This is the fourth blog in a five-part blog series on Cultivating Our Inner Samurai. Click here to read Part 1, here for Part 2, here for Part 3, and here for Part 4.
Using the Book of Five Rings as a starting poing, we will explore what it means to go inward and cultivate your inner Samurai.
Today, we will be exploring Miyamoto Musashi last two rules: Pay attention even to trifles and do nothing that is of no use
Musashi's philosophy included nine rules. These nine rules are the quintessential distillation of everything that Musashi wanted to tell his readers about how to live life. Though written more then 350 years ago, his philosophy has influenced modern business people in Japan and China, as well as in Europe and North America. They are principals that apply to the outer world of business and the inner world of your still small voice. Musashi’s steps will help you get in touch with and strengthen your inner Samurai.
INNER SAMURAI PAY ATTENTION TO TRIFLES AND BE OF USE
Musashi’s last two rules go together, very nicely: Pay attention even to trifles and do nothing that is of no use. Pay attention, even to the smallest of matters means having an eye for detail. Though not so much detail that you get lost in it and end up making it a useless pursuit. Knitting is like this.
One of my favorite movies is Like Water for Chocolate. Have you seen it? Based on the 1989 novel by first-time Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel, it follows the story of a young girl named Tita who does everything she can to win over the heart of Pedro, the man destined to marry one of her older sisters. Because of a long standing tradition in her family that the youngest daughter must remain at home and take care of her parents, Tita is not allowed to marry anyone, yet alone Pedro.
Unable to openly express her love for Pedro, she pours all her feelings and emotions into the food she cooks causing the people who taste it to experience what she is feeling. Tita is a fabulous cook. Far better than her other sisters, this is the way that she woos young Pedro to ask for her hand in marriage. Though, her plan backfires. Enraged, Mama Elena sends Pedro away. Staggering under the weight of that loss, Tita turns her love and attention to raise and care for her sister’s son. When her nephew dies, Tita lashes out and blames her mother for his death. Mama Elena retaliates by beating her with a wooden spoon, and something snaps inside Tita.
Forbidden ever to see Pedro again and grieving the loss of her beloved nephew, Tita has no desire to cook anymore. She finds solace in feeding a baby pigeon and knitting. Now considered insane, Mama Elena has her institutionalized in a mental hospital, though the doctor in charge of her treatment falls in love with her and moves her to his home. From the time of her beating until nearly the end of the movie, when she is finally reunited with Pedro, Tita knits. Knits what? Nothing. Just knits. One long afghan that grows by feet by feet each day. She never stops knitting.
Pretty soon, she can wrap her knitting around her, several times. The knitting is tens of yards long. Pretty soon, it is a mile long. Then longer. She counts each stitch, checks to make sure it is right and if there is a dropped one, goes back to pick it up. Musashi would applaud her for paying attention to the details. Though, the knitting goes on and on and soon becomes of no use. It’s never fashioned into anything. Never used. Never displayed. It becomes nothing of use. It’s knitting gone a rye. It would have behooved Tita to have heeded Musashi’s last rule: do nothing that is of no use.
So what do you think of Musashi's last two rules?
The original Accidental Pren-her™
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