Nothing has changed!

20 Oct 08

Personal character:

The Japanese Art of Bushido, and the teachings of Greek philosopher, Socrates, hold one thing in common:

Both teach that any man, worthy of the title, will predictably behave according to an absolute moral standard, a standard that perpetually transcends fads, trends, fashion, whim, even logic. Socrates reminded his followers, "Do we really need to argue over what is right and what is wrong? As men of honor, don't we just know such things?" Honor, a vivid consciousness of personal dignity and worth, would go on characterize the doctrine of both Socrates and the Samurai.

The difference between good and evil, between truth and falsehood, between right and wrong are givens, absolutes, not arguments subject to discourse nor self-serving pseudo-justification. A man, worthy of the title, should ever know and understand the difference, and it is a man's obligation to teach his household right thinking and right conduct through the model of his own behavior.

The first objective of Samurai education was thus always to build uncompromising, righteous Character. More subtle issues of prudence, intelligence, and dialectics were also crucial, but clearly second in importance. Intellectual superiority was esteemed, but a Samurai was foremost a man ofright thinking and right action. In fact, the Japanese term "Makoto,"often translated to the English word,"sincerity," had a profoundly deeper meaning to Samurai Warriors. It meant wagering it all, holding back nothing, putting all your heart, spirit, and strength into your act. To a Samurai, doing less meant acting insincerely.

In our age, we're submerged in self-delusion. "Situation ethics," for example, is a preposterous contradiction of terms! No man of honor would even utter such an absurd phrase, with a straight face.

Ancients, in every corner of the world, understood what was required for any civilization to grow and prosper and what caused them unfailingly to rot and crumble.

Nothing has changed!

/John