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from a boat carrying warriors? We will cut you down and throw you into the sea to the last man !" With that, all the
seamen fled back to their own ship.
At such a time, one must act like a samurai. For trifling occasions it is better to accomplish things simply by yelling.
By making something more significant than it really is and missing one's chance, an affair will not be brought to a
close and will be no accomplishment at all.
A certain person who came up with a cash shortage when closing out an account book sent a letter to his section
leader saying, "It is regrettable to have to commit seppuku over a matter of money. As you are my section leader,
please send some funds." Since this was reasonable, the balance was provided and the matter was closed. It is said
that even wrongdoings can be managed without detection.
By being impatient, matters are damaged and great works cannot be done. If one considers something not to be a
matter of time, it will be done surprisingly quickly. Times change. Think about the world fifteen years from now. It
should be rather different, but if one were to look into a book of prophecies, I imagine that it would not be that
different. In the passing fifteen years, not one of the useful men of today will be left. And even if men who are young
now come forth, probably less than half will make it. Worth gradually wanes. For example, if there were a shortage of
gold, silver would become treasure, and if there were a shortage of silver, copper would be valued. With changing
times and the waning of men's capacities, one would be of suitable worth even if he put forth only slight effort.
Something like fifteen years is the space of a dream. If a man but takes care of his health, in the end he will have
accomplished his purpose and will be a valuable person. Certainly in a period when masters are many, one must put
forth considerable effort. But at the time when the world is sliding into a decline, to excel is easy.
To put forth great effort in correcting a person's bad habits is the way it should be done. One should be like the digger
wasp. It is said that even with an adopted child, if you teach him continually so that he will resemble you, he surely
will.
If your strength is only that which comes from vitality, your words and personal conduct will appear to be in accord
with the Way, and you will be praised by others. But when you question yourself about this, there will be nothing to
be said. The last line of the poem that goes, "When your own heart asks," is the secret principle of all the arts. It is
said that it is a good censor.
When you are listening to the stories of accomplished men and the like, you should listen with deep sincerity, even if
it's something about which you already know. If in listening to the same thing ten or twenty times it happens that you
come to an unexpected understanding, that moment will be very special. Within the tedious talk of old folks are their
meritorious deeds.
CHAPTER 3
Lord Naoshige once said, "There is nothing felt quite so deeply as giri. There are times when someone like a cousin
dies and it is not a matter of shedding tears. But we may hear of someone who lived fifty or a hundred years ago, of
whom we know nothing and who has no family ties with us whatsoever, and yet from a sense giri shed tears."
When Lord Naoshige was passing by a place called Chiriku, someone said to him, ' 'In this place there lives a man
who is over ninety years old. Since this man is so fortunate, why don't you stop and see him?" Naoshige heard this
and said, "How could anyone be more pitiful than this man? How many of his children and grandchildren do you
suppose he has seen fall before his very eyes? Where is the good fortune in that?"
It seems that he did not stop to see the man.
When Lord Naoshige was speaking to his grandson, Lord Motoshige, he said, "No matter whether one be of high or
low rank, a family line is something that will decline when its trine has come. If one tries to keep it from going to ruin
at that time, it will have an unsightly finish. If one thinks that the time has come, it is best to let it go down with good
grace. Doing so, he may even cause it to be maintained."
It is said that Motoshige's younger brother heard this from him.
CHAPTER 4
When Nabeshima Tadanao was fifteen years old, a manservant in the kitchen committed some rude act and a foot
soldier was about to beat him, but in the end the servant cut the soldier down. The clan elders deemed the death
sentence appropriate, saying that the man had in the first place erred in matters concerning the ranks of men, and that
he had also shed the blood of his opponent. Tadanao heard this and said, "Which is worse, to err in matters
concerning the ranks of men or to stray from the Way of the Samurai ?'' The elders were unable to answer. Then
Tadanao said, "I have read that when the crime itself is unclear, the punishment should be light. Put him in
confinement for a while."
Once, when Lord Katsushige was hunting at Shiroishi, he shot a large boar. Everyone came running up to see it and
said, "Well, well. You have brought down an uncommonly large one !" Suddenly the boar got up and dashed into [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]