The Dokkodo: Miyamoto Musashi’s 21 rules to live by - part 9.
Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
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 ninth rule in this series is: “Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others”, 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 resent and complain neither for oneself nor others?
To resent and complain neither for oneself nor others means to avoid feeling or expressing anger, bitterness, or dissatisfaction towards oneself or others for perceived wrongs, injustices, or hardships. It means to resist the urge to blame oneself or others for one’s own or others’ misfortunes, failures, or losses and accept them for that which they are. It means to refrain from being influenced or disturbed by resentment or complaint, which can cloud one’s judgment, perception, decisiveness and action.
Not resenting and complaining neither for oneself nor others does not mean to ignore or deny the reality of suffering, injustice, or hardship. It does not mean to live a life of apathy, complacency, or…
