1. Accept everything just the way it is
Acceptance is the way to instant happiness so always try to apply acceptance into your life. If you aren’t accepting things then you simply resist it, resistance causes internal conflict and tends to lead to negative emotions or downward spirals.
Often things we refuse to accept and learn from the past. There are some of the things we simply can’t change and this is the reason why it makes no sense to resist what has happened. Total acceptance allows people to live consciously.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake
Miyamoto was suggesting that you should not look for pleasure in order to have delightful feelings. Another interpretation that was made by the University of Minnesota suggests that it means you shouldn’t seek pleasure solely for yourself.
However, you should focus on the things that you really enjoy then pleasure will exist as a consequence, rather than pleasure something you’ve had to work on specifically in order to receive the benefits.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling
This is quite self explanatory; don’t act in high importance or high risk situations base on a partial feeling. It’s nice to go with your instinct and ‘go with the flow‘. But when something is critical, make sure you know what you are getting into.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world
You are who you are, nothing more and nothing less. It’s okay for other people to think of you as funny, cool, rich or any of those things, but if you focus on them and start to determine what these words represent then you’ll start to live a more reactive life.
Accept who you are, know your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t over qualify yourself to the world but definitely don’t under estimate your potential. The world and everything in it is truly amazing, see it, explore, learn from it, enjoy it, and live with it.
5. Be detached from desire that you long
Detachment is to be neutral in the outcome of an event or situation. So, being detached from your desire means that you shouldn’t care about the outcome of the things you want in life. Worry about the outcome which leads to negative emotions like fear. As with a point earlier, attachment to something means you are connected to it, you see it as part of yourself in one way or another.
Whatever desires you have, don’t make the outcome necessary. If it does not provide you with good results, then accept it and realize that everything in life is abundant.
6. Do not regret what you have done
There is a one quote that says, “I’d rather regret the things I DID do rather than the things I DIDN’T do”. Yet, if you look at this on a presence and acceptance level, you should not regret the things you have done, simply because you can’t change what has happened.
7. Never be jealous
What are the reasons why you get jealous with other people? If you are jealous of somebody who is wealthy then you should re-frame your thinking. Be glad there are people who tell you that you also have the capability and potential to earn good money. You never know what ‘problems’ people can have under the surface, fitting in with society standards doesn’t make you a happy person, it just makes you more socially conditioned.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation
According to the Buddha, attachment is the source of all suffering and as far as separation goes this certainly applies. Separation can pertain to losing a partner, a pet, money, possessions or anything of the sort. I think what Miyamoto is trying to say is that we should live in total acceptance of what happens and don’t hold on to things that have occurred. You have the choice to be angry or happy, there’s no point in wasting time in the frame of the former.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself or others
This is also self explanatory. Hatred and complaint aren’t going to get you anywhere in life, except to be troubled with negative emotions. Accept everything and always appreciate the moment, nothing else applies.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love
This is more on controlling your own destiny. If you have a good grasp on reality or an abundance mindset then you will know there are exactly billions of potential partners out there for you. Some don’t believe that there is someone who can help them and we all believe there are many people who will accept and love us for who and what we really are. Don’t completely submerge yourself in their powers and detach from other areas of your life.
11. Have no preferences with things
Before you are so quick to dismiss this, think about what it is saying. Obviously we all have a preference with different things but that isn’t the real message. The message is not about having any preferences but not letting certain preferences control your emotions.
12. Be indifferent to where you live
The word indifferent is best described as “that which does not matter, one way or the other” and in reality where you live shouldn’t make any difference to you within. Wherever place you go, you should keep a healthy and strong prospective with your decisions in life. Don’t allow your emotions to dictate and make you.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food
The perception of Zen with good food is “What is, is.” Accept the foods that come and don’t expect that all foods taste good with the way they were presented. This is not just for food but can also be used for emotional, spiritual, mental and physical nourishment. The only trick is to maintain equability with appreciative attitude.
Rod Lawless also has a great contribution and perception with the true meaning of good food which made him one of the model and inspiration.
14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need
Letting go of the things that you don’t need will provide you great benefits. First of all you get a lot more clarity in your life (and environment) due to lack of clutter. Secondly, someone else can benefit from your possessions and put them to good use.
This may seem quite negative to the likes of collectors and those who are materialistic but it makes a lot of sense. Also, most people tend to attach themselves to their possessions and feel strong negative emotions if anything happens to them, even if we don’t need or use them.
15. Do not act following usual beliefs
Everyone lives in a society where a large majority of people spend their time living in spectator mode, just like everybody else. Make your own life rules based on positive and healthy reference points, experience and with proper, truthful mindsets such as those of abundance and potential.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful
There are hobbies such as fencing that involve weapons which aren’t necessarily used in this way because they are useful.. However, in terms of learning to perform skills with weapons which serve no purpose, this could be seen as protecting you from acts which simply inflate the ego. There are safe weapons but there most of the weapons are harmful. Perhaps, this is one reason why people who are hot headed should not hold or bring with them weapons which they can use to threaten or hurt someone.
17. Do not fear death
Perhaps, many are aware of what ‘The Now’ really means and this is actually one of the teachings of Eckhart Tolle. In his first book Eckhart states that there is ‘no such problem in the now’. Human beings are afraid to die but there are people who are happy with their life and ready to die. People should not fear death because life is precious and every life has its purpose. Death happens on the right time.
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age
You will discover, if you can live in the moment you will see how stupid and incorrect the societal views are. People get old and in every stage there is a certain role and there are also various challenges and trials which will pull or push you down. Getting old will show how you spent your time with the various challenges that you have encountered.
19. Respect Buddha and the Gods
Respect the teachings and messages of others, but don’t use them as a support to keep you balanced. People may have their own different opinions when it comes to religion but the single and most important attitude that must be kept is respect.
There may be various beliefs and some might be difficult to understand and accept. However, this is what they know and what they believe that is why you have to maintain a healthy opinion when it comes to religion.
20. You may abandon your body, not your honour
One thing people have in common when they were born, although deemed as negative, is that they are going to die. People can’t stop or avoid the aging process and can’t cheat death. Despite that, this principle is saying that along the way you should always stand to live by your own moral values. Don’t change them due to pressure from others or the usual conforms of society.
21. Never stray from the Way
‘The Way’ may be viewed as something epic like finding and acting out your purpose and it may also be viewed as something small like keeping on top of your goal progress. Either way, you should always try to remain focused on the things you want to achieve and stay on that path.
There are many distractions these days which are difficult to solve. However, you should simply see these distractions as hurdles or trials that filter out those that really want to achieve something and those that don’t. Never stray from the way because there may be lots of barriers along but still, you have to do something just to be satisfied and contented with your life.