Fudochi Shin Myoroku: The Mysterious Record of Immovable Wisdom Paperback – August 20, 2016

A phenomenal short read, that must be read over and over again. Manaka Sensei and Eric Shahan deliver a clear translation and perspective so often overlooked and misunderstood in martial arts, and the Fudochi Shin Myoroku is a seminal work on this topic. If you study traditional martial arts and want to explore the connection between the mind and it's relationship to combat/survival/meaning, this is an absolute must for your library. If your interest is in martial arts stuff that work 'on the street', this work will most likely not be of interest to you, nor understood. Yet. To those interested in exploring the connection (or disconnection) of the mind to the sword, opponent and self - get this book.My hat is off once again to Shahan for providing work that has for generations been unknown, or deeply unaccessible. Adam Mitchell

An outstanding work from Takuan Soho, brought into contemporary Japanese by Fumio Manaka sensei, and translated to English by Eric Shahan. More than a treat to be able to read the works of such a famous and influential person within Japanese culture and history. Really appreciated the work of the translators for providing this source of information in English. Enjoyed the fast shipping as well. A must for any serious practitioner or fan of Japanese martial arts.

The very least you can say about this book is that it is unique, very unique. It makes for interesting reading.Written in the 16th Century, it appears to be a manual for warriors, samurai. The work itself is very short — twelve one- or two-page chapters. The translator, Fumio Manaka, included, after the English translation, nine different versions in the original Japanese. The different versions in Japanese script take up the bulk of the book..Then it is the instructions to the would-be warrior. I am certainly no expert in Boshido. What little I have read indicates to me that the samurai exhibit a measure of mental focus and restraint. A samurai is no yogi, but must have a centered, calm state of mind to size up and battle his opponent.The warrior in Fudochi Shin Myoroku is anything but centered. The warrior is always busy, always on the move, ferocious — and, at the same time, focused. The best way to describe this warrior is: A caged wild animal.There is an audience for this book. There is obvious scholarship in collecting the various versions of the text. It is not a demanding read. It is probably, however, not designed for the general reader.

It's a nice wisdom, not unlike the unfettered mind. Enjoy it over and over again till wisdom abounds.

I love this book! Is necessary to know about the thoughts of the people in Japan in former times. The translation of Eric Shahan is the best!!!

A gift for my son and he loved it..

I think very few people appreciate the great accomplishment of what has been done here. This effort is highly laudable. Even after 6 or 7 other versions in English, this version manages to reveal even more than has been previously shown. Bravo!