Modern Bushido: Living a Life of Excellence

238 Pages·2011·1.42 MB·English

by  Edgar A. Calvillo-Moreno, David Nelson, Bohdi Sanders

Copyright © 2012 by Bohdi Sanders
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in
any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior
written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sanders, Bohdi, 1962-
Modern Bushido: Living a Life of Excellence
ISBN – 978-1-937884-06-2
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62345-495-1
1. Martial Arts. 2. Self-Help. 3. Philosophy. I. Title
Acknowledgments

I want to express my sincere appreciation to my beautiful wife, Tracey, for
all of her patience for my many hours spent at my computer researching and
writing Modern Bushido. Without her love and support this book would have
never come to fruition. I also want to thank her for taking time out from her busy
schedule to read and edit Modern Bushido. That is just one of the perks of being
married to a great English teacher.
In addition, I want to thank all of my readers who continue to buy my books
and pursue the warrior lifestyle. All of your emails and letters definitely let me
know that my books and writing are making at least some difference in the
world. I hope that you each find Modern Bushido worth your time.
Note to the Reader

Although the term “warrior” is most often used to refer to men, it is used in this
book as a generic term which refers to both men and women. Also, for the ease
of reading, I have used the generically accepted term “he” throughout this book
instead of the politically correct derivative “he or she” to refer to both men and
women warriors. This book in no way is meant to discriminate or insinuate that
true warriors are only men. Modern Bushido is written for everyone, men and
women, who want to live a life of excellence.
About the Author

Bohdi Sanders is a lifelong student of wisdom literature, the healing arts,
and the martial arts. His studies led him to explore the wisdom behind natural
health, naturopathy, herbs, Reiki Qigong, meditation, and the power of the mind
to heal the body and to make positive changes in one’s life. These explorations
led to him earning doctorate degrees in naturopathy and in natural health.
Dr. Sanders is also a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, a Certified
Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning, a Certified Reiki Master, and a Certified
Master of G-Jo Acupressure. He holds a black belt in Shotokan Karate and has
studied various other martial arts for over 30 years. He has worked with young
people for over 20 years and is endorsed to teach in five different subject areas.
He is the author of: • Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern
Warrior
• Warrior Wisdom: The Heart and Soul of Bushido
• The Warrior Lifestyle: Making Your Life Extraordinary
• The Secrets of Worldly Wisdom
• Secrets of the Soul
• Wisdom of the Elders
• Modern Bushido: Living a Life of Excellence
Dr. Sanders’ books have received high praise and have won several national
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awards, including: • The Indie Excellence Book Awards: 1 Place Winner 2010
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• USA Book News Best Books of 2010: 1 Place Winner 2010
• IIMAA: Best Martial Arts Book of the Year 2011
• USA Martial Arts HOF: Literary Man of the Year 2011
• U. S. Martial Artist Association: Inspiration of the Year 2011
• U. S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame: Author of the Year 2011
www.TheWisdomWarrior.com
Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
About the Author
Forward
Introduction
Chapter 1: Character: The Nature of the Superior Man
Chapter 2: Integrity: The Essence of the Warrior
Chapter 3: Virtue: The Moral Excellence of the Warrior
Chapter 4: Correct Thought: The Mind of the Warrior
Chapter 5: Right Actions: The Warrior’s Building Blocks
Chapter 6: Correct Speech: The Words of the Warrior
Chapter 7: Wisdom: The Way of the Sage
Chapter 8: Honor: The Warrior’s Mark of Distinction
Chapter 9: Respect: The Consideration of Thoughtfulness
Chapter 10: Discipline: The Art of Self-Control
Chapter 11: Honesty: The Elusive Facts of Life
Chapter 12: Courage: The Spirit of Valor
Chapter 13: Endurance: The Warrior’s Fortitude
Chapter 14: Justice: The Warrior’s Conviction
Chapter 15: Sincerity: The Genuine Article
Chapter 16: Self-Knowledge: The Warrior’s Introspection
Chapter 17: Preparedness: The Spirit of Readiness
Chapter 18: Benevolence: The Warrior’s Heart
Chapter 19: Courtesy: The Art of Civility
Chapter 20: Spirituality: The Warrior’s Peace
Chapter 21: Meditation: The Inner Secret
Chapter 22: Insight: The Art of Discernment
Chapter 23: Self-Reliance: The Warrior’s Independent Spirit
Chapter 24: Friendship: The Sacred Brotherhood
Chapter 25: Filial Duty: The Warrior’s Ultimate Responsibility
Chapter 26: Balance: The Art of Harmony
Chapter 27: Excellence: The Spirit of Kaizen
Chapter 28: Loyalty: The Warrior’s Dedication
Chapter 29: Total Self-Defense: The Warrior’s Invincibility
Chapter 30: Acceptance: Living in the Shadow of Death
Chapter 31: The Fool: The Antithesis of the Warrior
Conclusion
Foreword

In 1899, Inazo Nitobe wrote the classic, Bushido: The Warrior’s Code. He
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gave the early 20 Century Western world a glimpse into the mind-set of the
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18 & 19 Century Samurai and the virtues of their warrior traditions. He
illuminated the seven qualities of what it meant to be a Samurai, such as loyalty,
integrity and respect. Drawing parallels to the knights of Europe, and their code
of chivalry, he tapped into the mythical warrior archetype that lives in each of
us, and more importantly, he gave us a blueprint to see how these attributes
translate into everyday living.
From that blueprint, and his many years of experience as a martial artist and
healer, Dr. Sanders has built a beautiful piece of work, Modern Bushido.
Contained within these pages you are about to read, Dr. Sanders supplies you
with an update of what it means to be a warrior today. Like Mr. Nitobe, yet
drawing from many traditions and cultures, Dr. Sanders brings forth and
illuminates the virtues and attributes that exemplify the mythical warrior that
beats in the hearts of all men and women.
I have seen in my practice as a psychotherapist and helping people heal
from trauma and pain, that the warrior archetype is very strong medicine indeed.
The mythical warrior archetype is what empowers and connects you to the
source of our own personal power. Carl Jung, the noted psycho-analyst, whose
work in the identification of psychological archetypes stated, “Myth is more
individual and expresses life more precisely than does science. Science works
with concepts of averages which are far too general to do justice to the
subjective variety of individual life.”
Dr. Sanders brings to you a no watered-down version of what science or the
experts tell you a warrior is or is not. He has tapped into the very essence of the
Warrior’s Way and brings it here to your attention today. This book is destined
to become a classic in its own right. Read carefully. Digest each chapter, each
page, and each sentence. Meditate upon the message. Let it sink in and feel its
power. Dr. Sanders has placed it here for you to find. Be well and enjoy.
David Nelson, PhD
Martial Artist & Author of: Black Belt Healing:
A Martial Artist’s Guide to Pain Management & Injury Recovery.
Introduction

I have studied martial arts for almost 30 years, and have seen many
amazing martial artists do things with their bodies that can simply boggle the
mind. I have seen some of the best fighters in the world and have trained with
many martial arts instructors and other practitioners. I have also been involved in
more physical confrontations than I care to remember, and know what it is like
to both pound someone into a pulp, as well as be pounded. In addition, I have
been trained in how to use different weapons in self-defense situations.
In short, I have witnessed and experienced a lot when it comes to the
physical side of the martial arts, but with all my experience, I have found one
subject that seems to always get little or no attention in the world of martial arts
– how to live a life of character. Most martial arts classes are completely focused
on self-defense, fighting, sport applications, tournaments, and katas. While all of
these are important parts of the martial arts, there is something even more
important missing from this list – character training.
This is what Modern Bushido is all about – how to live the life of the
superior man. While this may sound like an elitist statement, it isn’t. Living the
life of the superior man is simply a way of saying living a life based on
character, honor and integrity. It is living the warrior lifestyle the way it should
be lived, according to universal standards and principles which make someone a
superior human being.
When I say the words “superior human beings,” I am not referring to
someone being better or more important than someone else. The phrase
“superior man” was used frequently by Confucius to indicate someone who lives
according to high moral standards as opposed to someone who gives little regard
to such things. The superior man is not superior because he is richer, more
educated, comes from a better family, or anything along those lines. He is
superior because he lives his life in a superior way. He lives by higher standards
than the average person.
This has always been the ideal behind the philosophy of Bushido. Literature
th th
from the 13 through the 16 centuries in Japan had many references to the
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ideals of Bushido. The actual word “Bushido” was first used in the 17 century,
but the ideals of Bushido have been around as long as there has been a warrior
class, not just in Japan, but throughout the world. Bushido did not necessarily