There's so much mindfulness in today's world. And to enjoy freedom, the stoics, and quite a lot of thinkers like them, advice a kind of detachment from the material world - at least when it comes to deriving anger from material failures.
Yet - when we are NOT yet free; isn't it better to think of how to be good followers of our clan and company? Is then too much dwelling on the mental virtues for freedom really with what we should consider ourselves?
In the Hagakure, Tsunemoto writes that the Samurai should not study too much Buddhism.
Instead, one finds other virtues, quite detrimental to preserving one's peace of mind, in the thinking of the way of the samurai - bushido.
Act quickly
The philosophers in Their Elevated Elysium like to think and not make haste.
Yet, the Samurai prefers to to act and act quickly. Only the feeble refrain from acting.
Use the anger
The stoics stay clear of anger, and comfortably turn their fat necks away.
Yet, for a Samurai, rage can be turned into a force that can be directed at one's enemies or what needs to be done.
Don't be afraid of death
In one translation, Tsunemoto writing goes:
"This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai: if by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way; his whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling."
Perhaps we don't always have death over us, yet at some point, being attached to personal safety is obviously counter to Tsunemoto's samurai. If we accept that everything will vanish to the point that it has already vanished, we can do the right thing, free of fear.
If we are afraid of death, we might refrain ourselves from doing the necessary.
Often, the hard way is the right way and can be enjoyed precisely because of its hardships.
Live by honor
Honor, and the lesser byproduct of reputation, is everything in a clan-based society.
Hint: much of business life, and beyond that, behaves like a clan based society.
In all action, show respect, stick to your word and never loose face.
Serve your master
Precisely because of honor and reputation, the Samurai cannot have anything but complete loyalty to his master.
A good follower
Most of us spend some time in a clan, nowadays called an "organization" or a "corporation". This existence can be enjoyed for its medieval, clan- and samurai-like attributes.
And being valuable to the clan is a sure way to achieve freedom.
So let's think how we become a good follower for our master, and put the horse before the cart, and consider this and enjoy this before we start to consider freedom.
A samurai shouldn't study too much Buddhism.
Be a good samurai first, and then, be the monk who dwells on transcendental freedom in his state of higher and higher enlightenment.
If we set our will to it, our goals will be in our grasp.
Tsunemoto again:
"Nothing is impossible in this world. Firm determination, it is said, can move heaven and earth. Things appear far beyond one's power, because one cannot set his heart on any arduous project due to want of strong will."
Farewell.
//antinous&lucilius
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