The Dokkodo: Miyamoto Musashi’s 21 rules to live by - part 10.
Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
The Dokkodo is a set of 21 rules for life written by the legendary samurai and philosopher Miyamoto Musashi in the days before his death in 1645. The tenth rule in this series is: “Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love”, and this article will explore what this means and how we can apply it to our lives (if you want to read this series from the beginning, click here for part one).
What does it mean by not being guided by lust or love?
Not being guided by lust or love means being free from the influence of passion, emotion, and attachment associated with either. It means to remain rational, objective, and independent in thoughts and decisions, and also means to be in control of yourself, not allowing others to have control or influence over you.
As a master of swordsmanship, strategy, and Zen Buddhism, Musashi lived a life of constant adversity, danger, and adventure. He faced many opponents, situations, and environments during his life, and he needed to be able to adapt to them quickly and skillfully. He could not afford to be distracted, deceived, or dominated by thoughts of lust or love. To survive, it was imperative that his mind remain focused, clear, and calm.
Musashi understood that lust and love are powerful and seductive forces that can cloud one’s judgment, impair one’s performance, and endanger one’s life if not consciously controlled. Lust and love can make us lose sight of our goals, values, and principles, and make us compromise our own integrity, dignity, and honor. Distractions of lust and love can also make us vulnerable, dependent, and enslaved.
On the other hand, not being guided by lust or love is a source of strength, clarity, and freedom, allowing us to see things as they truly are, not as we might wish them to be. Not being guided by lust or love allows us to act according to reason, not in accordance with feelings or misguided beliefs. As a result, not being guided by lust or love allows us to the freedom to be self-reliant, self-sufficient, and self-respecting.
Why is it important to not be guided by the feelings of lust or love?
As mentioned in the paragraphs above, there are many reasons why it is important to not be guided by feelings of lust or love, however, below are five detailed examples of how allowing ourselves to do so can obscure our view and affect our common sense in decision making.
- Fleeting Satisfaction:
Just like a flickering flame, lust burns brightly for a moment and then vanishes. Offering only temporary, physical satisfaction, it often leaves us simply wanting more. In the pursuit of lustful desires, we risk neglecting much deeper, lasting fulfillment and meaningful connection. - Impulsive Decisions:
When we are led by lust, we can be reckless and often take unnecessary risks. Whether it’s pursuing a forbidden love affair or seeking instant gratification in the moment, these impulsive choices often lead to fleeting, shallow satisfaction and future difficulty. - Balance and Reason:
While lust is a natural human emotion, giving it priority and relying solely on it for pleasure can be detrimental. We must balance it with reason, consequential thinking and common sense. Mature insight and conscious awareness would encourage us to seek fulfillment beyond fleeting desires. - Attachment and Blindness:
Musashi’s caution against being guided by love and lust reflects the dangers he faced during his time as a wandering samurai. While we now live in different times, the lesson still remains, feelings of love and lust can blind us to what is really important, and of priority, in favor of that which we believe might immediately placate us. Love, while beautiful, can blind us, and lust, or attachment to someone or something may prevent us from seeing reality clearly. - Independence and Wisdom:
This tenth precept of the Dokkodo reminds us to avoid dependence on feelings or desires that cloud judgment. Instead, we should cultivate deliberate independence and conscious wisdom. Accept the world as it is, pursue meaningful actions and outcomes, live authentically and avoid being swayed solely by emotions and physical desires.
How can we practice not being guided by the feelings of lust or love?
Not letting ourselves be guided by lust or love does not mean that we need to be cold, heartless, or indifferent. It does not mean that we are to have no feelings, emotions, or affections, and it does not mean that we must be a loner, recluse, or misanthrope.
Instead, it means that we should be consciously warm, compassionate, and respectful, and that we should have feelings, emotions, and affections, but not being attached to them. It means being able to express these feelings, emotions and affections, but not be ruled or controlled by them. It means being able to enjoy and experience them through our self, but not be addicted to them or mislead by them.
Not being guided by lust or love means being able to love and be loved, without being needy or possessive. It means being able to give and receive love, without being conditional or manipulative. It means being able to appreciate and cherish love, without being obsessive or jealous.
Not letting ourselves be guided by lust or love means being able to have healthy and harmonious relationships (with self and others), without losing our self identity or autonomy. It means being able to respect and support partners, without sacrificing one’s own needs or interests in the process. It also means being able to communicate and cooperate in coincidence with another, without being dishonest or abusive.
Conclusion:
The tenth element of Miyamoto Musashi’s Dokkodo is “Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love”. This is an immensely powerful and liberating way of living that can help us to enhance our self-awareness and self-control, improve our decision-making and problem-solving, increase our confidence and competence, and foster our growth and development.
Not letting ourselves be guided by lust or love is also a challenging and demanding way of living, especially if this is a new concept to us. While difficult, it is not impossible, and it requires us to be mindful and aware of our feelings of lust and love as well as their effects. It requires us to be detached and objective about our lust and love and their sources, while being flexible and open-minded about their alternatives. It also demands that we be humble and grateful about the lust and love that we do allow, as well as their outcomes. This approach fosters a more resilient and authentic way of living, which builds character and resonates outward serving to role model and positively influence those we interact with and the world around us.
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