Stanley F. Bronstein – Personal Development BlogPersonal Development Blog of the Founder of the Achievement IQ Movement and Creator of the Laws of Positioning

Meditation for Wednesday – May 26, 2010

Distinguish Between Gain And Loss In Worldly Matters.
(Miyamoto Musashi)

Distinguish - To recognize as distinct or different.  Recognize the salient or individual features or characteristics of.  To perceive clearly by sight or other sense.  To discern

Between - Distinguishing one from the other.

Gain – To get something desired, especially as a result of one’s efforts.  To acquire as an increase or addition.  To obtain, as a profit.

Loss - Detriment, disadvantage, or deprivation from failure to keep, have or get.  The state of being deprived of or of being without something that one has had.  Failure to preserve or maintain.

Wordly – Of or pertaining to this world, as contrasted with heaven, spiritual life, etc.  Devoted to, directed toward, or connected with the affairs, interests, or pleasures of this world.

Matters – Situations, states, affairs or business.  Something of consequence.  Something of importance or significance.

An Introduction

Today’s meditation is the latest meditation from a concept discussed in a book known as A Book Of Five Rings, by the Japanese samurai master, Miyamoto Musashi.

What Is A Book Of Five Rings?

A Book Of Five Rings, is considered a classic on military strategy, in a manner similar to that of Sun Tzu’s Art Of War. Having previously discussed Sun Tzu’s Art Of War on many occasions, I figured it was time to explore many of the same concepts from the perspective of a Japanese samurai master.

While A Book Of Five Rings is a military text, it’s lessons can be applied just as easily to non-military contexts. That’s why this book is still useful today, more than 350 years after it was written.

Today’s Meditation

Today’s meditation talks about the importance of possessing and cultivating one’s ability to distinguish that which is important in this world (i.e. the material world).

The ability to distinguish is a fine art; an art that once again, requires careful observation.

Quite simply, one cannot distinguish if one does not pay close attention.

If one fails to properly distinguish, then what initially appears to be gain may actually be loss and what initially appears to be loss may actually be gain.

Real Life Situations

Have you ever encountered situations, in your life, where you felt like you gained and it turned out to be a loss?

Have you ever encountered situations, in your life, where you felt like you lost and it turned out to have been a gain?

I know I have.  I’m thinking of one situation from the past year where something didn’t turn out quite the way I expected (in other words, I believed it to be a loss).  But, as more time has gone by, I’m starting to realize that the situation was actually a gain, as it prepared me for some incredibly positive experiences that are just around the corner.

Analysis

As you meditate upon this thought, ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you ever encountered situations, in your life, where you felt like you gained and it turned out to be a loss?
• Have you ever encountered situations, in your life, where you felt like you lost and it turned out to have been a gain?
• What can you do to cultivate your ability to distinguish between gain and loss?

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