahh! How piteous!'
But the masseuse who had fallen yelled up from below, 'Don't be afraid. Although I fell, it was nothing. I am now rather at ease. Before falling I kept thinking 'What will I do if I fall?' and there was no end to my anxiety. But now I've settled down. If the rest of you want to be at ease, fall quickly!'"

"There is nothing so painful as regret. We would al like to be without it. However, when we are very happy and become elated, or when we habitually jump into something thoughtlessly, later we are distraught, and it is for the most part because we did not think ahead and are now regretful. Certainly we should try not to become dejected, and when very happy should calm our minds."