“Eternity isn’t some later time. Eternity isn’t even a long time. Eternity has nothing to do with time. Eternity is that dimension of here and now that all thinking in temporal terms cuts off…. the experience of eternity right here and now, in all things, whether thought of as good or as evil, is the function of life.” — Joseph Campbell
Sorry bout that the comment being truncated, was meant to be “live for nothing, die for something” which to me means live fully, look around you, the mundane can be meaningful. People are sleep walking through life. All gummied up on cannabis, driving little cars with too much horse power whilst on their phones listening to influencers, who wants that? Apparently a lot of people! Simple tasks like splitting kindling for a fire to keep a house warm changes the metrics. As the sword was drawn 1 against 4 the “still point” occurred. Once again Sam, my man TS Eliot expains this moment in poetic clarity. He brings this all up in the first of the Four Quartets “Burnt Norton” which reinforces your thoughts today.
I still need to dig into the Four Quartets, it's on my list. This is probably one of my favorite quotes I've gotten in awhile: "driving little cars with too much horse power whilst on their phones listening to influencers, who wants that?" It encapsulates something significant. I appreciate the thinking material, Charles.
Thanks Lou. I remember from my last post on Musashi you're a fan as well, and I think of this scene too. Hardly a day goes by that it doesn't suddenly arise in my mind.
Love this piece. On a coincidental/ironic e-tech analogy obstructing the way of the pen, I had to input a verification code from my email to add this comment. Anyhow, the writhing intangible enemies besiege us constantly, just they don't have the face of a warring clan, or the definitive tip of a katana to parry and riposte. As you mention it's a frustrating morass of false idols around on the periphery which makes the warrior state of mind so elusive. There are, of course, other ways to tap into this bliss of being part of the natural world around us without the binary of looming death, but it's increasingly hard to access in a world built for distraction.
I appreciate the nuance, Will, and I couldn't agree more. My sense is most of the e-technologies are leaning more towards destructive than creative. Substack is an oddity in that it is attempting to preserve long form content in an age that is at war with it. We'll know soon where it all ends up, I imagine.
I worked at our academy for three years, primarily teaching jiujitsu to recruits and incumbents. Of course there’s technical value in learning the art, but I always thought the core of what it represented was a liberating acceptance of your “death”.
The rolls were the vehicle for a similar philosophy to what you describe here- the most rewarding performances come when the fear of failure stops, when you stop seeing your opponent as your terrifying demise and instead allow the moment to elevate you, irrevocably, into something MORE.
Your riff on this resonates in a big way, and I couldn’t agree more that there’s a connection among those that share the ethic.
I appreciate it Tim. This “ethic” is truly universal if we find it as many of us have in our own way. The art will be spreading the word in a compelling way.
Yet again Sam you’ve hit the mark. The book of five rings and ‘ Mushashi’ provide time honoured simple tools/ reminders how to reclaim meaning in a culture addicted to distraction. By invoking Musashi’s Way of the Sword, you remind us that simplicity, presence, and acceptance of death awaken us to life. Customs that numb us—algorithms, consumption, speed—are the new enemies. But the Way offers a path: to live each moment as sacred, to face life with clarity and courage. When we treat today as our last, we finally begin to live. This is not nostalgia—it’s a blueprint for existential freedom.
Reading your posts 24 hours into my weekly 1.5 day fasts has me looking forward to these evenings, how I feel, and the extra enjoyment I get from your savage writing in this state. Full of powerful one liners per usual. Feel like I could do a year of quote reflections just using your shit.
Sam, It is an ever changing set of Poems whose meanings tend to change as we age and have various life experiences. I may have seen or felt a certain way about a passage at 16 that i feel much differently about today. Makes it forever topical. You might think about getting a printed copy, (make notes in the margins stuff) but it is also great to listen to his spoken word. Audio does it justice. We want hard men for hard times, whatever happens after that is what it is. AS TSE says, “For us there is only the trying the rest is not our business.” No little high horse power cars for me damn it!
I used the passage from Burnt Norton on the “Still point” this past July, I had to give a toast at my daughter’s wedding. I had had a still point moment a year before the wedding, suddenly everything stopped for a nano second and in that short period, I found myself fast forwarding through her life, these high lights banging into my head and vision and as quickly as it came, I was back on earth so to say. It was a small engagement party for the presumptive bride and groom, so you see what might have been topical at 25 as an Infantry Officer was completely different decades later! Sam, it great you are writing these posts, really enjoy the Hell out of them. And the post Post conversations. .
Really looking forward to digging in, for your story is powerful. Likewise—I'm grateful for depth of the connections made here. I did not expect that when I started writing, and I'm truly grateful.
I enjoy the practice. I have books inked in the margins and sometimes have no idea how I was able to think such thoughts. It is an opportunity to reflect and look back on how and why I have changed. I'm really looking forward to diving into it.
Wow. Sam, that essay is truly an eye-opener, as I just awakened and before I stand and officially greet the day I read this piece. Direct, clear, and if I may, pure thought condensed into a powerful message. I’ve got a battle today, and yet I’m clear eyed, smiling, and lungs full. Thanks! Tim
Thanks for this post. It reminded me to “smell the coffee” that I am about to make! It will be a great day!
Let's go!
“Eternity isn’t some later time. Eternity isn’t even a long time. Eternity has nothing to do with time. Eternity is that dimension of here and now that all thinking in temporal terms cuts off…. the experience of eternity right here and now, in all things, whether thought of as good or as evil, is the function of life.” — Joseph Campbell
Awesome quote.
Sorry bout that the comment being truncated, was meant to be “live for nothing, die for something” which to me means live fully, look around you, the mundane can be meaningful. People are sleep walking through life. All gummied up on cannabis, driving little cars with too much horse power whilst on their phones listening to influencers, who wants that? Apparently a lot of people! Simple tasks like splitting kindling for a fire to keep a house warm changes the metrics. As the sword was drawn 1 against 4 the “still point” occurred. Once again Sam, my man TS Eliot expains this moment in poetic clarity. He brings this all up in the first of the Four Quartets “Burnt Norton” which reinforces your thoughts today.
I still need to dig into the Four Quartets, it's on my list. This is probably one of my favorite quotes I've gotten in awhile: "driving little cars with too much horse power whilst on their phones listening to influencers, who wants that?" It encapsulates something significant. I appreciate the thinking material, Charles.
Great book, great essay, great reminder. Thanks, Sam.
Thanks Lou. I remember from my last post on Musashi you're a fan as well, and I think of this scene too. Hardly a day goes by that it doesn't suddenly arise in my mind.
I probably spend an equal amount of time thinking about Sekishusai handing out perfectly cut flowers to anyone who challenged him to a duel.
So good.
Or Sōhō noticing how the flower stem was cut.
His words stick in the brain.
Love this piece. On a coincidental/ironic e-tech analogy obstructing the way of the pen, I had to input a verification code from my email to add this comment. Anyhow, the writhing intangible enemies besiege us constantly, just they don't have the face of a warring clan, or the definitive tip of a katana to parry and riposte. As you mention it's a frustrating morass of false idols around on the periphery which makes the warrior state of mind so elusive. There are, of course, other ways to tap into this bliss of being part of the natural world around us without the binary of looming death, but it's increasingly hard to access in a world built for distraction.
I appreciate the nuance, Will, and I couldn't agree more. My sense is most of the e-technologies are leaning more towards destructive than creative. Substack is an oddity in that it is attempting to preserve long form content in an age that is at war with it. We'll know soon where it all ends up, I imagine.
I worked at our academy for three years, primarily teaching jiujitsu to recruits and incumbents. Of course there’s technical value in learning the art, but I always thought the core of what it represented was a liberating acceptance of your “death”.
The rolls were the vehicle for a similar philosophy to what you describe here- the most rewarding performances come when the fear of failure stops, when you stop seeing your opponent as your terrifying demise and instead allow the moment to elevate you, irrevocably, into something MORE.
Your riff on this resonates in a big way, and I couldn’t agree more that there’s a connection among those that share the ethic.
Thank you.
I appreciate it Tim. This “ethic” is truly universal if we find it as many of us have in our own way. The art will be spreading the word in a compelling way.
“When each moment becomes the last moment, the next moment becomes the first moment.”
Great thoughts, well stated. Yet again you’ve given me lots to digest!
I’m stoked you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.
The algorithm is a formidable foe, but we shall overcome. I enjoyed the piece.
Indeed we shall. It is a good fight.
Yet again Sam you’ve hit the mark. The book of five rings and ‘ Mushashi’ provide time honoured simple tools/ reminders how to reclaim meaning in a culture addicted to distraction. By invoking Musashi’s Way of the Sword, you remind us that simplicity, presence, and acceptance of death awaken us to life. Customs that numb us—algorithms, consumption, speed—are the new enemies. But the Way offers a path: to live each moment as sacred, to face life with clarity and courage. When we treat today as our last, we finally begin to live. This is not nostalgia—it’s a blueprint for existential freedom.
Well said, Glenn. I appreciate your thoughts. You've hit on the root of it all—existential freedom.
Reading your posts 24 hours into my weekly 1.5 day fasts has me looking forward to these evenings, how I feel, and the extra enjoyment I get from your savage writing in this state. Full of powerful one liners per usual. Feel like I could do a year of quote reflections just using your shit.
I am a fan of your routine. Few things I have ever done have given me more benefit than fasting. I’m stoked to be part of it.
Sam, It is an ever changing set of Poems whose meanings tend to change as we age and have various life experiences. I may have seen or felt a certain way about a passage at 16 that i feel much differently about today. Makes it forever topical. You might think about getting a printed copy, (make notes in the margins stuff) but it is also great to listen to his spoken word. Audio does it justice. We want hard men for hard times, whatever happens after that is what it is. AS TSE says, “For us there is only the trying the rest is not our business.” No little high horse power cars for me damn it!
I used the passage from Burnt Norton on the “Still point” this past July, I had to give a toast at my daughter’s wedding. I had had a still point moment a year before the wedding, suddenly everything stopped for a nano second and in that short period, I found myself fast forwarding through her life, these high lights banging into my head and vision and as quickly as it came, I was back on earth so to say. It was a small engagement party for the presumptive bride and groom, so you see what might have been topical at 25 as an Infantry Officer was completely different decades later! Sam, it great you are writing these posts, really enjoy the Hell out of them. And the post Post conversations. .
Really looking forward to digging in, for your story is powerful. Likewise—I'm grateful for depth of the connections made here. I did not expect that when I started writing, and I'm truly grateful.
I enjoy the practice. I have books inked in the margins and sometimes have no idea how I was able to think such thoughts. It is an opportunity to reflect and look back on how and why I have changed. I'm really looking forward to diving into it.
Live for nothing die die something.
Wow. Sam, that essay is truly an eye-opener, as I just awakened and before I stand and officially greet the day I read this piece. Direct, clear, and if I may, pure thought condensed into a powerful message. I’ve got a battle today, and yet I’m clear eyed, smiling, and lungs full. Thanks! Tim
Stoked to hear it, Tim. Get after it.