Matsuguma Kyushu told this story.‘‘In the practice of medicine is a diferenciación of treatment according to the Yen and Yang of man and woman. There is also a difference in pulse. In the last 50 years , however, men’s pulse has become the same as woman’s . on Noticing this in the treatment of eye desease I applied woman’s treatment to men and found it suitable . When I observe the application of men’s treatment to men , there was no result. Thus I knew that men’s spirit had weakened and that they had become the same as woman, and the end of the world had come. Since I witnessed this with certainty I kept it a secret .When looking at the men of today with this in mind, those who could be thought to have a woman’s pulse are many and those who seem like real men are few. Because of this, if one were to make a little effort , he might be able to take the upper hand quite easily . Today men live by talk and words, ever unwilling to do hard physical work, prudent and clever at making excuses . Know woman but keep man is advice for the ages.
The harmony of Yin and Yang is natural. The loss of this regulating harmony creates a cause and effect within society. Misdirection and a downward slide are the results. Many men have turned their backs on manhood, while women have also shunned motherhood. Humanity , along with its machines and technology is playing its part in the downgrading of the natural world, also having its effect on humanity in a myriad of ways, from changes in the family, all the way up and down society in ways that also degrade and weaken human beings , and move people further from living and closer to surviving.
Yamamoto Sunitomo once said ‘‘Illnesses and the like become serious because of ones feelings.I was born when my father was 71 years old, and was hence a rather sickly child. But because I have had a great desire to be of use in old age, When the chance came I improved my health, and haven’t been sick since’’. Tzu Chan was on the point of death when someone asked him how to govern the country. He replied ‘’ There is nothing that surpasses ruling with benevolence . However, to put into practice enough benevolence to correctly rule the country is difficult . To do this lukewarmly will result in neglect. If governing with benevolence is difficult, then it is best to govern strictly . To govern strictly , means to be strict before things have arisen, and to do things in such a way that evil will not arise . To be strict after evil has arisen is like laying a snare. There are few people who will make mistakes with fire after having once been burned. Of people who regard water lightly, many have been drowned.’’
The I. CHING or book of changes is not for divination . As many in the past have assumed , but rather how one thing changes into another. When Yamamoto Gorozae went to Edo to see the zen priest Tetsuoyu for instruction he was told that Buddhism removes the discriminating mind . Tetsuoyu proposed to give him an illustration in terms of the warrior. In the I CHING the character for meaning is added to the character for mind . Now meaning is discrimination, and when a man attaches discrimination to his true mind he becomes a coward. For a Samurai his mind must be pure and simple , mindless in discrimination . Virility is also contained within this lack of mental discrimination. The mind itself is but a tool, but can be an adversary , as well as an enemy.
If a warrior is not unattached to life and death, he will be of no use whatsoever. A warrior must be absolutely unattached to life and death and mindless on this. This type of warrior can accomplish any feat. Martial arts and the like are related to this insofar as they can lead to the way. Nakano Jin Amon also said ‘‘ Learning such things as military tactics is useless. If one does not strike out by simply closing ones eyes and rushing into the enemy, even if it is only one step. He will be of no use. ‘’ Virility is harmonious with the natural. A warrior must be resolute and determined, mindless in breaking right through to completion . What destiny the future holds is Karmic.