A Warrior's Creed

I have no parents - I make the heavens and earth my parents.

I have no home - I make my awareness my home.

I have no life or death - I make the tides of breathing my life and death.

I have no divine power - I make honesty my divine power.

I have no means - I make understanding my means.

I have no magic secrets - I make character my magic secret.

I have no body - I make endurance my body.

I have no eyes - I make the flash of lightning my eyes.

I have no ears - I make sensibility my ears.

I have no limbs - I make promptness my limbs.

I have no strategy - I make "unshadowed by thought" my strategy.

I have no designs - I make "seizing opportunity by the forelock" my design.

I have no miracles - I make right action my miracles.

I have no principles - I make adaptability to all circumstances my principles.

I have no tactics - I make emptiness and fullnes my tactics.

I have no talents - I make ready wit my talent.

I have no friends - I make my mind my friend.

I have no enemy - I make carelessness my enemy.

I have no armor - I make benevolence and righteousness my armour.

I have no castle - I make immovable mind my castle.

I have no sword - I make absence of self my sword.

-- Samurai, 14th Century