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| Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance |
| As soon as I find my copy of this I will fill in the details, but it is essentially a book about defining what we mean by our usage of the term, "quality" in our lives and how we decide whether or not we have attained a good quality of life. It is absolutely NOT essential that you know anything about motorbikes when reading this book, but it is helpful to know that there is a difference between riding a bike and driving in a car and to appreciate that difference. |
| Mishima On Hagakure |
| Bushido: The Warrior's Code |
| On Having No Head |
| Nitobe |
| D. E. Harding |
| Yukio Mishima |
| Robert M Pirsig |
| Make up your mind within the space of 7 breaths. It is extremely hard to make decisions when one is flustered. But if without worrying over minor issues one approaches the problem with a razor sharp mind, one will always reach a decision within the space of 7 breaths. Consider the problem calmly and with simple determination. Mishima on Hagakure |
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| Yukio Mishima is considered to be one of Japan's greatest 20th century writers, arguably the best. He was greatly influenced by Japan's proud samurai heritage and studied martial arts as well as the more literary kinds. Anyone who is serious about samurai will be familiar with the Hagakure, a collection of writings about the ethics of the warrior class that was written in the 1700's by Jocho Yamomoto, and in this book, Yukio Mishima analyses and muses over the Hagakure's contents and their validity in 20th century warriorless Japanese society. |
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| Bushido holds the literal translation," Way of the Warrior" however the very term, warrior, may have it's own meaning. As a "warrior" for human rights, I draw alot of strength from the words that form the body of this code. It reminds the samurai that he is working for his lord, and not for personal gain. By simply substituting "cause" for "lord", the result is a manifesto for positive action that has proven itself over hundreds of years. Dishonour is like a scar on a tree. |
| The serendipity with which I came across this title is a story in itself, however the real story here is that this book has been created that will help you to understand the concept of zen. It's an unassuming little book but it is potent and simple to understand. The idea of having no head will probably seem a little fanciful at first, but as an illustration of zen consciousness, it is stirringly familiar once described by the author as a way of existing in heightened consciousness. |
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