Who was Miyamoto Musashi?
Captain Paul Watson: He was a ronin warrior, born around 1584. He fought at the battle of Sekigahara in 1600 at the age of 16 or 17. He was a self taught master of the sword and became one of the greatest military strategists in history. Most importantly he believed that the purpose of a sword was not to kill or injure but to maintain the integrity of the Emperor, to subdue devils and to drive out evil. He carried the sword to maintain integrity and not for personal profit or power. He also wrote of the twofold way of pen and sword, in other words that the pen was equal to the sword and confrontation when necessary, must be accompanied by education and communication. What does a swordsman have to do with Conservation? Captain Paul Watson: When Musashi laboured to the fields to understand the way of farmers he observed that his sweat attracted flies. He took the view that the flies were only going about their business just as he was going about his. He regarded them as fellow creatures.
