Philosophies for Life 117: 7 Samurai Ways To Stay Focused - Miyamoto Musashi
Oct 22, 2025
25:01
In this podcast we will be talking about 7 ways to stay focused from the wisdom of Miyamoto Musashi. Miyamoto Musashi is considered to be the greatest swordsman ever in the history of Japan, in large part due to his almost surreal discipline.
So here are 7 ways to stay focused from Miyamoto Musashi -
01. Find your one true passion
02. Avoid short-term pleasures
03. Never do anything with half-hearted effort
04. Let go of resentments
05. Do not regret anything
06. Do not chase love or lust
07. Accept life as it happens
I hope you listening to this podcast and hope you find these insights form Miyamoto Musashi very helpful for your focus.
A samurai at first, and then a Ronin, Miyamoto Musashi is considered to be the greatest swordsman ever in the history of Japan, in large part due to his almost surreal discipline. Indeed It is being said that he fought 60 duels, and never lost one. He fought for the first time when he was 13 against an experienced Samurai, and came out victorious. He took down the greatest swordsman at that time, one by one, until the throne was his, and his alone. However, Miyamoto was more than that. Not only was he a master of his craft, but he was also an artist, a cerebral philosopher and a buddhist. He sought meaning, wrote war and philosophy books, and his work became a blueprint for people who want to live a disciplined life. A week before he died in 1645, Miyamoto Musashi wrote 21 principles called “Dokkodo '' by which he expresses a stringent, honest, and ascetic or strongly self-disciplined view of life.
So here are 7 ways to stay focused from Miyamoto Musashi -
01. Find your one true passion
02. Avoid short-term pleasures
03. Never do anything with half-hearted effort
04. Let go of resentments
05. Do not regret anything
06. Do not chase love or lust
07. Accept life as it happens
I hope you listening to this podcast and hope you find these insights form Miyamoto Musashi very helpful for your focus.
A samurai at first, and then a Ronin, Miyamoto Musashi is considered to be the greatest swordsman ever in the history of Japan, in large part due to his almost surreal discipline. Indeed It is being said that he fought 60 duels, and never lost one. He fought for the first time when he was 13 against an experienced Samurai, and came out victorious. He took down the greatest swordsman at that time, one by one, until the throne was his, and his alone. However, Miyamoto was more than that. Not only was he a master of his craft, but he was also an artist, a cerebral philosopher and a buddhist. He sought meaning, wrote war and philosophy books, and his work became a blueprint for people who want to live a disciplined life. A week before he died in 1645, Miyamoto Musashi wrote 21 principles called “Dokkodo '' by which he expresses a stringent, honest, and ascetic or strongly self-disciplined view of life.