This I Believe: The Samurai Creed

My son had the opportunity to be a part of an oratory club this past school year. One of the speeches the members were asked to write was entitled "This I believe". These speeches were based on books, quotes, and people who had inspired the students. In the next few months, I will share a few of the books, quotes, and people that have formed me as a practitioner and thus my practice of medicine. 

The following poem is popularly known on the internet as The Samurai Creed. It has been attributed to a nameless, 14th century Samurai. I've seen it quoted in martial arts books and novels, but no one seems to know much about it. That doesn't bother me too much, because the words ring true for me. The creed extolls living in the moment and staying on the Eightfold Path put forth by the Buddhists. I'd like to say that I live this way all the time, but in reality I only come close to it in the clinic. 

The Samurai Creed

I have no parents:
I make the heaven and earth my parents.
I have no home:
I make awareness my home.
I have no life and death:
I make the tides of breathing my life and death.
I have no divine powers:
I make honesty my divine power.
I have no means:
I make understanding my means.
I have no secrets:
I make character my secret.
I have no body:
I make endurance my body.
I have no eyes:
I make the flash of lightening my eyes.
I have no ears:
I make sensibility my ears.
I have no limbs:
I make promptness my limbs.
I have no strategy:
I make "unshadowed by thought" my strategy.
I have no design:
I make "seizing opportunity by the forelock" my design.
I have no miracles:
I make right action my miracle.
I have no principles:
I make adaptability to all circumstances my principle.
I have no tactics:
I make emptiness and fullness my tactics.
I have no talent:
I make ready wit my talent.
I have no friends:
I make my mind my friend.
I have no enemy:
I make carelessness my enemy.
I have no armor:
I make benevolence and righteousness my armor.
I have no castle:
I make immovable mind my castle.
I have no sword:
I make absence of self my sword.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Left Hand Community Acupuncture is located in the heart of Old Town Lafayette 
at the corner of Simpson St. and Michigan Ave. LHCA offers an affordable sliding 
scale of $25-$55. We do not ask for proof of income. You decide what you feel is 
fair to you and fair to us. We treat patients in a relaxed, group setting that promotes 
an atmosphere of healing. Caroline Adams is a Licensed 
Acupuncturist and nationally board certified. Acupuncture can help with a wide range 
of health issues including pain, stress, insomnia, arthritis, allergies, depression,
headaches, fatigue, cold and flu, digestive issues, PMS, and many other health concerns.

http://lefthandacu.com 

720-248-8626