Dokkodo

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The Dokkodo (??? Dōkkodō; "The Way to Be Followed Alone") was a work written by Miyamoto Musashi (?? ??) a week before he died in 1645. It is a short work, consisting of either 19 or 21 precepts; precepts 4 and 20 are omitted from the former version. It was largely composed on the occasion of Musashi giving away his possessions in preparation for death, and was dedicated to his favorite disciple, Terao Magonojo (to whom was also dedicated the earlier Go rin no sho), who took them to heart. It expresses a stringent honest and ascetic view of life.

[edit] The precepts

1. "Accept everything just the way it is."
2. "Do not seek pleasure for its own sake."
3. "Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling."
4. "Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world."
5. "Be detached from desire your whole life long."
6. "Do not regret what you have done."
7. "Never be jealous."
8. "Never let yourself be saddened by a separation."
9. "Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself or others."
10. "Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love."
11. "In all things have no preferences."
12. "Be indifferent to where you live."
13. "Do not pursue the taste of good food."
14. "Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need."
15. "Do not act following customary beliefs."
16. "Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful."
17. "Do not fear death."
18. "Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age."
19. "Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help." (Novelist Eiji Yoshikawa, in his novel Musashi, claims that this precept originated during Musashi's third duel against the Yoshioka clan, in which he found himself praying to a shrine's god to protect him when he launched his ambush, and violently breaking it off when he realized he shouldn't be praying.)
20. "You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour."
21. "Never stray from the Way."