Writer’s Bushido, Day 3
“Stabbing at the Heart” from Miyamoto Musashi
“In fighting it is always best to go straight in. Always go straight in, with utter resolve, regardless of the situation. You must not waver when you are making the attack.” — Book of Five Rings: The Book of Water by Miyamoto Musashi
Musashi wrote an introductory essay for Book of Five Rings where you talked about his intentions. Book of Five Rings is as much a book about using a sword as it is about general strategy. That’s kind of cool, because it means there are long-term lessons in it, but there are also practical ones about taking the next action in the next five seconds of your life.
Like this one. When Musashi says “in fighting,” he means up close and personal. That said, the lesson applies to everyday life, because every task is like a fight in that it requires attention and faces opposition.
Musashi advises you to go straight in with utter resolve, regardless of the situation. And do not waver. If you know your goal, then hesitation will serve you no good. You must aim your “attack” at the center of your goal, and above all else don’t flinch. Flinching allows the “enemy” to get at you.
