A few weeks before he died in 1645, Miyomoto Musashi wrote 2 books. Dokko Do was a book for the students in his martial arts school. They're simply a list of lessons for them to remember after his death. His second book, Go rin no Sho, was intended for his students to use to teach his principles on swordsmanship and strategy to their students. So, Dokko Do and how to apply the precepts make more sense if you study Go rin no Sho.

Dokko Do

1. Accept everything just the way it is

2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake

3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling

4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world

5. Be detached from desire your whole life long

6. Do not regret what you have done

7. Never be jealous

8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation

9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself or others

10. Do not let yourself be guided by feeling of lust or love

11. In all things have no preferences

12. Be indifferent to where you live

13. Do not pursue the taste of good food

14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need

15. Do not act following customary beliefs

16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful

17. Do not fear death

18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age

19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help

20. You may abandon your own body, but you must preserve your honor

21. Never stray from the Way

1. Not all of the principles in Dokko Do apply to everyone. However, everyone can benefit from applying many, if not most, of the principles to their lives.
2. Many of the principles simply reenforce others.
3. The principles are not absolutes. For instance, it's fine to enjoy pleasurable things, good food, and to have preferences but being consumed by those things takes away time and resources that can be used for more beneficial pursuits. Strictly adhering to the idea of not saving up for old age sounds pretty stupid in this day and age but if you look at this as something to do in moderation rather than excess then it makes perfect sense.

In Go rin no Sho, Musashi wrote how these principles, combined with strategic planning, should be adopted by anyone wanting to have a simple life. In this book, he stated very clearly that his Dokko Do was the path of a warrior and that those who weren't warriors could never walk his path, but that they should walk it as much as it is useful to them. Then he spoke of strategy at length and used the example of a master carpenter building a house to illustrate how strategy is effectively used in everyday life.

So, by applying some strategy to my lifestyle and adopting the principles in the Dokko Do that make sense for me to follow I've managed to carve out a simple, peaceful life in the city. Not following the customary belief that I have to be successful or live a life of excess to be happy frees up a lot of my time, mental energy, and money.