Stephanie JT Russell

'Freedom for the true Samurai, is the presence of one's own truth. It is the discipiine to end all disciplines, the love to begin all loves.'

One Flash of Lightning is a unique and timely interpretation of bushido, the Samurai code of conduct. Stephanie JT Russell explores bushido's enduring relevance to the human condition, linking the anicent warrior's way to the modern psyche in a universal message of kindness and ethical integrity.

Interweaving Eastern and Western sensibilities, Russell poses compelling questions of intent, awareness, and honor, framed for men and women facing the complexities of today's world. One Flash of Lightning celebrates bushido's innate beauty and its passionate appeal to the transformative power of living each moment with an ardent, tranquil joy.

'One Flash of Lightning is a stirring call for a new Western warrior code, drawing strength from the Samurai tradition-a work that attempts to give birth to what the author posits as a 'common language of compassion, decency, and abiding moral strength' in the face of culture gyrating away from civility and humanity.'-Richard Rapaport, writer and critic

Stephanie JT Russell has been befriended by modern Samurai for as long as she can remember. She has taught peace building, theater, and meditation nationally and internationally. Her previous books include Personal Alchemy and Everyday Zen. A native New Yorker, she currently lives in Berkeley, California, where she writes books, teaches spiritual work, and designs innovative strategies in culture, business, and global sustainability.

Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Beginning here
Today I die, like every day before
The word of a Samurai
The Samurai code
Who is a Samurai?
A bushido time line
Epilogue: Zen and the art of war
Glossary… (meer)