Appreciating Vagabond - Musashi's Spiritual Journey

Summary

The video script explores the character development of Miyamoto Musashi in the manga 'Vagabond,' tracing his journey from a young man seeking strength through violence to a philosopher swordsman. It discusses Musashi's transformation influenced by Zen Buddhism, as depicted through his introspective battles and encounters, highlighting the manga's themes of self-discovery, enlightenment, and the true meaning of strength. The script draws parallels between Musashi's experiences and the teachings of 'Zen in the Art of Archery,' offering viewers a deeper appreciation of the manga's narrative and philosophical depth.

Takeaways

• 🗡️ Miyamoto Musashi's journey in the manga 'Vagabond' is a profound exploration of self-discovery and the true meaning of strength.
• 🌞 Musashi starts as Takazo, a young man obsessed with proving his strength by defeating renowned swordsmen, driven by a fear of being left behind.
• 🤺 Musashi's early life is marked by callousness and a disregard for life, which is a source of frustration for the reader but is later revealed to be intentional for character development.
• 🌱 As the story progresses, Musashi evolves from a reckless warrior to a more introspective and kind individual, learning from his experiences and mentors.
• 🧘 Musashi's spiritual awakening begins with his encounter with the Buddhist monk Takuan, who teaches him to value his own life and look inward for strength.
• 🎯 The concept of 'Zen' is introduced through the book 'Zen in the Art of Archery', highlighting the pursuit of self-emptying and heightened awareness.
• 🏹 The goal of Zen practice is to achieve a state of emptiness where the mind is free from desires and emotions, which parallels Musashi's own journey.
• 🌌 Musashi's character development is gradual and natural, reflecting the idea of 'natural unnaturalness' or finding harmony between instinct and control.
• 🛡️ Musashi's transformation is evident in his approach to combat, shifting from a brutal style to one that is more fluid and seemingly effortless, reflecting his internal growth.
• 🌾 The manga also explores themes of kindness and compassion, as Musashi learns to value the lives of others and act out of sympathy rather than self-interest.
• 🎨 The art style of 'Vagabond', particularly the use of ink brushes, embodies the theme of flow and imperfection, mirroring Musashi's journey and the concept of Zen.

Q & A

Who is the main character of the manga 'Vagabond'?

The main character of the manga 'Vagabond' is Miyamoto Musashi, who starts as Takazo and evolves into a legendary philosopher and swordsman.

What is the initial motivation behind Takazo's journey in 'Vagabond'?

Takazo's initial motivation is to prove his strength by defeating famous swordsmen across the land and becoming 'invincible under the sun', stemming from his deep-seated fear of being left at the bottom.

How does the character of Musashi develop throughout the series?

Musashi's character develops from a callous and self-centered individual to a more introspective, kind, and methodical person, learning from his experiences and mentors.

What role does the Buddhist monk Takuan play in Musashi's spiritual journey?

Takuan saves Musashi from self-loathing and teaches him to value his own life, leading Musashi to focus less on external conflicts and more on introspection and self-improvement.

How does the concept of 'Zen' from the book 'Zen in the Art of Archery' relate to Musashi's journey in 'Vagabond'?

The concept of 'Zen' involves achieving a state of emptiness and acute awareness, which parallels Musashi's experiences where he enters a state of zen during pivotal moments, leading to profound personal growth and understanding.

What is the significance of Musashi's fight with Den Sichiro in the manga?

Musashi's fight with Den Sichiro is significant as it highlights the transformation in Musashi's character and his new understanding of strength, as he is able to fight without drawing his blade, embodying the zen concept of art becoming artless.

How does Musashi's encounter with Master Yagyu influence his perception of strength?

Musashi's encounter with Master Yagyu shifts his perception of strength from killing others to understanding the profound kindness and the true meaning of being invincible, realizing that true strength lies within oneself.

What is the connection between Musashi's introspective battles and the concept of 'Metta' in Buddhism?

The concept of 'Metta' in Buddhism revolves around kindness and appreciation for life. Musashi's introspective battles lead him to embody this idea by showing genuine compassion and respect for others, even his opponents.

How does the manga 'Vagabond' reflect the idea of flowing with life?

The manga reflects the idea of flowing with life through Musashi's experiences and realizations, where he learns to adapt and change, much like water, instead of trying to fight against the natural flow of life.

What is the significance of the art style used by Takahiko Inoue in 'Vagabond'?

Takahiko Inoue's art style, which includes using ink brushes for both coloring and line work, embodies the theme of flow and imperfection, reflecting the manga's philosophical underpinnings and Musashi's journey.

What lesson can be learned from the creator's personal experience with taking a Buddhism class?

The lesson is to find positivity in undesirable situations, as unexpected insights and opportunities can arise, such as gaining a deeper appreciation for a subject or developing new skills.

Outlines

00:00

🗡️ The Evolution of Miyamoto Musashi

This paragraph delves into the character development of Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary swordsman in manga, from his early days as Takazo to his eventual transformation into a philosopher. Initially, Musashi is portrayed as a young man obsessed with proving his strength through combat, driven by a fear of inadequacy stemming from an abusive upbringing. As the story progresses, Musashi evolves from a callous warrior to a more introspective and compassionate individual, guided by life experiences and mentorship. His journey is marked by a nuanced understanding of strength, which he redefines over time through self-reflection and spiritual growth, highlighting the believability of his character's evolution.

05:00

🧘‍♂️ Zen and the Art of Swordsmanship

The second paragraph explores the influence of Zen Buddhism on Musashi's life and his pursuit of swordsmanship. It discusses the concept of Zen as a path to spiritual enlightenment through the arts, rather than traditional religious practices. The paragraph references 'Zen in the Art of Archery' by Eugen Herrigel, drawing parallels between the philosophical teachings and Musashi's experiences. It explains the Zen goal of achieving a state of emptiness, where the mind is free from desires and distractions, and how this state can be reached through intense focus and practice in martial arts. The discussion includes the idea of 'artless art', where the practitioner transcends technique to a level of instinctive mastery.

10:00

🎯 The Profound Experiences of Musashi

This paragraph examines the pivotal moments in Musashi's life that lead to profound personal growth and spiritual experiences. It discusses Musashi's encounter with a Buddhist monk, Takuan, who teaches him to value his own life and look inward for strength. The narrative highlights Musashi's transformation from seeking external validation through combat to finding inner peace and self-worth. The paragraph also touches on Musashi's battles, particularly his fight with Den Shichiro, where he enters a state of zen, demonstrating a transcendent level of swordsmanship that goes beyond physical technique.

15:01

🌱 Musashi's Spiritual and Philosophical Transformation

The fourth paragraph continues to explore Musashi's journey, focusing on his encounters with Master Yagyu and the philosophical shifts that occur as a result. It discusses how Musashi's understanding of strength evolves from a desire to be invincible to recognizing the insignificance of such a concept. The paragraph also delves into Musashi's introspection during his battle with the 70 Yoshioka, where he demonstrates an advanced level of perception and a deep respect for his opponents. The summary emphasizes Musashi's internal struggle and the life lessons that lead him to value kindness and compassion over violence.

20:02

🛣️ Musashi's Life Lessons and Growth

This paragraph reflects on the broader implications of Musashi's experiences and the life lessons he learns along the way. It discusses how Musashi's character changes over time, moving from a fear-driven fighter to a compassionate and introspective individual. The narrative highlights Musashi's ability to adapt, such as when he adopts a more defensive fighting style after an injury, and his realization that some things in life cannot be fought. The paragraph concludes with a discussion of Musashi's newfound appreciation for the natural world and the importance of kindness, reflecting the Buddhist concept of metta.

25:03

🎨 The Artistry of Takahiko Inoue and Life's Flow

The final paragraph shifts focus to the artistic techniques of Takahiko Inoue, the creator of the manga 'Vagabond'. It discusses Inoue's unique use of ink brushes for both coloring and line work, which embodies the theme of fluidity and natural beauty present in the story. The paragraph draws a parallel between Musashi's life philosophy and Inoue's artistic approach, emphasizing the idea of flowing with life's challenges. It concludes with a personal reflection on the value of finding positivity in undesirable situations, inspired by Musashi's character development and the creator's artistic process.

📚 Embracing Life's Opportunities for Growth

In this closing paragraph, the narrator shares personal insights about making the most out of life's opportunities, even when faced with challenges or undesirable situations. The narrator reflects on their own experience of taking a university class on Buddhism, which unexpectedly led to a deeper appreciation for the manga 'Vagabond'. The summary encourages viewers to find positivity and growth in every situation, highlighting the potential for unexpected benefits and personal development.

Keywords

💡Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi is a legendary Japanese swordsman, philosopher, and the central figure in the manga discussed in the video. He is depicted as a character with a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. In the script, Musashi's evolution from a young man seeking strength through combat to a more introspective and philosophical person is highlighted, illustrating the theme of personal growth and the search for true strength.

💡Self-discovery

Self-discovery refers to the process of understanding oneself, one's values, and one's purpose in life. In the context of the video, Musashi's journey is deeply rooted in self-discovery, as he moves from a focus on physical strength to a more nuanced understanding of strength that includes mental and spiritual dimensions. His character development exemplifies the theme of self-discovery, as he learns from his experiences and encounters throughout the manga.

💡Zen

Zen is a school of Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and experiential wisdom. The video script discusses the influence of Zen on Musashi's character development, particularly in his quest for enlightenment and understanding of true strength. The script mentions 'Zen in the Art of Archery,' a book that parallels Musashi's experiences, suggesting that spiritual enlightenment can be achieved through the mastery of an art form, which is a central theme in the video.

💡Strength

In the video, 'strength' is a multifaceted concept that evolves throughout Musashi's journey. Initially, it is associated with physical prowess and the ability to defeat others. However, as the video progresses, strength comes to encompass mental fortitude, self-awareness, and spiritual enlightenment. The script uses Musashi's character to explore the various dimensions of strength and how it is ultimately found within oneself.

💡Vagabond

Vagabond is the title of the manga being discussed in the video, which is a fictionalized account of Miyamoto Musashi's life. The script uses the term to refer to the narrative and Musashi's experiences within the manga. The video explores how the manga portrays Musashi's transformation and the philosophical themes it contains.

💡Takahiko Inoue

Takahiko Inoue is the author and illustrator of the manga 'Vagabond.' The script mentions Inoue's unique drawing technique, which uses ink brushes for both coloring and line work, reflecting the themes of the manga. His artistic style is highlighted as a significant aspect of the manga's presentation, adding depth to the narrative.

💡Takuan

Takuan is a Buddhist monk who plays a pivotal role in Musashi's spiritual journey in the manga. The script describes how Takuan helps Musashi move away from self-loathing and towards self-acceptance and introspection. Takuan's teachings are instrumental in Musashi's understanding of true strength and his personal growth.

💡Sekigahara

The Battle of Sekigahara is a historical event referenced in the script, where Musashi (then known as Takazo) fights for fame. This battle serves as a backdrop to Musashi's early pursuit of strength and recognition, contrasting with his later, more introspective approach to life and combat.

💡Denshichiro

Denshichiro is a character in the manga 'Vagabond' and a significant opponent of Musashi. The script discusses their encounter as an example of Musashi's transformation, where he enters a state of zen and acts without conscious thought, reflecting the video's theme of transcending one's self to achieve a higher level of understanding and skill.

💡Yagyu

Yagyu is a master swordsman and a character who influences Musashi's understanding of true strength in the manga. The script describes Musashi's encounter with Yagyu as a turning point in his life, where he realizes that true strength is not about being invincible but about understanding one's self and the world around them.

💡Metta

Metta is a Buddhist concept of loving-kindness and compassion towards all sentient beings. The script mentions this concept in relation to Musashi's actions in helping a starving village, reflecting his growth from a self-centered warrior to a compassionate individual who values the well-being of others.

Highlights

Miyamoto Musashi's journey of self-discovery and enlightenment is portrayed as a unique and thought-provoking narrative in the manga.

Musashi's initial concept of strength is tied to his ability to defeat others, stemming from a fear of being left behind.

The manga shows Musashi's growth from a callous and self-absorbed individual to a more introspective and kind person.

Musashi's early life experiences, including an abusive father, contribute to his insecurities and actions.

The gradual development of Musashi's character is paced naturally, reflecting significant changes over 25 volumes.

Musashi's spiritual journey begins with meeting a Buddhist monk named Takuan, shifting his understanding of strength.

Zen practices are depicted as a means to achieve spiritual enlightenment through arts such as swordsmanship.

The concept of 'artless art' is introduced, where the practitioner transcends technique to a state of naturalness.

Musashi's battle with Den Sichiro illustrates his evolved understanding of strength and zen-like state during combat.

Musashi's introspection during combat allows him to read opponents' intentions, reflecting a heightened sense of awareness.

The encounter with Master Yagyu is pivotal for Musashi, challenging his previous notions of invincibility and strength.

Musashi's character transformation is evident in his respect for opponents and the duels they share.

The manga reflects on the importance of kindness and sympathy, even in Musashi's earlier violent actions.

Musashi's philosophy of flowing with life, like water, is a key takeaway from his experiences and growth.

The art style of the manga, using ink brushes, mirrors the themes of flow and natural beauty.

The author's personal experience with Buddhism in university led to a deeper appreciation of the manga's themes.

The video concludes with a message of finding positivity in undesirable situations, relating to Musashi's character journey.

Transcripts

miyamoto musashi is one of the most

fascinating protagonists in all of manga

even compared to some of his seinen

contemporaries musashi's journey of

self-discovery and enlightenment makes

for a truly unique and thought-provoking

story

before becoming the philosopher

swordsman of legend we're introduced to

him as takazo a young man who wants to

prove his strength by defeating famous

swordsmen across the land and becoming

in his own words invincible under the

sun

however this is a path paved with death

as takazo's idea of strength lies only

within his ability to kill other

warriors because despite his grand

ideals of standing at the top his real

motivations stem from a deep-seated fear

of being left at the bottom

being raised by an abusive father has

left takazo angry and afraid of the

world and he acts the way he does to

cover up these insecurities

for much of early vagabond i was kind of

frustrated with musashi because of his

callousness disregard for life and

generally because he was kind of a dumb

ass however i do think that this was

intentional he's just so caught up in

his pursuit of strength that he ignores

the beautiful world around him and

pushes away those who care about him and

it creates this kind of disconnect

between him and the reader which slowly

closes over time as we learn more about

his upbringing and see him grow as a

person

through guidance and experience he

becomes a much more methodical

introspective and kind individual it was

always a story about self-betterment but

over time musashi gains a much more

nuanced understanding of what it means

to have strength

and what makes his journey so compelling

is the believability of it

everything from the densely drawn

environments the small details like

people having to shave and bathe and the

characters who all have their own lives

within this world with motivations flaws

and philosophies which guide them

throughout their own personal journeys

mirroring clashing and oftentimes

changing to reflect their experiences of

course this is a fictional version of

musashi's life so there are definitely

some creative liberties taken but

there's always a sense that the story is

grounded in reality and on top of

everything i just mentioned i think a

lot of that comes from the very very

gradual development of musashi's

character

look at takazo in volume 1 then musashi

in volume 25 and you'll see two

completely different people i mean

obviously a character can drastically

change over the course of 25 volumes but

his growth is paced so gradually and

handled so naturally that it almost

doesn't register until you really take a

step back and look at the bigger picture

so many of the life-changing lessons

musashi learns take time to fully sink

in and it's only after repeated failure

and reflection that he's able to truly

internalize these changes

musashi's spiritual journey begins when

he meets a buddhist monk named takuan

at this point in the story his idea of

strength is solely reliant on his

physical capabilities so after being

captured by a monk and stripped of his

agency musashi deems himself a failure

and wishes for death he hates himself

because for his entire life all he's

ever known is this toxic idea that

you're only ever worth something if you

can prove that you're the best

but it's taco on who saves musashi from

his self-loathing and teaches him to

value his own life he stops focusing so

much on external conflicts and instead

starts looking inward challenging

himself rather than the world around him

compare takazo fighting in the battle of

sekigahara for fame with musashi

climbing some random mountain just to

see if he could

he isn't proving anything to anyone but

himself

such a profound change could only be

brought about by profound experiences

and that's what i want to talk about in

this video because there are these

moments in vagabond where that

aforementioned veil of reality is lifted

and we're left with what i can only

describe

as transcendent spirituality

yagyu protecting himself in his sleep

musashi forgetting to draw his blade

taqwan exuding a demonic presence

small instances that almost imply a

supernatural influence

these are the moments that lingered in

the back of my mind after i finished

reading the latest chapter and for the

longest time i felt like i didn't really

understand what they all meant sure i

had a general idea and i definitely knew

that these instances were psychological

instead of supernatural but i felt like

there was more to it that i just didn't

understand

that is until i read a certain book

zen in the art of archery was published

in 1948 and written by the german

philosopher oygen herigel it details his

experience training under a master of

japanese zen buddhism and it was written

with the intent of explaining zen to

western people now i really recommend

reading this book for yourself because

oygen's experience is really interesting

and that just around 80 pages it's

really accessible even to the typical

manga degenerate who can't handle more

than three sentences per page the

language is a bit unconventional because

it was written in the 40s and translated

from german to english but just give it

a couple pages and you'll get used to it

the links are in the description

okay now that all the nerds have left

the room let me preface this by saying

that i am not an authority on the

subject and that any knowledge i have

regarding zen is purely from an academic

standpoint not a practical one so i'll

try to explain this to the best of my

ability but even oygan himself admits

that it can be difficult to explain

without experiencing it yourself

as

like all mysticism zen can only be

understood by one who is himself a

mystic and is therefore not tempted to

gain by underhand methods what the

mystical experience withholds from him

but essentially the goal of zen is to

achieve a state of being in which one

loses their sense of self allowing their

minds to become empty and therefore

open to everything

the mind reaches a kind of equanimity an

acute state of awareness where it's free

from disparate thoughts of desire

emotion or pain

now when people typically think of

buddhist practices things like

meditation and prayer come to mind but

in the case of zen it's believed that

spiritual enlightenment can actually be

achieved through the arts things like

ink painting tea ceremonies and flower

arrangement along with martial arts like

archery and swordsmanship

however it's really important to

understand that students of zen are not

learning these skills for their original

utilitarian purpose they are learning

them exclusively as an art form in

oygen's case he doesn't learn archery

for the purpose of hunting fighting or

sport but rather for the sake of the art

itself

because by training one's body and mind

through these arts they can eventually

reach that state of emptiness and it's

within that moment that the art becomes

artless

then comes the supreme and ultimate

miracle

art becomes artless

shooting becomes not shooting a shooting

without bow and arrow

the teacher becomes a pupil again the

master a beginner

the end a beginning

and the beginning perfection

so what i'm saying actually you see i

mean it's a combination of both i mean

here it is the natural instinct and here

is control

you are to combine the two in harmony

the ideal is unnatural naturalness or

natural unnaturalness

this might sound kind of blasphemous for

me to say but you can almost think of it

like high level daydreaming

imagine focusing on something so much

that your perception of the rest of the

world falls away

now imagine the subject of your focus

falling away too

and what are you left with

nothing

but also

everything

for all my math homies out there imagine

focusing on a single point that becomes

infinitesimally small

eventually the point will become so tiny

that it might as well not even exist

and you'll realize that while focusing

on something that becomes nothing

your focus has now extended to infinity

i understand that this can sound really

vague and even paradoxical but this is

the point where the spiritual concepts

of zen become difficult to explain so

let's reign it in a little and try to

understand this in simpler terms with an

example after training with his master

for four years oygan eventually achieves

a state of zen while firing off an arrow

then one day after a shot the master

made a deep bow and broke off the lesson

just then it shot he cried as i stared

at him bewildered

and when i at last understood what he

meant i couldn't suppress a sudden whoop

of delight

what i have said the master told me

severely was not praise only a statement

that ought not to touch you

nor was my bow meant for you for you are

entirely innocent of this shot

you remained this time absolutely

self-oblivious and without purpose in

the highest tension

so that the shot fell from you like a

ripe fruit

once again i understand that this seems

contradictory or paradoxical like how

can the master say that oygan is

innocent from this shot when it's

clearly oygin that's holding the bow

knocking the arrow and letting it go

this is where a lot of people

understandably get confused within the

abstraction honestly myself included

even oygen finds it difficult to

articulate a definite unambiguous

explanation of what happened despite the

fact that he himself has experienced a

state of zen but in essence art is

simply a means for deeper introspection

and spiritual enlightenment which is

also why so many of oygan's experiences

with archery can be applied to musashi's

experiences with swordsmanship

one of the ways that this relates to

vagabond is when the master explains

that bow and arrow are only a pretext

for something that could just as well

happen without them

only the way to a goal not the goal

itself

which is exactly what happens during

musashi's second fight with den shichiro

as the two combatants approach each

other then shichiro draws his blade and

assumes a stance

he's tense and anxious

after all he's facing the man who killed

his own brother musashi on the other

hand is calm and composed

unconcerned with himself and only

focused on how he will swing his sword

until eventually

it

swings

for just a moment musashi enters a state

of zen and swings without drawing his

blade

just like a bow and arrow a blade is

only a pretext for something that could

just as well happen without it

notice how musashi becomes unaware of

his body's actions only coming to his

senses after bumping into den shichiro

just like oygen not realizing that he

had entered a state of zen until seeing

his master bow look at musashi's eyes

during these moments and all you'll see

is emptiness

even when trying to recall their

encounter musashi doesn't seem to

remember many of the details or even

some of his own actions

this next one might be a stretch but

during the fight both men notice a key

difference between each other musashi

observes denshichiro's rigid posture and

denchicudo marvels at musashi's strong

presence despite his looseness

this could be a reference to the special

breathing techniques used by those who

practice zen

instead of relying on the strength of

their muscles they instead use a

breathing technique that allows them to

tap into a sort of inner strength while

staying outwardly relaxed in oygen's

case he was having difficulty drawing

his bow so his master showed him how to

do so by using this technique

for through this breathing you will not

only discover the source of all

spiritual strength but will also cause

this source to flow more abundantly and

to pour more easily through your limbs

the more relaxed you are

and as if to prove it he drew his strong

bow and invited me to step behind him

and feel his arm muscles they were

indeed quite relaxed as though they were

doing no work at all

now i'm not going to pretend like this

is a one-to-one comparison but the idea

is still there i mean just look at the

animalistic way that musashi used to

fight and compare that with his delicate

flowing swings in the latter half of the

manga there's almost a weightlessness to

his movements as if his body was under

no strain whatsoever and even after

injuring his leg he's still somewhat

able to fight

but most importantly this moment between

musashi and denchichito highlights the

distance between them and their past

selves

it's been around a year since they last

fought with nearly 200 chapters in

between and while danshichiro hasn't

really changed much the same can't be

said for musashi oygen actually

experienced something very similar to

this

after spending several years learning

the way of zen in japan he eventually

had to return home and as he was leaving

his master left him with a warning

you have become a different person in

the course of these years for this is

what the art of archery means a profound

and far-reaching contest of the archer

with himself

perhaps you have hardly noticed it yet

but you will feel it very strongly when

you meet your friends and acquaintances

again in your own country things will no

longer harmonize as before

you will see with other eyes and measure

with other measures

musashi has moved past the person he was

a year ago

his fear replaced with calmness his

bloodlust replaced with mercy

he even offers to call off the duel once

he realizes the difference in their

strength returning then she chose

sentiments from their previous encounter

but this time neither of them run away

and the fight ends with denshi chito's

death

this leads into musashi's battle with

the 70 yoshioka and it's during this

scene that musashi once again enters a

state of emptiness allowing the loss of

his own ego and letting his mind flow

into a deep introspection

he loses track of himself

his opponents

and his own thoughts

even the artwork becomes more abstract

to reflect musashi's growing

dissociation but then something really

interesting happens

musashi seemingly gains the ability to

read his opponent's intentions and is

able to distinguish between those who

wish to kill him and those who don't

have the resolve to fight this could be

an allusion to an anecdote by the

religious scholar and buddhist monk dt

suzuki who's featured in ogan's book the

anecdote follows a student learning the

art of swordsmanship from a zen master

the student repeatedly tries and fails

to hit his master who effortlessly

dodges and avoids the student's strikes

even when he isn't expecting them and

when trying to understand how the master

is able to do this suzuki explains that

the pupil must develop a new sense or

more accurately a new alertness of all

of his senses which will enable him to

avoid dangerous thrusts as though he

could feel them coming

once he has mastered this art of evasion

he no longer needs to watch with

undivided attention the movements of his

opponent or even of several opponents at

once rather he sees and feels what is

going to happen and at that same moment

he has already avoided its effect

without there being a hair's breath

between perceiving and avoiding

this then is what counts

a lightning reaction which has no

further need of conscious observation

this can be seen in musashi's behavior

during this battle he fights even when

he can't see his opponents whether he's

blinded with mud or simply too deep in

his own introspection that he loses

sight of his surroundings

and within that introspection he begins

to question the very purpose of all this

and decides that he will live on and

escape this spiral of killing inching

ever closer to the idea of true strength

he saw long ago when he met master yagyu

this encounter is one of the most

important moments in the manga because

it begins one of the major shifts in

musashi's character

at this point in the story musashi is

trying to kill yagyu under the idea that

killing someone of his status will prove

his own strength

he eventually finds yagyu but despite

being an old man asleep in his bed

musashi simply cannot kill him

it isn't pity or guilt that's stopping

him

but rather a profound display of

kindness

this is when musashi's understanding of

strength begins to change

even someone like itosai who is much

farther along in his journey gained some

insight into the nature of strength by

talking to yagyu

the imagery used in this scene and

musashi's relationship to yagyu are very

similar to a part of that previous

anecdote

one day the master was found cooking his

own vegetables over an open fire

the pupil took it into his head to avail

himself of this opportunity taking up

his big stick he let it fall on the head

of the master who was then stooping over

the cooking pan to stir its contents but

the pupil stick was caught by the master

with the cover of the pan

this opens the pupils minds to the

secrets of the art which had hitherto

been kept from him

he then for the first time

really appreciated the unparalleled

kindness of the master

musashi compares his own understanding

of what it means to be invincible with

what he's experiencing from the old man

in front of him

he flashes back to his father who was

crushed under the weight of his own

achievements and driven mad by the

thought of being invincible

untouchable to the point that he was

afraid of anyone who could ever threaten

that identity

even his own son

through his inability to harm yagyu

musashi comes to realize that to be

invincible

really means nothing at all

and within that nothingness

you can see just how infinite you truly

are

this is the point in the story where

musashi really starts to look inward

remember that mountain he climbed just

to see if he could well that's one of

the first things he does after meeting

yagyu

and as he reaches the top all he sees

are higher peaks stretching infinitely

towards the sky

a beautiful representation of the

journey to come

at this point you might be wondering

what's the point of all this

understanding oneself reaching

enlightenment mastering an art what's it

all for

and to answer that question i want to

take a look at the most infamous parts

of the manga

during the farming arc musashi comes

across a starving village and helps them

grow crops he doesn't have any ulterior

motives and he doesn't even do it for

recognition as he gives them the name

takazo instead of musashi

he simply helps them out of genuine

sympathy and kindness

because after all any random person or

even animal has the ability to kill

but to show kindness to others

one must be truly strong

this isn't really mentioned in oygan's

book but metta is a buddhist concept

that revolves around appreciation of the

natural world and the value of kindness

towards sentient life

and i think at this point in vagabond

musashi embodies this idea in his own

way

it might seem a bit hypocritical for me

to say that considering all of the

people he's killed but you have to

consider the key difference in his

motivations and circumstances at various

points in the story

he began as an instigator seeking out

fights and killing as a means to prove

his own self-worth and throughout the

story it's a constant struggle for him

to break free of that toxic mindset

but no matter how many setbacks musashi

faces he always strives to move forward

to change and to grow from the person he

was yesterday

all of his experiences in life

regardless of whether they were good or

bad helped musashi understand himself

and the world a little better like how

he was forced to adopt a more defensive

fighting style after crippling his leg a

pretty literal representation of him

learning to stop seeking confrontation

and not just with other people but also

with nature and life itself

like when he's trying to stop a flooding

river from ruining iori's rice paddy

musashi tries time and time again to

obstruct the flowing river but even

something as soft as water can be strong

enough to smash through stone

so instead of trying to stop the water

musashi redirects it i said empty your

mind

be formless

shapeless

like water

now you put water into a cup

it becomes the cup you put water into a

bottle it becomes the bottle you put in

a teapot it becomes the teapot now water

can flow

or it can crash

be water my friend

simply put musashi learns to flow with

life

whether it be with nature other people

or yourself there are some things you

can't fight and some fights you can't

win

but once you accept these truths once

you realize your own weakness and

insignificance in the grand scheme of

things

you will be free free to look the other

way to look inward where you will find

that strength purpose and infinity all

exist from within your own self

and this isn't just idealistic [ __ ]

either this philosophy is literally

reflected in the way that takahiko inoue

draws vagabond

on top of pens and pencils he often uses

ink brushes not only to color in the

blacks like most mangaka but to actually

draw the line work and his art embodies

that idea of flow in the way that he

works with the imperfections of the

brush

while he is definitely the one holding

the brush and moving it across the paper

inoy gives the ink a certain degree of

freedom to flow on its own accord

of course there is some masterful

[ __ ] artistry on display here but at

the same time there's also an element of

chaos

faded colors uneven lines and straight

bristles guided by inoue's hand create

an image that is all at once

deliberately crafted and natural in its

beauty and i think it can't be

understated just how cool it is that

inoue's technique reflects his art in

such a unique and thematically relevant

way

by the end of the story musashi is much

more considerate of his opponents both

in who he chooses to fight and how he

chooses to fight them

his previous disregard for life gives

way to a profound respect towards his

opponents whether it be offering peace

honoring them in death or just

appreciating the duel they had

and i think for me that's the real

takeaway here

those small moments where musashi just

takes a second to reflect on the

positive aspects of his life and express

his gratitude

like how he tries to find his sword

after fighting the 70 yoshioka

it made me think back to when this dude

was using freaking sticks and rocks to

beat people to death whereas now he's

lamenting the loss of his sword because

he knows how hard kotetsu worked on it

or how about musashi's shallow

relationship with jyotaro compared to

his genuine compassion for iori

these are real tangible changes in

musashi's character and i think it

speaks volumes that even when he finds

himself starving and working himself to

the bone every single day for scraps in

some nameless backwater village

he can still smile

like this

i was originally going to title this

video understanding vagabond or

something pretentious like that and

while i do think i have a better

understanding of the narrative after

reading zen in the art of archery i'd

honestly say that it gave me a deeper

appreciation for vagabond than its

themes more than anything

now whether that's even more pretentious

than what i originally said i'll leave

that up to you but what i'm ultimately

trying to say here is that reading this

book made me enjoy this book

even more than i already did so if you

enjoyed vagabond i highly recommend

reading zen in the art of archery for

yourself

if you've gotten this far into the video

then you might still have one last

question on your mind

why

why did i even read this book in the

first place

and the very disappointing answer to

that question is because i had to take

an elective class in university and i

just so happened to pick a class about

buddhism

now if you've ever gone to college or

university then you know that you're

required to take a bunch of general ed

and elective classes that have

absolutely nothing to do with what

you're actually trying to study this is

without a doubt just a [ __ ] excuse

to keep you there for longer and to get

as much money from you as possible but

at the end of the day higher education

in the us is a scam and it seems like we

just have to live with it

that being said

you now have two options

you could either be cynical and just

pass the class while disregarding any of

the actual lessons being taught

or

you can try to make the most of it

because you never know when you might

learn something that's actually relevant

to your life maybe you'll even meet some

cool people that you wouldn't have

otherwise

i know this was a pretty benign example

but if you ever find yourself in an

undesirable situation

try to find something positive about it

i mean just look at how many people

became content creators because of the

quarantine

myself included so appreciate what you

have and always try to look on the

bright side take care you guys and i'll

see you on the next one

hey thanks for watching i really hope

you enjoyed holy [ __ ] that took way

longer than it should have i know it's

been like uh insert how many months a

year uh since my last upload but

yeah i'm trying to get these out slowly

but surely i've got like 10 trillion

scripts in the works

um it's just honestly a matter of time

before i can just set aside enough time

to actually record

and

finish scripting and just editing all of

those

but i really do appreciate you guys

patience i know it can be frustrating

waiting months and months and months for

a video but i mean that's just how it is

for now at least hopefully

i'll be in a better position later to uh

make more frequent uploads which i do

want to do

but until then i just want to thank you

guys once again for your patience and i

really do hope you enjoyed i also want

to shout out my awesome patrons whose

names are on screen now these folks are

generous enough to support my efforts

and it's just really bizarre and

humbling to receive any kind of support

like this so seriously thank you you

guys are awesome