The mindset of the Samurai

“There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.”

– Tsunetomo Yamamoto. The Hagakure: A code to the way of samurai.

The samurai showed complete devotion to their masters. Part of this meant the acceptance of death, as a samurai was expected to willingly sacrifice his own life for the survival of his master. The quote above reflects the perspective needed for this mentality of accepting death. Death will catch us all, but in modern society death is very much taboo.

I think life and death are connected like yin and yang, without death life would not be precious, but when we ignore death as a part of our own lives, it can make the present seem trivial rather than significant.

To learn more about the primary weapon of the samurai, the katana, watch below.