Miyamoto Musashi Dokkōdō - 3 Video Series

The Dokkōdō (“The Path of Aloneness”) is a short set of 21 precepts written by Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi in the last days of his life. It outlines a disciplined philosophy of detachment, self-mastery, and inner sovereignty separate from wealth, status, or emotional dependency. Musashi emphasizes rejecting attachment to possessions, opinions, comfort, and praise so that one’s judgment and spirit remain unclouded. The text teaches that one must accept reality without resentment or longing, live without regret, and rely on inner discipline rather than external validation. In essence, the Dokkōdō is a blueprint for living with clarity, resolve, and independence of mind.

Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645) was a legendary Japanese swordsman, strategist, and ronin (a samurai without a master) who is regarded as one of the greatest duelists in samurai history. He is said to have fought over sixty duels without defeat, beginning his first at the age of thirteen. Unlike most warriors of his time, Musashi rejected formal service to any lord and chose the life of a wandering swordsman in pursuit of mastery and truth. Later in life he turned inward, writing treatises on combat and strategy, most famously The Book of Five Rings.