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14: Dai mono naru furuki dogu shojisezu One should never let future generations become attached to old weapons One of Shakuson's sayings was Shi ten to. There is nothing in this world that is your own personal property. There may be some connection that says it is yours at this very moment and you might think of it as your own property and be attached to it but eventually you will lose it. There is nothing you can keep forever. Musashi discovered the reality of connection and forgot the revengeful attachment to weapons saying, "Never think of things as your own property. Forget the intellectual mind of greed and enviousness. 1. A Sacred Prohibition by the Gods. Always keep your body and mind clean. Avoid the dirtiness in life and be discreet about it. 2. In accordance to this taboo, the way to avoid is to use reservation and concern. 3. A sacred prohibition with concern to a persons death. After a death there is certain period of time one should stay away from society. These three things are the meaning of "mono imi". 15: Wagami ni atari monoimi suru koto nashi - One should avoid superstition and taboo. These three things concern the meaning of "mono imi".
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There is no taboo or superstition about oneself. taboo is against the gods. With a fearless mind look after yourself and keep yourself clean and clear for the gods. In Buddhism a person who really listens many time to what he is being taught can come to terms with Buddhist inspiration and receive a wide cut clear path with no outside disturbance. However in general, who ever we are it is almost impossible to achieve complete freedom and peace. Life in general is harmful Shinran also put forward this persuasion in Kyo ko Shinsho. Harmless means "Shakuson lost all his desires to attain a high spiritual enlightenment then passed away. So this presents the biggest problem. So harmless can be consist of harmful life based on whether or not you live or die. You can realize the high spiritual enlightenment, life and death. So what is life and death? It means our lives are also contained in a world of superstition.
16: Dai mono naru furuki dogu shojisezu - To use equipment that you consider important and not keep that which is of no use.
17: Michi ni oite wa shi o itowazu omou - Follow your way with preparedness for death. This precept is similarly reiterated in Shinu beki mitsuketari The way of the samurai is in death as written in the Hagakure Kikigakki. With the ever present possibility of a untimely death one should set this thought aside. Any thoughts of death simply cloud the mind and could affect the outcome with dire consequences. However in Hagakure This is generally coupled with allegiance to ones master. I have found the Way of the Samurai is in death relates to death as purity and to be free from ones ego. We can find the same Buddhist doctrine with Musashi's words. That of Musha none-self and Muga, to be free of ones ego. The important principles associated with spiritual strength and concept. As Professor Furukawa of Tokyo University points out, "Death is portrayed as a positive part of the process of living. Hagakure is reflective of purity. There is no greater purity than to die for ones Lord, to die every morning and evening does not mean to actually die. The Hagakure points toward a living death within oneself: To be prepared for ones physical death, to take responsibility for the danger of possible death. To make the utmost of any given work or task." Musashi relied upon himself trying to follow the Buddhist precepts that a warrior identified with and as he mentions in Gorin no Sho. Acceptance of death is not just for the warrior but for all of us, "Readiness for death, it is not only for bushi, but also for priests, for women, for peasants, if they know their obligations (duty) and think of shame, in terms of a determination to die, there are no differences among them.
18: Roshin ni zaiho shoryu mochi iru kokoro nashi - As you get old your gained possessions are not of great importance. As we know during the last years of Musashi's life he chose to retire into the mountains and lived in a cave. For those who have been to reigando and climbed to the top above the cave it has spectacular views. There he could sit, think over his past life and put to paper what we can now still read about him and his ideology. One reaches that stage in life, reflects, tries to put things in order and make sense of it all and appreciate the finer things in life. Nature itself.
19: Busshin wa totoshi Busshin o tanomazu - Respect the gods and Buddha but do not count on them. To me this is self explanatory. With respect to other religions the same applies. Also the first rule of the Hagakure Shisheigan is Yujin Muteki God exists, no opponent. Your fight in life is within yourself.
20: Mi o sutetemo myori wa sutezu - Do not abandon your good name. Even if it means sacrificing ones own life.
21: Tsuneni heiho no michi o hanarezu - Do not stray from the the path of Hyoho. This is the final part of the will a finite summation of what Musashi wanted to hand down to his disciples.
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