CAPSULE | READS: The Book of Five Rings

Key takeaways on: Strategy + Discipline, Tactics During Combat & Golden Nuggets.

ON STRATEGY + DISCIPLINE: It is essential to train well so that the body becomes strategy.

• learn the essence of experiences, taking advantage of every occasion.
• polish wisdom (the good, the evil), this way no one will be able to deceive you.
• keep your mind straight and make your opponent go through contortions.

ON TACTICS DURING COMBAT: Fight against all types of people. Maintain awareness of their mind, the strengths and weakness of their techniques and probe their tactics.

• pretend to attack forcefully and you will discover their tactic
  > once you have discovered their tactic, it will be easy to defeat them (moving your shadow)
• taking initiative when opponent attacks first
  > when opponent approaches, act weak | when he attacks, attack with vigor
  > maintain mental disposition of a strong, untroubled mind
• if you and your opponent are doing the same thing, the combat will not unfold to your advantage
  > win through means that your adversaries have not thought of
  > it is harmful to be lead by your opponent and place yourself on the defensive | work to lead your opponent with your will

GOLDEN NUGGETS: All principles arise from emptiness.

• think lightly of yourself and deeply about the world
• accept everything just the way it is
• do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling
• in all things, do not have any preferences
• never stray from the way of strategy

Schools of Thought Presented as Physical Elements in Life:
The Book of 5 Rings

1. The Book of Earth — the way
   > by mastering the sword, weapons should be adapted to your personal qualities and be ones you can handle
   > it is essential to train well so that the body becomes strategy…the rest will be communicated orally
   > go forward without hurry
   > follow a road that is a thousands leads long, one step at a time
   > be without haste, and be convinced that all these practices are the duty
2. The Book of Water — the way of strategy
   > create an immovable mind
   > polish wisdom in the mind so that no one will be able to deceive you
   > posture: look powerfully, see gently
3. The Book of Fire — the way of war
   3 ways of taking initiative
   1. Attacking before opponent ➡ maintain mental disposition remaining strong, untroubled mind taking initiative when opponent attacks first ➡ when opponent approaches, act weak, act with vigor
   2. Taking initiative when two adversaries are getting ready to attack each other ➡ when opponent acts fast, remain calm ➡ when he thinks he has won victory, strike back directly
   3. Adapt to the evolution of situation ➡ hold down on the headrest ➡ do not allow opponent to raise his head
   > look at your opponents from above
   > allow your opponent to do useless things and preventing him from doing anything effective
   
   >> Infective: when you notice haste, pretend not to notice it and act extremely slow…that’ll influence adversaries and relax their attitudes. when you judge that you have infected them sufficiently, seize by attacking fast with a strong mind. | intoxicate opponent by introducing dreariness, indecisions & weakness in his mind <<
   >> Irritating adversary: know how to irritate adversary ➡ show yourself weak at first and then strong and adapt to the wave of ups and downs opponent perceives. <<
   >>Frightening: make small things look large, sudden attacking movements off to the sides. <<
   >> Renewing yourself: if you feel yourself entangled with opponent and feel stagnation, throw off proceedings sensations and renew your thoughts. <<
   >> Solid as a rock: never receive a sword blow and nothing will be able to move him | power of mind || rain and wind || stable and immoveable. <<
4. The Book of Wind: the schools of strategy
   > you cannot know the way of your own school of strategy without knowing the way of others
   > the length of a sword has more to do with your perception of what it can shield you from, than the principle that exists in defeating the adversary
   > striking with brute force doesn’t necessarily make it stronger or make you win faster
   > movements should not appear fast | the movement of experts never appear hurried
   > in the way of strategy, it is bad to aim for speed
   ➡ speed = beginning of fall
5. The Book of Void: emptiness

If there is no communication, there is no response.

Reality has the fullness of a circle.

Sticking = strong | Entanglement = weak

The Way to be Followed Alone:

1. Do not go against the way of the human world.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
3. Do not depend upon partial feelings.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply about the world.
5. Be detaching from desire whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous of ohers either in good or in evil.
8. Never let yourself be sad by a separation.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for yourself, nor for others.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of love.
11. In all things, do not have any preferences.
12. Do not have any particular desire regarding private.
13. Do not pursue taste of good food.
14. Do not possess ancient objects.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
16. Do not seek to collect or to practice beyond what is useful.
17. Do not shove death in the way.
18. Do not shove death in the way.
19. Respect buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
20. You can abandon your own body, but you must hold onto your honor.
21. Never stray from the way of strategy.

Introducing Reads as a capsule in the Learn Segment. Each week for the remainder of the year, we’ll be extracting key takeaways and notes from 26 books read in 26 weeks as a practice to nourish learning. Join us in the (re)wiring!