I’ve been reading a translation of Hagakure, a Japanese text meant as a guide for warriors in peaceful times. I’d feel pretentious if I didn’t acknowledge that I’m neither Japanese nor a warrior, but I find the concise bits of wisdom in Japanese writings like this fascinating and really a motivator for my own thoughts. It’s really cathartic to read things that express such clarity of thought, even if I often disagree or think the writer was misinformed. Anyway, there are some gems in there, so I want to share at least one.
Among the maxims on Lord Naoshige’s wall there was this one: ”Matters of’ great concern should be treated lightly.” Master lttei commented, “Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.” Among one’s affairs there should not be more than two or three matters of what one could call great concern. If these are deliberated upon during ordinary times, they can be understood. Thinking about things previously and then handling them lightly when the time comes is what this is all about. To face an event anew solve it lightly is difficult if you are not resolved beforehand, and there will always be uncertainty in hitting your mark. However, if the foundation is laid previously, you can think of the saying, “Matters of great concern should be treated lightly,” as your own basis for action.
–Hagakure
This really struck me because I know for a fact that that I place way too much importance on decisions when it comes time to make them, and tend to try to weight pros and cons when there’s just no time to do it. The point is, to have the most clarity when you need to make a decision, the best way to go about it is to forget the importance of the decision, ignore the consequences of a poor decision, and simply try to see the solution, the best choice. Seems pretty simple, but if you read the text, there’s a much deeper understanding of it than I’m willing to explain in detail.
Of course, the guy also thinks its better to fail in revenge immediately than to be patient and succeed, so it’s wise to be critical of the overzealous. Fascinating nonetheless.
I’d recommend it for anyone who might be interested in this type of thing. There are translations out there on the ‘net for free. Check it out.
