Ryōshin shiken

"O Wide-strider who came forth from Heliopolis, I have not done wrong.
O Fire embracer who came forth from Kheraha, I have not robbed.
O Nosey who came forth from Hermopolis, I have not stolen.
O Swallower of Shades who came forth from Kernet, I have not slain people.
O Terrible of Face who came forth from Rosetjau, I have not destroyed the food offerings.
O Double Lion who came forth from the sky, I have not reduced measures."

Faulkner, Raymond. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day (Chronicle Books) (Plate 31 - Chapter 125) San Francisco.

 There is an accountability at each potential point of error. Are these gatekeepers symbols for the individual's demons?

Samang Kirok

It is said that even after one’s head has been cut off, he can still perform some function. This fact can be known from the examples of Nitta Yoshisada and Ono Doken. How shall one man be inferior to another? Mitani Jokyu said, ”Even if a man be sick to death, he can bear up for two or three days.”

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 62 (p. 19) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

To fight with such determination would leave one with no regret.  Do we ever wait for that moment, presuming that then we would fight bravely, while spending the rest of our lives in trivialities?

Head of Nitta Yoshisada

Ryōshin shiken

POINT 5 Exclamations of wonder, with intense feeling, as I reflect on the whole range of created beings, how ever have they let me live and kept me alive! The angels, who are the sword of divine justice, how have they endured me, and looked after me, and prayed for me! How have the saints been able to intercede and pray for me! And then the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars and the elements, the fruits, the birds, the fishes and the animals, how have they kept me alive till now!As for the earth, how has it not opened to engulf me, creating new hells where I might suffer for ever! 

COLLOQUY I will conclude with a colloquy about mercy. All my thoughts will be about mercy and I will thank God for giving me life up till now, proposing to do better in the future with His grace. Our Father.

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (p. 297). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition.

So much of our technology, urbanization, and so forth separate us from the awareness of how precarious our existence is.  How can I keep a greater appreciation of this reality while working in an office?

Samang Kirok

The saying of Shida Kichinosuke, “When there is a choice of either living or dying, as long as there remains nothing behind to blemish one’s reputation, it is better to live,” is a paradox. He also said, “When there is a choice of either going or not going, it is better not to go.” A corollary to this would he, “When there is a choice of either eating or not eating, it is better not to eat. When there is a choice of either dying or not dying, it is better to die.”

When meeting calamities or difficult situations, it is not enough to simply say that one is not at all flustered. When meeting difficult situations, one should dash forward bravely and with joy. It is the crossing of a single barrier and is like the saying, “The more the water, the higher the boat.”

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 57 (p. 18-19) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

There have been times in my life when my resolve caused me to embrace the more difficult challenges, and times when I've allowed laziness or complacency to win the day.  Can seeking resolute acceptance of permanent death, give us courage to risk the mini-death of failure?

Ryōshin shiken

"POINT 3 I look at who I am, diminishing myself by means of comparisons: (i) What am I compared to all human beings? (ii) What are all human beings compared to all the angels and saints in Paradise? (iii) What can I alone be, as I look at what the whole of creation amounts to in comparison with God? (iv) I look upon all the corruption and foulness of my body, (v) I look at myself as though I were an ulcer or an abscess, the source of many sins and evils, and of great infection. s

POINT 4 I consider who God is, against whom I have sinned, going through His attributes and contrasting them with their opposites in myself: His wisdom with my ignorance, His almighty power with my weakness, His justice with my injustice, His goodness with my malice."

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (p. 297). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition.

It seems that Ignatius is wise here in that although he suggests comparing the self with others, he refrains from suggesting an individual mortal should compare their self with another individual mortal.  It still runs the risk of allowing one to form an ego attachment to self-deprecation. 

My function in the world is tiny and insignificant.  Even so, I am responsible for that function.  How can a person compare their self with the mystery that is God?

Krishna Shows Arjuna His Universal Form
By Konddiah Raja, [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Samang Kirok

Every morning, the samurai of fifty or sixty years ago would bathe, shave their foreheads, put lotion in their hair, cut their fingernails and toenails rubbing them with pumice and then with wood sorrel, and without fail pay attention to their personal appearance. It goes without saying that their armour in general was kept free from rust, that it was dusted, shined, and arranged. Although it seems that taking special care of one’s appearance is similar to showiness, it is nothing akin to elegance. Even if you are aware that you may be struck down today and are firmly resolved to an inevitable death, if you are slain with an unseemly appearance, you will show your lack of previous resolve, will be despised by your enemy, and will appear unclean. For this reason it is said that both old and young should take care of their appearance. 

Although you say that this is troublesome and time-consuming, a samurai’s work is in such things. It is neither busy-work nor time-consuming. In constantly hardening one’s resolution to die in battle, deliberately becoming as one already dead, and working at one’s job and dealing with military affairs, there should be no shame. But when the time comes, a person will be shamed if he is not conscious of these things even in his dreams, and rather passes his days in self-interest and self-indulgence. And if he thinks that this is not shameful, and feels that nothing else matters as long as he is comfortable, then his dissipate and discourteous actions will be repeatedly regrettable. 

The person without previous resolution to inevitable death makes certain that his death will be in bad form. But if one is resolved to death beforehand, in what way can he be despicable? One should be especially diligent in this concern.

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 31 (p. 12) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai 

A cursory look around my life shows little resolution to die.  What would be the daily activities that would prepare one to have their entire life exposed?  

By Wendelin Boeheim [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Ryōshin shiken

"PREAMBLE 2 This is to ask for what I want, and here it will be to ask for mounting and intense sorrow and tears for my sins.

POINT 1 This is the record of my sins, i.e. I recall to my memory all the sins of my life, looking from year to year or from one period of time to another, and for this three things are helpful: (i) to see the place and house where I lived, (ii) the relations I have had with others, (iii) the occupation in which I have spent my life.

POINT 2 I weigh up my sins, considering the intrinsic foulness and malice of each capital sin committed, quite apart from its being forbidden."

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (pp. 296-297). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition.

In some ways, what I once thought of as my greatest sins, external things, don't seem like much at all.  The real sinfulness I experience is too thoroughly integrated in my being to be readily tractable.  There are some who claim that it is best, once correction has been made, to essentially destroy all memory of past ill.  Isn't it better to have it around to provide the context for understanding?

Shea Discovers the Sword
The Brothers Hildebrandt

Samang Kirok

COLLOQUY Imagining Christ Our Lord before me on the cross, make a colloquy asking how it came about that the Creator made Himself man, and from eternal life came to temporal death, and thus to die for my sins. Then, turning to myself I shall ask, what have I done for Christ? what am I doing for Christ? what ought I to do for Christ? Finally, seeing Him in that state hanging on the cross, talk over whatever comes to mind.

A colloquy, properly so-called, means speaking as one friend speaks with another, or a servant with a master, at times asking for some favour, at other times accusing oneself of something badly done, or telling the other about one’s concerns and asking for advice about them. And then say an Our Father.

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (p. 296). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition.

Christ's suffering and death on the cross is the ultimate sign that this is the God of the underdog, this is divine solidarity with miserable failure.  Why am I finding it so difficult to keep my concentration with this image?

Władysław Wankie [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Ryōshin shiken

COLLOQUY Imagining Christ Our Lord before me on the cross, make a colloquy asking how it came about that the Creator made Himself man, and from eternal life came to temporal death, and thus to die for my sins. Then, turning to myself I shall ask, what have I done for Christ? what am I doing for Christ? what ought I to do for Christ? Finally, seeing Him in that state hanging on the cross, talk over whatever comes to mind.

A colloquy, properly so-called, means speaking as one friend speaks with another, or a servant with a master, at times asking for some favour, at other times accusing oneself of something badly done, or telling the other about one’s concerns and asking for advice about them. And then say an Our Father.

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (p. 296). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition.

I've done something, but it seems so little considering the opportunity. How do I make sure that in my sermon tomorrow the focus comes to Christ's salvation and doesn't get caught up in my intellectualizing?  

Saint Luke as a Painter before Christ on the Cross
Francisco de Zurbarán [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Samang Kirok

A certain person was brought to shame because he did not take revenge. The way of revenge lies in simply forcing one’s way into a place and being cut down. There is no shame in this. By thinking that you must complete the job you will run out of time. By considering things like how many men the enemy has, time piles up; in the end you will give up. No matter if the enemy has thousands of men, there is fulfillment in simply standing them off and being determined to cut them all down, starting from one end. You will finish the greater part of it.

Concerning the night assault of Lord Asano’s ronin, the fact that they did not commit seppuku at the Sengakuji was an error, for there was a long delay between the time their lord was struck down and the time when they struck down the enemy. If Lord Kira had died of illness within that period, it would have been extremely regrettable. Because the men of the Kamigata area have a very clever sort of wisdom, they do well at praiseworthy acts but cannot do things indiscriminately, as was done in the Nagasaki fight.

Although all things are not to be judged in this manner, I mention it in the investigation of the Way of the Samurai. When the time comes, there is no moment for reasoning. And if you have not done your inquiring beforehand, there is most often shame. Reading books and listening to people’s talk are for the purpose of prior resolution.

Above all, the Way of the Samurai should be in being aware that you do not know what is going to happen next, and in querying every item day and night. Victory and defeat are matters of the temporary force of circumstances. The way of avoiding shame is different. It is simply in death. Even if it seems certain that you will lose, retaliate. Neither wisdom nor technique has a place in this. A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. By doing this, you will awaken from your dreams.

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 25 (p. 10) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

Although the specific time-scale is different, plunging recklessly and indiscriminately is required of warriors of the pen as well as the sword.  How can one really be prepared to throw life away in an instant?

Igagoe buyuden - Saga of Iga Pass
Konishi Hirosada [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Ryōshin shiken

"WAY OF MAKING THE GENERAL EXAMEN containing five points 
POINT 1: to give thanks to God for the benefits received. 
POINT 2: to ask for grace to know one’s sins and reject them. 
POINT 3: to ask an account of one’s soul from the hour of rising to the present examen, hour by hour, or from one period to another, first about thoughts, then about words and finally about deeds, following the order given in the particular examen.
POINT 4: to ask God Our Lord for pardon for sins. 
POINT 5: to determine to do better with His grace, ending with an Our Father."

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (p. 293). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition.

Start with thanks.  Why is my arm in so much pain?

Samang Kirok

"If one looks at the world when affairs are going smoothly, there are many who go about putting in their appearance, being useful by their wisdom, discrimination and artfulness. However, if the lord should retire or go into seclusion, there are many who will quickly turn their backs on him and ingratiate themselves to the man of the day. Such a thing is unpleasant even to think about. Men of high position, low position, deep wisdom and artfulness all feel that they are the ones who are working righteously, but when it comes to the point of throwing away one’s life for his lord, all get weak in the knees. This is rather disgraceful. The fact that a useless person often becomes a matchless warrior at such times is because he has already given up
his life and has become one with his lord. At the time of Mitsushige’s death there was an example of this. His one resolved attendant was I alone. The others followed in my wake. Always the pretentious, self-asserting notables turn their backs on the man just as his eyes are closing in death. Loyalty is said to be important in the pledge between lord and retainer. Though it may seem unobtainable, it is right before your eyes. If you once set yourself to it, you will become a superb retainer at that very moment."

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 9 (p. 5) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

 My desire to throw it all away is imperfect.  How does death signify unity between persons?

Plate IV Frederic Loisel - Lithograph
http://sacredartpilgrim.com/collection/view/28

Ryōshin shiken

"ADDITION 2 Since the first line of the diagram represents the first examen, and the second line the second examen, the exercitant can see at night if there is an improvement from the first line to the second, i.e. from the first examen to the second. 

ADDITION 3 The second day should be compared with the first, i.e. today’s two examens with yesterday’s two examens, to see if there is an improvement from one day to another. 

ADDITION 4 One week should be compared with another to see if there is an improvement between the present week and the preceding. 

NOTE The first two long lines in the following diagram stand for Sunday, the second shorter ones for Monday, the third for Tuesday, and so on."

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (pp. 290-291). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition.

 How do we know if we improve without measuring?  I'm not yet measuring the right things.

Samang Kirok

"Sagara Kyuma was completely at one with his master and served him as though his own body were already dead. He was one man in a thousand.

Once there was an important meeting at Master Sakyo’s Mizugae Villa, and it was commanded that Kyuma was to commit seppuku. At that time in Osaki there was a teahouse on the third floor of the suburban residence of Master Taku Nui. Kyuma rented this, and gathering together all the good-for-nothings in Saga he put on a puppet show, operating one of the puppets himself, carousing and drinking all day and night. Thus, overlooking Master Sakyo’s villa, he carried on and caused a great disturbance. In instigating this disaster he gallantly thought only of his master and was resolved to committing suicide."

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 7 (p. 4) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

Kyuma was one with Sakyo at the end, but not at the beginning.  What puppet shows am I operating?

By Yanajin33 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Ryōshin shiken

"the SECOND EXAMEN will be made in the same way, going from hour to hour from the first examen to this second one. On the second line of the same diagram as many marks should be made as the times one has fallen into the particular sin or defect."

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (p. 290). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition.

Do we decide implicitly the particular sins that ensnare us? (Hebrews 12:1)  Facebook is a major waste of time.

Samang Kirok

"I have come to understand that the Way of the Samurai is that of dying. When a warrior comes to a life-or-death situation, there is for him only the quick choice of death. There are no other details; be determined and advance.

To say that dying without reaching one’s aim is to die in vain is a frivolity of wimpish samurai. When pressed with the choice of life or death, it is no longer necessary to gain one’s aim. We all want to live, and in large part we reason our way into clinging to life. Now, not pursuing our aim and continuing to live: that is cowardice. This is a thin dangerous line. But if you sacrifice everything to obtain your goal and die short of fulfilling it, you have nothing to be ashamed of.

This is the essence of the Way of the Samurai: you must die anew every morning and every night. If you continually preserve the state of death in everyday life, you will understand the essence of Bushido, and you will gain freedom in the Way. Your whole life will be without blame, and you will succeed in your calling."

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 2 (p. 3) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

 How do I make death a quick choice?  If I want to live without shame, I've got a lot of work to do.

© CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / , via Wikimedia Commons

Ryōshin shiken

"FIRST EXAMEN: it consists of demanding of oneself an account of the particular point proposed for correction and reform, running over each hour or each period of time, beginning from the hour of rising, up to the hour and moment of the present examen. On the first line of the diagram as many marks should be made as times one has fallen into the particular sin or defect. Then one should resolve again to do better up to the next examen to be made."

Munitiz, Joseph; Ignatius Of Loyola,. Personal Writings (Penguin Classics) (p. 290). Penguin UK. Kindle Edition. 

This depends on the particular sin or defect chosen.  Does starting something new in response to a long discernment process count as labor against a sin or defect?

Peter Paul Rubens [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons