Warriors Keep Spirit Of Combat In Mind

For warriors it is essential to keep the spirit of combat in mind twenty-four hours a day, whether walking, standing still, sitting down, or reclining, never forgetting it.

– The Code of the Samurai, A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke

It was important for the samurai to never be without swords at their sides, even for a moment. Some would even wear an edgeless sword or wooden sword to the bath. This was an important mindset to ensure they didn’t forget combat, their primary duty.

Unless you are in a war zone, it is probably not practical to keep “combat” in your mind twenty-four hours a day in our modern world, but you can keep the warrior spirit in your mind 24-hours a day to help you live more powerfully. This is the warrior’s edge. We do everything with honor, integrity and a clear purpose.

One of the things keeping the spirit of combat in mind does is remind us of death. When we accept and live with death, we know we can die at any time, so everything we do is important. We don’t waste our precious moments, because we know those moments are limited. We make sure we do those things important and meaningful to ourselves. At the same time, when we realize we could be gone at any moment, we know that nothing is that important. It’s a powerful way to live, and it is the way of the warrior.