alt Hacker NewsActually, I am drinking a Japanese Sake called "Jozen Mizuno Gotoshi" (The Highest Good is Like Water) right now to celebrate the New Year. The name comes from Laozi.
Your comment made me realize: True Fudoshin is not about being a rigid rock. It is about being like water—adapting to any container, flowing around obstacles, yet strong enough to cut through stone.
Whatever happens in the market or in code, I want to be like water. Happy New Year.
The idea is that you maintain a "Unshakeable Spirit/Heart/Mind" w.r.t. your ultimate goal (whatever that may be) but still keep your everyday working mind aware, adaptable, not losing heart when difficulties arise but working through them all with a sense of calm purposeful focused action.
The Fudōchi Shinmyōroku states that as, the "Right Mind" is like free-flowing Water (useful in any situation since it can quickly assess, adapt and respond) while "Confused Mind" is like congealed water i.e. Ice (not useful since it is static, fixed form and not adaptable).
In modern terms, we can restate it as goal setting, long-term strategy vs. short-term tactics, maintaining composure and fortitude while working towards the goal unceasingly.
Happy New Year (bot or not!)