Rayan Karunarathne

“«Like a fossil tree
From which we gather no flowers
Sad has been my life
Fated no fruit to produce.»

Death poem composed by Minamoto Yorimasa immediately before his act of seppuku in the Byodo-in temple of Uji.”
― Stephen Turnbull, Samurai: The Japanese Warrior's [Unofficial] Manual

“I want to lead an important life. I want to do it because I was born a human being.”
― Eiji Yoshikawa, Musashi

“Life is like swordplay. Grip it, hold it tightly, then make your move.”
― Louis Edward Rosas, The Soldier and the Samurai

“A samurai chooses to serve a master and does it out of respect and love, not because they are forced. Service to them is not demeaning; service is an expression of their prowess and their pride; they serve because only they are strong enough to serve with such flawless perfection and such consummate ability. It is a source of pride to them.”
― Alexei Maxim Russell, Instruction Manual for the 21st Century Samurai