Musashi was once again in the mountains seeking to perfect his character. Together with his life-long friend and mentor, the priest Soho Takuan, he was seated beside a gentle stream with a small tranquil waterfall, engaged in zazen meditation. As they meditated, Musashi's keen senses alerted him to another presence nearby. Without disturbing the serenity of his meditation, Musashi allowed his gaze to fall upon a deadly viper slithering into the clearing from some shrubbery near Takuan.

Knowing that the slightest movement might frighten the venomous snake into attacking his friend, Musashi carefully controlled his spirit, watching the serpent in utter stillness. He was surprised to see a faint smile appear on Takaun's lips as he too became aware of the snakes approach and calmly watched it crawl across his own thighs. Even more amazing than the priests complete tranquility in the face of mortal danger was the snake's casual acceptance of Takuan as a natural part of its surroundings.

After slithering across the priest, the lethal serpent continued on it's winding course toward Musashi. However, several feet away, the snake sensed Musashis' presence and recoiled, preparing to attack the seated Samurai. Musashi gave no reaction. Even though his spirit was undisturbed by the ominous, bared fangs of the viper, Musashis' power, skill, and menace were so palpable to the snake that it scurried away into the bushes like a terrified rabbit. Most men would have been proud to possess such an intimidating aura, but Musashi felt only shame, as he suddenly understood his own greatest shortcoming. "What troubles you so?" asked Takuan, sensing his friend's mood.

"All my life, " Musashi lamented, " I have trained myself to develop such skill that no man would ever dare attack me. Now that I have reached my goal, all living things instinctively fear me. You saw how the snake fled from me!"

"I saw it, " the priest said. " Since it dared not attack you, you defeated it without striking a blow. And because of your great skill, both you and the snake are alive now." Although he already knew the answer, Takuan asked, "Why does this sadden you?"

"Because I am so strong that no one can ever grow close to me. I can never have true peace." Musashi pointed a finger at the priest. "Not like you," he said with admiration, "You did not fear the snake, nor did the snake fear you. Your spirit is so calm, so natural, that the snake treated you no differently than the rocks, the trees, or the wind. People accept you that way too."

Takuan only smiled, pleased that his friend had made such an important self- discovery. Musashi spent the rest of his days training to perfect a spirit like that of his friend Takuan. This mental state, the ideal, to which all martial artists aspire, is called Heijoshin. Literally translated it means "constant stable spirit," but such a translation hardly does it justice.