The Way of Walking Alone

[The ShrikeParticipant 147]

I had not seen this anywhere on the site so thought I would post it. The following is an excerpt from Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings) written by Miyamoto Musashi. It is a list he tacked on to the Book of Five Rings shortly before his death.

Hat tip: http://www.mattshamblin.com/musashi-the-way-of-walking-alone/

Before Musashi died, he wrote these 21 precepts for his disciples. For anyone who is forced or chooses to walk alone; I see these 21 things to be of great value. One must study them and meditate upon these words and allow them to develop a truth within you. These could be radically different than how I see these principles for myself.

Do not turn your back on the various ways of this world.
Do not scheme for physical pleasure.
Do not intend to rely on anything.
Consider yourself lightly; consider the world deeply.
Do not ever think in acquisitive terms.
Do not regret things about your own personal life.
Do not envy another’s good or evil.
Do not lament parting on any road whatsoever.
Do not complain or feel bitterly about yourself or others.
Have no heart for approaching the part path of love.
Do not have preferences.
Do not harbor hopes for your own personal home.
Do not have a liking for delicious food for yourself.
Do not carry antiques handed down from generation to generation.
Do not fast so that it affects you physically.
While it’s different with military equipment, do not be fond of material things.
While on the way, do not begrudge death.
Do not be intent on possessing valuables or a fief in old age.
Respect the gods and Buddhas, but do not depend on them.
Though you give up your life, do not give up your honor.
Never depart from the Way of Martial Arts.

[LonerBonerParticipant 358]

When i read the list, this one hit me like a hammer in the head. Cant explain it but it really speaks to me.

The Shrike wrote:

Though you give up your life, do not give up your honor.

I will check the link out, thanks man.

PS. When i logged on today i thought my Avatar was a bit to depressing so i changed it to a dude representing me walking alone on a road..MGTOW style…then when i check new topics i found this. Good timing lol

Keep clam i'm dyslexic.

[RoyDalParticipant]

A wise man was Miyamoto Musashi. Heed him.

Society asks MGTOWs: Why are you not making more tax-slaves?

[BurgundyParticipant 1525]

Damn, there are a couple of lines that I need to think more upon, they certainly struck me.

[alchemistParticipant 484]

I call bulls~~~. Sorry to be so blunt but I haven’t had breakfast yet 😛

Some of these rules are really bad, like: Don’t have preferences… maybe they need some clarification, which if he’s dead, we won’t get, but that one rules out anything you want to do e.g. you can’t prefer to be a MGTOW than a mangina. You can’t prefer to be alive rather than dead.

Some of these rules are good: Do not turn your back on the ways of this world, Do not fast so that it affects you physically. Do not scheme for physical pleasure.
But many are basically saying “don’t feel emotions” and incase you haven’t felt anything recently I’ll remind you that emotions are out of your control, your reaction to emotions is all that you control. Over time emotional responses can be changed by changing underlying paradigms and core beliefs but you will feel things regardless of what you want and saying “don’t be sad” or “don’t be happy” changes nothing.

Also, f~~~ this one in particular:
Do not carry antiques handed down from generation to generation.
My great grandfather’s tools are some of my greatest assets.

[BurgundyParticipant 1525]

@alchemist I think it’s more about not trying to search for that special coloured pen, when any pen could do the work, or like wanting a retarded Mac instead of just going windows for cheaper and so forth.

The way of walking alone, as I can see it from these principals, are to not have earthly attachments, or at least not too many to hold you down at the same place.

A house can for instance become your biggest iron shackle there is. There are many things we own today, we take for granted, and our independence on them may be our doom, so at least recognizing that, gives you some headroom to maybe get some alternative to it, or keeping that in mind.

We have many attachments in life, and as described for, “the way of walking alone”, all these do hold true, because every attachment is a shackle that will make the walk harder, and likely unnecessarily so.

Just another red pill that got thrown at you, denial is the first reaction.

[UntamedParticipant]

Thank you for sharing that, T.S

Food for thoughts.

Don't let them Blame, Shame or Tame you!
Give 'em NOTHING, not even an answer!
#GenderSegragationNow!

[The ShrikeParticipant 147]

With regards to the preferences, Musashi was talking primarily about preferences for a specific type of weapon. As in “I prefer the short sword. I prefer the Naginata.” Etc. He is saying don’t let your preference interfere with winning.

On his way to one of his most famous duels, he hired a boat to row him out to the island where the duel was to take place. The swordsman he was to fight was famous for preferring a longer than normal Katana, which gave the man an edge.

During the trip over to the island in the rowboat, Musashi used the time to whittle one of the oars into a longer than normal practice sword. Upon arriving at the location, his opponent was angered to see that he was using a hand carved wooden oar to fight him. Musashi used the extra length of the wooden oar and his opponents anger to kill him.

“Know your man. Know his sword.” – Miyamoto Musashi

[IGMOW (I Go My Own Way)Participant 2572]

I believe the idea of finding your own ways means far more finding a way that works that fits you, than reinventing the wheel. If you can borrow wisdom of the past, and it works, use it. Some MGTOW will need different bits of wisdom than others. And with that, I say it is of benefit to respect that another MGTOW may have a different path than you. I can see you will get grief in life if this principle of different paths isn’t respected.

"I am my own thang. Any questions?" - Davis S Pumpkins.

[Anonymous 5]

Not having a c~~~ in my life solves 99% of my problems.

A simple “Do not interract with females” is all I really need.

[Author]

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