# Miyamoto Musashi's Dokkōdō: the 21 precepts of "The Way of Walking Alone"

From "Do not go against the ways of the world" to "Never stray from the Way": all 21 precepts of the Dokkōdō, written by Miyamoto Musashi a week before his death in 1645 and given to his disciple Terao Magonojō, preserved in his own hand at the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art.

- 45 votes · 21 items
- Oct 21, 2023 · reelfan_kobe
- https://even.best/en/l/5171/miyamoto-musashi-s-dokkodo-the-21-precepts-of-the-way-of-walking-alone

## Top 21

1. **6. Do not regret what you have done.** (6 · ▲6 ▼0) — Precept 6 of the Dokkōdō: «我事におゐて後悔をせず».
2. **2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — Precept 2 of the Dokkōdō: «身にたのしみをたくます».
3. **1. Do not go against the ways of the world.** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Precept 1 of the Dokkōdō: «世々の道をそむく事なし».
4. **4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Precept 4 of the Dokkōdō: «身をあさく思、世をふかく思ふ».
5. **5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.** (2 · ▲3 ▼1) — Precept 5 of the Dokkōdō: «一生の間よくしん思わず».
6. **7. Never be jealous of others, for better or worse.** (2 · ▲3 ▼1) — Precept 7 of the Dokkōdō: «善悪に他をねたむ心なし».
7. **8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Precept 8 of the Dokkōdō: «いずれの道にもわかれをかなしまず».
8. **16. Do not collect weapons or practise with weapons beyond what is useful.** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Precept 16 of the Dokkōdō: «兵具は格別よの道具たしなまず».
9. **10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — Precept 10 of the Dokkōdō: «れんぼの道思ひよるこころなし».
10. **11. In all things, have no preferences.** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — Precept 11 of the Dokkōdō: «物毎にすきこのむ事なし».
11. **3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Precept 3 of the Dokkōdō: «よろずに依怙の心なし».
12. **14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Precept 14 of the Dokkōdō: «末々代物なる古き道具を所持せず».
13. **15. Do not act following customary beliefs.** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Precept 15 of the Dokkōdō: «わが身にいたり物いみする事なし».
14. **19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Precept 19 of the Dokkōdō: «仏神は貴し、仏神をたのまず».
15. **20. You may abandon your own body, but you must preserve your honour.** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Precept 20 of the Dokkōdō: «身を捨てても名利はすてず».
16. **21. Never stray from the Way.** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Precept 21 of the Dokkōdō: «常に兵法の道をはなれず».
17. **9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor for others.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Precept 9 of the Dokkōdō: «自他共にうらみかこつ心なし».
18. **13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Precept 13 of the Dokkōdō: «身ひとつに美食をこのまず».
19. **18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Precept 18 of the Dokkōdō: «老身に財宝所領もちゆる心なし».
20. **12. Be indifferent to where you live.** (-1 · ▲1 ▼2) — Precept 12 of the Dokkōdō: «私宅においてのぞむ心なし».
21. **17. Do not fear death.** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — Precept 17 of the Dokkōdō: «道においては死をいとわず思ふ».

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