Contents I recommend studying
Knowledge (Study, observation, perception) + Reflection + Acceptance + Strategy + Action (Courage, caution and rhythm) = Good Life
BUSHIDO
It is the code of conduct created inspired by the ancient samurai.
-
Gi (義) – Rectitude or Justice
Acting with morality, honesty, and justice, doing what is right even when no one is watching. -
Yū (勇) – Courage
Having the courage to make difficult decisions and face adversity with honor and without fear, both in battle and in life. -
Jin (仁) – Benevolence or Compassion
Acting with kindness, generosity, and empathy, helping those in need and demonstrating compassion toward others. -
Rei (礼) – Courtesy or Respect
Being respectful and polite to others, treating everyone with dignity, regardless of their status or position. -
Makoto (誠) – Sincerity or Honesty
Acting with sincerity in both words and actions, being truthful in all situations, and maintaining integrity. -
Meiyo (名誉) – Honor
Maintaining your honor and reputation at all costs. Honor is one of the most important virtues in the Bushidō code. -
Chū (忠) – Loyalty
Being loyal to your superiors, friends, and cause. Loyalty to family, master, or lord was of utmost importance for the samurai.
The FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS and the MIDDLE WAY
This is the basic principle of Buddhism, left to us by Siddhartha Gautama himself.
-
The Truth of Suffering
-
Life involves suffering, dissatisfaction, and impermanence. All human beings face pain, suffering, aging, illness, and death. Even pleasurable experiences are temporary and eventually lead to suffering.
-
The Truth of the Cause of Suffering
-
Suffering is caused by craving (tanha) and attachment. The desire for pleasure, power, fame, and even eternal life creates the cycle of suffering because we cling to impermanent things.
-
The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
-
Suffering can be overcome. By attaining the state of enlightenment (nirvana), we can free ourselves from the cycle of suffering by abandoning attachment and craving. This is the end of suffering.
-
The Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering
-
Suffering can be overcome through the Noble Eightfold Path, which is a practice of ethical, mental, and intellectual discipline. The Noble Eightfold Path is the solution Buddha proposed to achieve the cessation of suffering.
-
THE MIDDLE WAY
-
The Middle Way is the practice that avoids the extremes of indulgence and self-mortification. Buddha taught that true wisdom and liberation lie in the middle path, avoiding both worldly pleasures and rigid asceticism.
-
It is primarily illustrated through the Noble Eightfold Path, which is an ethical and disciplined practice to achieve the end of suffering. The Middle Way seeks moderation and balance in all aspects of life.
-
The Noble Eightfold Path (Which Forms the Middle Way):
-
Right View
Understanding the Four Noble Truths and the nature of reality, recognizing suffering and its causes. -
Right Intention
Cultivating intentions of renunciation, goodwill, and compassion, abandoning selfish desires, violence, and attachments.
-
Right Speech
Avoiding lies, gossip, harsh, or meaningless words. Speaking honestly, kindly, and constructively.
-
Right Action
Acting ethically without harming others. Following principles of morality and kindness, avoiding actions such as killing, stealing, and adultery.
-
Right Livelihood
Earning a living in an ethical way, without harming others or oneself. Avoiding professions that involve violence, deception, or exploitation.
-
Right Effort
Diligently working to cultivate positive mental qualities and eliminate negative ones, such as craving, anger, and ignorance.
-
Right Mindfulness
Maintaining mindfulness and awareness in all actions. Being present in the moment and observing one's thoughts and feelings without attachment.
-
Right Concentration
Developing meditation and concentration, achieving deep mental calm. This helps cultivate wisdom and mental clarity.
DOKKODO
These are the 21 principles by which Miyamoto Musashi lived.
-
Accept everything just the way it is.
-
Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
-
Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
-
Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
-
Be detached from desire your whole life long.
-
Do not regret what you have done.
-
Never be jealous.
-
Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
-
Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
-
Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of love or lust.
-
In all things, have no preferences.
-
Be indifferent to where you live.
-
Do not pursue the taste of good food.
-
Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
-
Do not act following customary beliefs.
-
Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
-
Do not fear death.
-
Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
-
Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
-
You may abandon your body, but you must preserve your honor.
-
Never stray from the Way.
STOICISM
The essence of Stoicism says that happiness does not come from what happens around us, but rather from how we decide to react to it.
Stoicism is a practical philosophy born in Ancient Greece (founded by Zeno of Citium in the 3rd century BCE) and later developed by Roman thinkers such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.
Its main focus is to achieve inner peace and wisdom through reason, virtue, and the acceptance of what is beyond our control.
-
Basic Principles of Stoicism
-
Distinguish between what is and what is not under your control
This is the central pillar of Stoicism. We should only invest emotional and practical energy in what depends on us—our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. What lies outside of that (such as the weather, other people's behavior, the past, etc.) must be accepted with serenity.
-
Acceptance of fate (Amor Fati)
Not just accepting the events of life, but loving them as part of a greater whole. The Stoic learns to say "yes" to whatever happens, recognizing that everything is part of the natural order of the universe.
-
Self-mastery and inner discipline
The Stoic seeks to master destructive passions such as anger, fear, desire, and vanity. True freedom, for Stoicism, is inner freedom—being the master of oneself.
-
Living in accordance with reason and nature
Human beings are endowed with reason and must live in harmony with it. This includes living virtuously and contributing to the common good.
-
Virtue as the only true good
For the Stoics, the only thing that truly matters is moral virtue—courage, wisdom, justice, and temperance. Wealth, fame, or pleasure are not evil in themselves, but they are indifferent and should not be life’s main pursuit.
-
Key Characteristics of Stoic Thought
-
Pragmatism: Stoicism is applicable to everyday life—it is not a distant or abstract philosophy.
-
Resilience: It teaches us to deal with pain, loss, and difficulties without being overwhelmed by them.
-
Emotional self-sufficiency: The Stoic does not rely on the external world to maintain inner peace.
-
Constant reflection: The practice of daily reviewing one's actions, thoughts, and reactions—just as Marcus Aurelius did in his journals.
-
Meditation on death (Memento Mori): A constant reminder of mortality to help us value the present and live with purpose.
