Gyokku Ninja Blog - Philosophy of Ninjutsu

What Gyokku ninjutsu philosophy thinks of iron codes
such as Bushido, the Way of the Warrior...

"Masters, what is the attitude of Gyokku Ninjutsu to a philosophy such as 'bushido', or the 'Way of the Warrior'? Is it good to adhere to such iron codes? Or is there any other code of behavior which is preferable?"

Chunin Kato - Gyokku Ninja Master of Stealth

Adherence to an iron code such as bushido cannot apply to every situation in life.

Each situation in life is unique.

We sometimes forget, on meeting a friend for the thousandth time, that each encounter with that friend is precious. In japanese this is best expressed by the concept of 'Ichigo-ichie' which is roughly translated as a 'once in a lifetime' meeting.

What this means is that, because all beings are unique, and because circumstances change all the time, each encounter that you have with another human being is precious because it is unique, and so is worthy of being treasured. It is good to remember when you meet even a person you know well that this moment of time in which you are meeting him or her is going to occur only this once, and never again, and so to treat it as if it was truly special.

By the way, this philosophy is actually
the basis of the japanese tea ceremony.

Another nice thing about 'ichigo-ichie' is that it expresses that there are not rigid rules in life.

This concept is at the core of Gyokku Ninjutsu philosophy as well - and it is alien to the code of Bushido, the Way of the Warrior.

Since every encounter is unique, no rigid code of rules can apply to all. Instead, one uses one's wisdom to decide what is the right thing to do in each encounter with another person.

Ninja Yawara Kongou Vajra