7 Reasons Why You Should Live More Like A Samurai

(Photo by Glenn)

“In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased.”

Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)

“Life is like unto a long journey with a heavy burden. Let thy step be slow and steady, that thou stumble not. Persuade thyself that imperfection and inconvenience are the natural lot of mortals, and there will be no room for discontent, neither for despair. When ambitious desires arise in thy heart, recall the days of extremity thou has passed through. Forbearance is the root of quietness and assurance forever. Look upon the wrath of the enemy. If thou knowest only whatit is to conquer, and knowest not what it is to be defeated, woe unto thee; it will fare ill with thee. Find fault with thyself rather than with others.”

Ieyasu Tokugawa (1543-1616)

The samurai were considered noble warriors and respected members of society during their existence up through the 18^th century. They are trademarked by their overall “badassness” and amazing swordsmanship, as anyone seen in a martial arts movie. What people don’t typically know is that they also were bound and held by a strict moral code that still serves as a template for many rules and regulations within cultures in Japan today

The way of the samurai is also known as bushido or “way of the warrior”

While some people may think it would be cool to live and die by a samurai code (and believe me it defiantly sounds interesting) I want to show you how the samurai code was about a lot more than committing ritualistic suicide and getting into fights all over feudal Japan

The way of the samurai is less about dying by your sword and more about having a code of conduct that has its roots in humility, peacefulness, and limitless human potential

The bushido code, or the seven virtues is the list by which all samurai swore to upon their entrance into the samurai ranks

And while the samurai are all but extinct, their code lives on in many martial art groups and also can serve as guidelines for living a more fulfilling life

The Bushido Code

1)      Justice

“One should not be envious of someone who has prospered by unjust deeds. Nor should he disdain someone who has fallen while adhering to the path of righteousness.”

Imagawa Sadayo (1325-1420)

Justice is something that everyone is familiar with, and the samurai of the past held justice in the same high regards that we do today

But while today justice has many checks and balances before a consensus is made, the samurai believed that justice was more simplistic in nature

Doing the right thing or making the right decision was the basis for justice in the way of bushido

No matter where and how you are raised, everyone is born knowing the difference between right and wrong

It is our job to do the right thing at all times, and hold ourselves to a level of justice that not only the samurai could agree with, but more importantly, so that we feel right and strong in every decision we make

2)      Bravery

“By the Way of the warrior is meant death. The Way of the warrior is death. This means choosing death whenever there is a choice between life and death. It means nothing more than this. It means to see things through, being resolved.”

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Being brave does not have to mean dying for what you believe in, like the samurai often did

But rather it is important that you have courage and strength in everything you do

By having courage, especially in the face of fear, you can overcome immense obstacles in your life and come out stronger and more confident as a result

Whether you are facing a possible layoff due to downsizing, or are face to face with a life or death situation, having bravery at your side will shift the battle in your favor

3)      Benevolence

“’If there’s no one there to help, go out and find someone to help.”

Bushido Saying

“One kind word can warm three winter months.”

Japanese Proverb

Samurai believed that it was important to not only exercise their abilities in combat, but equally express their ability to help those who could not help themselves

They would often pay respects to local village and help anyone who needed assistance in their lives

From daily chores to stopping harassment from neighboring villages, the samurai would help his fellow man at every possibility. If that possibility did not arise, they went out of their way to find a way to help people’s lives

Everyone loves helping others, but few take serious action in order to impact the lives of others

Consider instead (or in addition to) of putting money into a jar at your local restaurant to help a worthy cause, to donate some of your time to help the unfortunate in your area

Currently 1 in 4 people are hungry in the world (over 1 billion people) and an act of kindness that would change lives could involve you working at a soup kitchen for a few hours a month, or helping a foundation such as meals on wheels

Take a lesson from the samurai and donate some of your time to help others who are not as fortunate as you are, not only is it an amazing thing to do, but you will feel amazing doing it

4)      Respect

“No matter whether a person belongs to the upper or lower ranks, if he has not put his life on the line at least once he has cause for shame.”

Nabeshima Naoshige (1538-1618)

“It is truly regrettable that a person will treat a man who is valuable to him well, and a man who is worthless to him poorly.”

Hojo Shigetoki (1198-1261)

Showing respect for others is something that we are all aware of, and while at moments in our lives we may not show respect for others, it is understood that everyone deserves respect in this world

The samurai showed respect by speaking and acting with courtesy to others, treated others with the same respect that they treated themselves

Everyone, no matter who they are, where they are from, or what they do, deserve respect and acknowledgement as equal human beings on this planet

And while we try to see everyone as equal and treat them with respect all the time, sometimes we slip and spiteful human emotions rise

For great tips on how to combat this, see You Don’t Have to Be Gandhi to See the Best in People

5)      Honesty

“The more you search for truth outside yourself the farther away it seems to be.”

Anonymous (believed to have originated in feudal Japan)

Being true to yourself and true to others is a code that the samurai lived by

A Samurai’s word was his bond and he would rather die than fail to complete a task he had said he would do

It is important for all of us to be honest with ourselves and the others in our lives

The abundance of white lies, bending the truth, and family

Dishonest business practices and scandals are common place in the news in this day and age, and it makes you wonder why certain people choose to ignore their conscious and pursue wealth over integrity

While the vast majority of people I come into contact with are honest individuals, everyone lies from time to time

Telling a girl at a bar you are a producer on a movie when you’re really an assistant to a producer

Telling someone that you can’t notice that they have gained weight (even though you might be concerned about their health)

While these examples may seem innocent, they all come from a place of dishonesty and ultimately will not sit with you well in the long run

Take a lesson from the samurai and make an effort to be honest as much as possible and you will find that other people, and yourself, and you will find the truthful nature of your existence uplifting

6)      Honor

“In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased.”

Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)

“Always listen to yourself. It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention. If you are wrong, no matter, you have learned something and you will grow stronger. If you are right, you have taken another step towards a fulfilling life.”

Hagakure (book of the samurai)

It was believed that the only true judge of honor was himself, that was the will of the samurai

Samurai believed that decisions you make and how they are carried out were a reflection of your true nature

Its important that you live by your own code of conduct, as ultimately you know what you should and shouldn’t do in your life

While listening to others and getting advice from people who have walked the path that you are considering being a part of, ultimately only you can truly know what you are suppose to do with your life

By being true to yourself and following your passions, you will achieve a level of fulfillment that many people will never experience in a lifetime

Live a life of honor, and watch yourself make a career, and a life around the things you love

7)      Loyalty

“A man who has been born into the house of a warrior and yet places no loyalty in his heart and thinks only of the fortune of his position will be flattering on the surface and construct schemes in his heart, will forsake righteousness and not reflect on his shame, and will stain the warrior’s name of his household to later generations. This is truly regrettable.”

Torii Mototada (1539-1600)

Loyalty was on the forefront of the minds of every samurai, as it represented their loyalty to the lord that they served

While being loyal to a single person or group in today’s society may nor may not be beneficial for your life, the samurai loyalty also branched off into family, clans, emperors, and their countries

Being loyal to your family and your friends is something that everyone can appreciate

By being loyal and true to the ones you care about, you can be their dependable rock that they rest their head on when they want to feel loved, cherished, or even when they are going through troubling times

Remember to be loyal in your life, and you will find that everyone will bestow their trust in you, empowering them and you do achieve amazing things