Musashi's "Do or Do Not, there is No Try" (From Discord)
3 years 9 months ago - 3 years 9 months ago #774
by Setanaoko
Arisaig
“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.” -- Miyamoto Musashi
Basically a longer version of our timeless "Do or do not, there is no try". If you're going to do something, do it to the best of your abilities. Accomplish the task. Complete the training.
If you want to go places, you're gonna have to do more 'do'-ing rather than trying.
May the Force continue to guide you.
Sotunus
Musing upon the philosophy of Musashi, aside from the fact he was a rather unsuccessful anti-social individual even in an age where murder could be a path to success, whose notoriety comes from a series of popular fiction written about him during the Meiji era, perhaps "In all forms of strategy, it is neccessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance." is worth considering.
One should approach everything with the seriousness of combat, and consider the implications of life and death: we may not die, but the quality of our life and that of others is affected by our day to day. Life is not diminished by one bad day but by many bad days - the little deaths that come with time and without welcome.
We should approach all things with the right posture, and when we do not, that is when we fail.
Speaking of do or do not, I have always taught it as an aphorism for getting over the idea of "Trying is enough" and to accept the reality you will succeed or you will fail. You should aim to succeed, and if you fail to accept it and learn from it. Trying is the incidental part, but preparation, willingness, and tenacity are what you can work on.
Everyday we always trying. Some times we do, some times we don't.
Claire
I read one of the versions of Book of Five Rings. I wasn't all that impressed. All I remember from it is "You must kill the enemy." Haha.
I get kind of tired of the do/try thing. I think it worked great as a device in the movie. I use the word try and don't have any qualms about it. Either way we can fail, even if we "do" really hard.
“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.” -- Miyamoto Musashi
Basically a longer version of our timeless "Do or do not, there is no try". If you're going to do something, do it to the best of your abilities. Accomplish the task. Complete the training.
If you want to go places, you're gonna have to do more 'do'-ing rather than trying.
May the Force continue to guide you.
Sotunus
Musing upon the philosophy of Musashi, aside from the fact he was a rather unsuccessful anti-social individual even in an age where murder could be a path to success, whose notoriety comes from a series of popular fiction written about him during the Meiji era, perhaps "In all forms of strategy, it is neccessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance." is worth considering.
One should approach everything with the seriousness of combat, and consider the implications of life and death: we may not die, but the quality of our life and that of others is affected by our day to day. Life is not diminished by one bad day but by many bad days - the little deaths that come with time and without welcome.
We should approach all things with the right posture, and when we do not, that is when we fail.
Speaking of do or do not, I have always taught it as an aphorism for getting over the idea of "Trying is enough" and to accept the reality you will succeed or you will fail. You should aim to succeed, and if you fail to accept it and learn from it. Trying is the incidental part, but preparation, willingness, and tenacity are what you can work on.
Everyday we always trying. Some times we do, some times we don't.
Claire
I read one of the versions of Book of Five Rings. I wasn't all that impressed. All I remember from it is "You must kill the enemy." Haha.
I get kind of tired of the do/try thing. I think it worked great as a device in the movie. I use the word try and don't have any qualms about it. Either way we can fail, even if we "do" really hard.
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