The Dokkodo: Miyamoto Musashi’s 21 rules to live by - part 2.
Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
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 second rule in this series is: “Do not seek pleasure for its own sake,” and this article will explore what this means and how we can apply it to our lives (if you want to read thise series from the beginning, click here for part one).
What does it mean to not seek pleasure for its own sake?
To not seek pleasure for its own sake means to avoid indulging in sensual, material, or emotional gratification that does not serve a higher purpose. in other words, it means avoiding most things that are glorifed by mainstream media and advertising for our in western society. It means to resist the temptation of fleeting and superficial pleasures that distract us from our true goals, values, and principles in favour of those things with higher value and meaning. It means to refrain from wasting our time, energy, and resources on things that do not contribute to our personal well-being, individual growth, and overall fulfillment.
Not seeking pleasure for its own sake does not mean to reject or deny pleasure altogether. It does not mean to live a life of austerity, asceticism, or self-denial, nor does it mean to ignore or suppress our natural desires, needs, and feelings. What it does mean, however, is to not devote valuable time and energy consciously pursuing these things if the are not presently available to us.
Not seeking pleasure for its own sake means to enjoy and appreciate pleasure as a by-product, not as an end, of our actions. It means to pursue pleasure that is meaningful, beneficial, and lasting, to balance pleasure with duty, responsibility, and discipline.
Why is it important to not seek pleasure for its own sake?
Not seeking pleasure for its own sake is important for several reasons. Firstly, it is the key to happiness, satisfaction, and contentment. When we seek pleasure for its own sake, we become addicted, dependent, and enslaved the pursuit of it. We can be come consumed by it, chasing after more and more pleasure, eventually feeling like it is never enough. We become restless, bored, and dissatisfied with what we have, often comparing what we have with that of others. This in turns leads to suffering from craving, attachment, and dissatisfaction.
When we do not seek pleasure for its own sake, we free ourselves from the shackles associated with the pursuit of pleasure and related vices. We appreciate and enjoy what we have, without clinging to it or craving for more. We become peaceful, calm, and content with what we have, experiencing joy, gratitude, and satisfaction.
Secondly, it is the foundation of wisdom, virtue, and excellence. When we seek pleasure for its own sake, we lose sight of our true purpose, direction, and vision (this is something I’m sure many of us can unfortunately relate to). It leads us to compromise our morals, values, and principles in pursuit of misguided satisfaction, causing us to neglect our duties, responsibilities, and obligations. It also leads us to become lazy, careless, and mediocre.
When we do not seek pleasure for its own sake, we are able to focus more on our true purpose, direction, and vision. We uphold our morals, values, and principles, fulfilling our duties, responsibilities, and obligations. Resisting the temtation of seeking pleasure for its own sake allows us to become more diligent, careful, and excellent in our pursuits.
Thirdly, not seeking pleasure for its own sake is a source of health, vitality, and longevity. When we seek pleasure for its own sake, we harm our body, mind, and spirit, often because the activities associated with it negatively affect our senses, organs, and functions in some way , leading us to consume unhealthy, harmful, and addictive substances (eg: tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy foods). We also tend to lean towards engaging in risky, dangerous, and destructive behaviors, which can lead us to eventually suffer from illness, injury, and decay.
When we do not seek pleasure for its own sake, we protect our body, mind, and spirit from these things. We respect our senses, organs, and functions and body as a whole and we consume healthy, beneficial, and physically supportive substances and foods. Often these choices also go hand in hand with engage in safe, wholesome, and constructive activities and behaviors, which allow us to enjoy our health, vitality, and more likely longevity.
How can we practice not seeking pleasure for its own sake?
There are many ways to practice not seeking pleasure for its own sake, but here are some simple and effective ones:
- Practice mindfulness.
As mentioned in the preceding post, mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment with openness, curiosity, and acceptance. It helps us to be aware of our sensations, thoughts, emotions, and impulses, without being controlled by them, reacting to them, or suppressing them. It helps us to recognize the triggers, patterns, and consequences of our pleasure-seeking behavior, without judging them, resisting them, or avoiding them. It helps us to cultivate a calm, clear, and compassionate state of mind. - Practice moderation.
Moderation is the practice of finding the right balance between too much and too little of anything. It helps us to avoid excess, deficiency, and extremes one way or the other in our pleasure-seeking behavior. It helps us to set healthy, realistic, and reasonable limits and boundaries for ourselves and that which we engage in, helping us to enjoy pleasure in a way that is appropriate, proportionate, and harmonious. - Practice detachment.
Detachment is the practice of letting go of our attachments, cravings, and desires or pleasures which we cling to. It helps us to reduce our dependence, addiction, and enslavement to these things, and helps us to accept the impermanence, uncertainty, and unpredictability of the pursuit of pleasure. It helps us to enjoy circumstantial pleasure without expecting, demanding, or depending on it.
Conclusion:
The second element of Miyamoto Musashi’s twenty one rules to life is to not seek pleasure for its own sake. This is a powerful and profound rule that can improve our lives for the better, especially now in these modern times. By not seeking pleasure for its own sake, we can achieve greater happiness, satisfaction, and contentment, developing our wisdom, virtue, and excellence in those positive things which we persue. We develop our ability to improve our health, vitality, and longevity, and are able to overcome the challenges, difficulties, and temptations of life with courage, resilience, and optimism. It also helps us to live in harmony with ourselves, others, and the world around us.
To read part three of this series, click here.
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