The Dokkodo: Miyamoto Musashi’s 21 rules to live by - part 8.
Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
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 eighth rule in this series is: “Never let yourself be saddened by a separation”, 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 never let yourself be saddened by a separation?
To never let yourself be saddened by a separation means to avoid feeling sorrow, grief, or regret when we part ways with someone or something that we love, like, or enjoy. It means to resist the urge to cling to or mourn over the past, which is gone and cannot be changed. It means to refrain from being influenced or disturbed by our emotions, which can cloud our judgment, perception, and action, holding us back from moving forward with our lives.
Not letting yourself be saddened by a separation does not mean that you should ignore or deny our feelings of sadness, which are natural and human, conversely, it t does not mean to live a life of detachment, indifference, or coldness. It also does not mean we need to suppress or repress our love, affection, or attachment…
