Part One

  Arrows, Rifles, Spears, and Swords

  Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  —Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure