Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Into The Void

Lost Art Of The Samurai

In feudal Japan there existed a class of warrior known as the Samurai. These soldiers were fiercely loyal to their master and served him with their very life, if necessary.

The Samurai fought with a code of honor and respect for themselves and their enemy. In preparing for battle, the Samurai warrior would first meditate deeply, reaching a state of inner peace and tranquility, becoming one with all things. By so doing, the warrior was prepared to do whatever it took, within the bounds of war, to win the battle or die in the process. Either was acceptable, with death in battle an honor. To lose the fight and live was the worst thing a Samurai could do. Many literally lost their heads because of this code, known as bushido, and others committed ritual suicide.

However, the Samurai carried the bushido code into their everyday life as well. They lived with honor and dignity for themselves and all around them.

The concept is to be at one with self and all else in life. It is a concept we could use more of today.

All too often, we, as people, allow trifling things to affect us negatively, carrying this negativity around all day. We're talking about things like being cut off in traffic. It means nothing if no one was harmed other than the other driver should be more careful.

We fail to honor ourselves as can be seen by the way we live. Our lives, it seems, are focused on how many material possessions we can obtain, instead of looking deeper into ourselves and finding ways we can improve the quality of person we are.

Is it such a foreign concept to honor and respect ourselves and others that we can't grasp it? If so, it's a shame, because the quality of our lives, all our lives, would be enriched so much by doing what has been termed "random acts of kindness."

And, let's face it, all we're really talking about is being nice to ourselves and others. Having a kind word for a stranger, a child or a loved one, instead of looking for something bad or harsh to say to someone.

Let's all perform a simple experiment. It's free, with the exception of taking a little time and effort. There are no ingredients. Here's what we need to do  compliment someone we know on something they've done or how they look. Or, say hello to a total stranger, offering them your hand in friendship.

For those who are more ambitious, take time out and play with a child, if possible, or visit a children's ward at a hospital to read them stories.

The results will be two-fold. First, the act of kindness will make the recipient feel better, and, secondly, it will make the person showing kindness feel better. Warm fuzzies, there's nothing like them.

So, let's try to act in the manner of "off-duty" Samurai, showing honor and respect for all living things.

After all, Earth is our Garden of Eden, and we've been acting as if the serpent is coiled around our ankles biting us at every step. Let's banish the serpent from our lives and live in our Garden as did Adam and Eve before the snake appeared.