The Dokkodo: Miyamoto Musashi’s 21 rules to live by - part 11.

In all things, have no preferences.

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 eleventh rule in this series is “In all things have no preferences”, 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 to in all things, have no preferences?
Having no preferences means being free from attachment, desire, and expectation. It means being responsive and flexible to whatever comes, without judging it as good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, favorable or unfavorable. It means accepting reality as it is, without trying to change it or escape from it.

Musashi was a master swordsman who lived a life of constant challenge, adventure, and danger. He faced many opponents, situations, and difficulties in his life, and he needed to adapt to them quickly and skillfully. He could not afford to be biased or choosy, instead remaining flexible, versatile, and impartial. He had to be mentally and physically prepared to deal with anything.

Musashi understood that having preferences created internal suffering. When we have…