How to be a Samurai in the Empire called Life?

During Leadership metaCode meeting on July 29th on Clubhouse we discussed topic “How to be a Samurai in the Empire called Life?” As a Martial Arts practitioner I am very much inspired in my life by Samurai path and Bushido Code on which my Empire of Life is built.

With Leadership metaCode we were sharing our values, we were defining the moment when from Samurai we can become a Ronin. We were also searching for an answer - how to deal with adversity and return to the path of a warrior heading with full determination to realize our own vision of Happiness?

Who was the Samurai? The samurai was originally serving the highest Japanese dignitaries, also the imperial guard (gosho-zamurai). The main principle was loyalty to its master and absolute submission. In combat, a samurai could not feel the fear of death, he could not capitulate in combat as it would be a dishonorable solution. Samurai were widely educated to learn bushidō, they were taught, among others, reading, writing, the art of calligraphy, literature, music, tactics, law, medicine, mathematics and tea brewing.

How to connect this to Leadership? Looking to Bushido Code, principles seem very familiar to best Leaders characteristics. There are 8 principles (sometimes there are given 7 without the last one) and I put their connection to Leadership:

- Justice, in all interactions with others, challenge the true to reveal Truth

- Courage, we don`t live fully without courage and we unblock our potential being fearless

- Compassion, connection of own internal power with being empathetic and serving others

- Respect, of the feelings and experiences of others

- Integrity, Walk the Talk

- Honor, decisions are aligned with own values and words

- Loyalty, being responsible for and have a duty to protect your team

- Self-Control, important part of Emotional Intelligence, necessary to walk the path of a life warrior

As you can see Bushido code is similar to Leadership code as it stresses the importance of following your values and beliefs, being responsible for your words, accountable for your actions, and loyal to those who depend on you. As great Master of Karate Kyokushinkai, sosai Masutatsu Oyama, said:

“One must be strong as a lion and noble as a flower. Through training, you can reach the gates of heaven."

"A man may be poor, but if he has a goal and strives to achieve it, he is beautiful."

Below are the conclusion of our discussion.

How to create an internal order, your life's Bushido Code?

• Reflect on yourself - write down and make hierarchy of your values (define your Top 3 values) and your life mission, continuously verify them
• Create and follow rulebook
• Live in harmony with yourself – so that you can look in the mirror
• Be courageous to be yourself and to listen yourself, built your own system of values
• Practice your own Bushido code, get to know yourself, what is important to you, which of your values are inviolable
• Develop continuously Self-awareness with every situation
• Accept what is and get from it as much as possible
• Create and replay your ideal vision of life and strive for it, combining it with your values and your code by which you will follow
• Be aware that fear of being not accepting can have influence on your values
• Instead of building and adding values to your life image – you can be like Michelangelo and reduce shape of your life from unnecessary material

On what values is your empire of life built?

• Frequently ask yourself - how do you want to live?
• Be Authentic, honest, courage to follow happiness
• Be present in the moment
• Caring for others
• Integrity – be the same for all and Walk the talk – follow what you have said
• Be confident in following your path
• Be trustworthy
• Respect independence of persons
• Live with people you are sure of
• Don`t judge others as it limits awareness,
• Live like it would be last day of your life
• Be courageous to show weakness
• Have positive impact on others - make difference to others
• Be creative and curious
• Always care of self-growth
• Mind+Heart create our system of values – let them speak the same language

When does Samurai become Ronin? Which are the conditions we can become a Ronin in private and professional life?

Who is Ronin? It`s a Samurai deprived of a master, a wave man, rolls wherever the wind blows, constantly wandering when he abandons defined rules. In ancient Japan, a man who had lost his place in the feudal social hierarchy. At first, the Ronins were discredited but with time they became a symbol sticking to Bushido code and they saved the ancient philosophy of the sword cult when the world around them grew more and more spoiled and strongly demoralized. In reality most of Ronins lived their lives in accordance with Musashi`s assumptions and Bushido Code, the most famous Ronin and a legend of Japan. He was also a master of painting, sculpture, calligraphy, poetry, military strategy and the creator of the school of fighting with two swords, author of inspirational "Book of the Five Circles of Gorin-No Sho".

Musashi Miyamoto said: ALL IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD START FROM YOURSELF

Which are conditions to quit being Samurai and become Ronin?

• If your Loyalty become slavery – leaving your position and defined rules if you and your values are not appreciated anymore at work, in corporation, in private life
• Both Samurai and Ronin follow Bushido Code with one exception: Samurai follow loyalty to his master, Ronin follow loyalty to his own autonomy
• Ronin chose loyalty to himself, Samurai – master chose for him
• Ronin shows real self-confidence, without doubts, in efficient way and with full awareness
• Ask yourself: Why you are, where you are?
• Independence (as Ronin) is difficult as gives Opportunities
• It`s worth to be Ronin on the way to look for own happiness

How do you stay consistent with your rules despite adversities? What methods do you use to persevere on your way to happiness when you are overcome by demons of doubt?

• Have a moment to stop end reflect – come back to yourself
• Accept failures and weak moments
• Check frequently your system of values
• Ask for Feedback
• Eliminate distractions
• Don`t judge and be present
• Get to know yourself regularly - update the rulebook
• Accept what is happening to you and look for opportunities in all situations (even in difficulties)
• Ask yourself Why – why you want to do this?
• Create a catalog of your life rules, they can change, it is important to be aware of them
• Know what helps you get back on track
• Have someone to talk to about your doubts
• Live in harmony with yourself
• Look for various perspectives and ask questions, looking for answers with your team
• Have a temple of your values that only you can enter
• And there is something maybe controversial but for me very important to live fully my life according to my values, rules and full happiness – it`s awareness of mortality. As Steve Jobs said: “Knowing that I will be dead one day is one of the most important tools in helping me make the biggest decisions of my life. Almost everything - external expectations of you, pride, fear of shame or failure - are all nothing to death. Only life is really important. Remembering that you will die one day is the best way I know to avoid thinking that you have anything to lose. You're naked now. There is no reason why you should not live as your heart tells you to”

I wish all of you to create your Life`s Empire of values for which you will fight with determination of Ronin (or Samurai) following your own Bushido Code, remembering that:

"The real winners are those who win in the struggles of everyday life" (Masutatsu Oyama)

“You are rich only when you have something that money cannot buy” (author unknown)