The Unfettered Mind

The Unfettered Mind is a book containing translations from Japanese by William Scott Wilson of three short texts by Takuan Sōhō (1573–1645), a notable monk of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Addressed to samurai, the principles expounded in the texts are also applicable to anyone who desires an introduction to Zen philosophy—various kinds of situations are first described, and then commented upon. The book's contents apply Zen Buddhist understandings to martial arts.