A Warriors Creed

I have no parents- I make the heavens and earth my parents.
I have no home-I make 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 lightening 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" my design.
I have no miracles-I make right action my miracles.
I have no principles-I make adaptability my principles.
I have no tactics-I make emptiness and fullness 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 armor.
I have no castle-I make immovable mind my castle.
I have no sword-I make absence of self my sword.

Anonymous Samurai,14th Century