Living first, reflecting later

What can a 17th-century samurai who won 60 duels to the death teach us about living well?

Caleb and Michael explore the first book of Miyamoto Musashi’s classic work. The Ground Book lays a foundation that cuts across all pursuits. The conversation draws connections to Stoic ideas about indifference, adaptability, and the danger of becoming too attached to any particular school or method.

(03:30) Musashi’s life

(07:00) How mastering a craft teaches philosophy

(10:00) The four ways of life: warrior, carpenter, farmer, merchant

(19:00) Living first, reflecting later—inverting the academic model

(26:00) Philosophy is learned through living, not just reading

(30:00) The way: don’t get attached to any single weapon or style

(38:00) Politics, martial arts, and the trap of picking teams

(43:00) Indifference as flexibility and adaptability

(50:00) Rhythm, timing, and setting the tempo of life

(53:00) The ethical dimension: making your thinking free of evil

(56:30) Musashi’s nine rules for practicing the way

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Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations:

https://ancientlyre.com/