
*** If by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he pains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling. | ***
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*** Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead. | *** Следует ежедневно медитировать на неизбежную смерть. Каждый день, успокоив тело и разум, следует медитировать, представляя, как твое тело разрывают на части стрелы, ружейные пули, копья и мечи, уносят прочь вздымающиеся волны, сжигает пламя пожара, поражает молния, как ты погибаешь в землетрясении, падаешь с высоких скал, умираешь от болезни или совершаешь сеппуку, когда умирает твой господин. И каждый день, независимо от обстоятельств, следует считать себя уже мертвым. |
*** Above all, the Way of the Samurai should be in being aware that you do not know what is going to happen next, and in querying every item day and night. Victory and defeat are matters of the temporary force of circumstances. The way of avoiding shame is different. It is simply in death. | *** |

*** Once a group of ten blind masseuses were traveling together in the mountains, and when they began to pass along the top of a precipice, they all became very cautious, their legs shook, and they were in general struck with terror. Just then the leading man stumbled and fell of the cliff. Those that were left all wailed, "Ahh, ahh! How piteous!" But the masseuse who had fallen veiled up from below, "Don't be afraid. Although I fell, it was nothing. I am now rather at ease. Before falling I kept thinking 'What will I do if I fall?' and there was no end to my anxiety. But now I've settled down. If the rest of you want to be at ease, fall quickly!'' | *** Однажды десять слепцов шли через горы, и когда они начали двигаться вдоль края пропасти, то все стали очень осторожны, их ноги начали дрожать, а их души поразил ужас. Как раз в этот момент тот, кто шел впереди, споткнулся и упал со скалы. Оставшиеся остановились и в ужасе запричитали: "О! Как жаль!" Но тот, который упал, закричал снизу: "Не бойтесь. Хотя я и упал, ничего страшного не случилось. Перед падением я все время думал: "Что делать, если я упаду?", и моему беспокойству не было конца. Но теперь я успокоился. Если вы хотите избавиться от страха, быстрее падайте!" |
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upd: участвуем в конкурсе!