Musashi's Dokkodo (The Way of Walking Alone)

Precept 19:
Respect Buddha and the gods without
counting on their help
“The gods too are fond of a joke.” — Aristotle
Monk:
Musashi’s precept sounds a lot like the maxim, “God helps them who
help themselves.” It is a great sentiment and you might be surprised
to discover that it is not found in the Bible. In fact, it appears to have
originated in a document called, Discourses Concerning
Government, written by Algernon Sydney, a member of British
parliament, in 1698. It is also sometimes attributed to Benjamin
Franklin, an American founding father, in his work Poor Richard’s
Almanac which was published in 1757. A close derivative expressing
the same sentiment can be found in Aesop’s tale of Hercules and the
Wagoner, which was written sometime around 600 BC.
No matter the source, it is quoted often. I have used this phrase too.
Years ago I fell back on this sentiment that if I used my wits, worked
hard enough, and did the right thing that God would favor me in my
endeavors. Of course Musashi says that you should respect the
gods. The plural “gods” is completely consistent with his worldview
since he lived in time and place where folks believed in a world
populated with many, many gods. Whether you are religious or not,
working hard, educating yourself, making the most of your natural
talents, and doing the right thing are all great traits, ones that should
be cultivated. These behaviors will often lead to a good life.

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Nevertheless, the idea that you should not depend on God is a
quandary. Isn’t it a great idea to give oneself up to God? All of the
saints have done so and done so completely, seeking the mystical
union with the divine, the Unio Mystica, the deepest desire of the
disciple. By falling completely into the divine the disciple has placed
all of their needs into the hands of the God. The mendicant
Franciscan’s are a Western example. These friars are dependent on
others for food and shelter, owning nothing of their own. Not even
their habits (uniforms) were theirs to own their minds. This is an
extraordinary and profound position. Even riding a horse was
rejected by these early friars who chose to walk from place to place.
Those that live such lives, they are rare, these people who have
totally given themselves over to the favor of God. They live out a
deep and profound belief, truly walking the walk as it were...
Musashi held the viewpoint that the gods were going to do whatever
the gods were going to do regardless, and one should not prepare
themselves based on any god’s favor, requested on not. Interesting
and imminently practical perspective is it not? Or, is the world full of
miracles, both small and large appearing on an ongoing basis,
miracles that need only to be recognized. For instance, Saddam
Hussein fired 42 SCUD missiles into Israel during the first gulf war in
1991. By way of size comparison, Israel is roughly the size of New
Jersey, the fifth smallest state in the United States. Three elderly
citizens died of heart attacks, but for the most part this barrage of
missiles did virtually no damage. Was that simply good luck or an
example of divine intervention? Simply put, it depends on your
theological view.
Is it correct to pray to the gods prior to battle? Musashi says that we
should depend on our own skills and abilities. In my view why not
pray, ask for a blessing for yourself and others, and then depend on
your skills. It may sound like, “God helps those who help
themselves,” but it is not. It is casting one’s fate to the hands of God,
and then doing your best. This may sound like hair-splitting, but I
would ask a priest to bless me yet I would not ask a priest to bless
my weapon. And then whatever comes, comes. God is

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incomprehensible and to assume that I can depend on his largess to
assure victory is not a good policy any more than for a professional
athlete to expect divine intervention on behalf of his team in a
championship game.
So I agree with Musashi, but for different reasons.