Whenever I face difficulties, I am struck with

admiration for the way that ninpo has survived

all the trials and hardships through the years.
There are five precepts for ninja that are quite
simple but most significant to me. When I am
sad, unhappy, sick, injured, or desperate, I
always encourage myself by remembering
them.
First forget your sadness, anger, grudges, and
hatred. Let them pass like smoke caught in a
breeze. Do not indulge yourself in such feeling.
Second, you should not deviate from the path
of righteousness; you should lead a life worthy
of man. This simple philosophy is exactly what
hundreds of sages have repeated throughout
the ages. Some people believe I am a great
man. But I always tell them that I am just an
ordinary man. Presence of mind consists in a
very simple life, not a special or great life – I am
recently confident of that.
Third, don`t be possessed by greed, luxury, or
your ego. If you learn martial arts purely for
self-interest and always try to depend on
some-one else just because it is easier, you will
be controlled by these three desires – even if
you have already reached a high level in the
martial arts. These three desires will distort not
only martial arts but humanity itself.
When people are dying, there are two
directions toward death: joy and suffering. Joy
here means in a heavenly sense, and does not
include pleasure or pastimes. One this stage in
live is reached, one will know one`s real mission
in life.
Fourth, you should accept sorrow, sadness, or
hatred as there are and consider them a
chance for trial given by the Almighty. It is the
most noble spirit in ninpo to take everything as
a blessing given by Nature. When you are
trying to carry through something, your
goodwill is sometimes considered malicious by
some people who are obsessed by their own
egotism. They might throw a stone at you. I try
to interpret that as a blessing stone thrown to
me by God for my one sake. Even Nichiren, a
great Buddhist priest, was stoned by the
people during his advocacy in various cities.
Fifth, have both of your time and mind fully
engaged in budo and have your mind deeply
set on bujutsu. Read between the lines in the
late grandmaster Takamatsu`s story of the ninja
mentioned earlier, end you will learn the
attitudes and methods one should keep in
ninjutsu training.