don’t ferget yer water shoes neither.
The pun “contemplating one’s naval” comes painfully to mind.
Tōgō Heihachirō contemplated Sun Tzu before his naval defeet of Russia.
Not in any mystical capacity, I warrant. Do try to stay on track, Grasshopper. 
rather difficult when your tracks are a wake, innit?
What is “awake”? R U it?
No so fast my little orthopteran friend, bushidō is a spiritual and mystical journey.
Not in my world. I take to a conservative, pragmatic view which is generally a perfect fit with the dō martial arts: loosely speaking it’s simply about relentlessly training oneself in the ways of both peace and conflict, whether during either peace or conflict, and informed by fairly practical questions such as those of duty, ethics, resolve, and clarity. Honor and courtesy also come into it not least. In general, spiritual pursuits have traditionally always been considered outside of bushidō, and a personal matter, although some mindsets do mesh nicely with training and may even contribute positively to it.
But bushidō has never been a monolithic concept even in Japan; those who tried to codify it could never agree with each other as to what it absolutely is. There is radical bushidō, which says that all that is expected of you is to die, and more decadent forms that espouse training in the fine arts, letters, dance, and theater; others asserted that avoiding death was not only not dishonorable, it was actually a duty - however you manage to manage it - because in your obligation to your lord, you are of more use to him alive. Basically, it depends on who’s talkin’. These concepts have all been historically recorded for anyone to pick and choose from as they like, and cite precedent to defend their choices. I will agree that bushidō is what it ultimately is to the individual, and so if it’s a spiritual, mystical journey to you, I can accept that. It makes no sense to me from my end, though. If I train in Zen, say, for the purpose of improving myself as a warrior (a trend that Takuan set in motion, regretting it all the way), then that is only something I personally bring to the table. Well, that’s my view, anyway. 
I’ll bet you’re sorry you brought it up. 
gave it up last fall, I did…
The Kid looks ready to pontificate. After Nano’s little explanation, I’ve learned not to pontificate. I’ve also learned to not tell anyone that I’m going to be a mystic. I’ll let them figure it out. Maybe the new clothes and the new boat shoes will give it away.
Then my work here is done. 
Well, maybe.
And if a person does have to pontificate, do so in simple words and ideas. Pontificating about obscure topics like bushidō just involves too much research and homework and is as pretentious as using chopsticks. A person starts talking about bushidō and pretty soon they stucks learning everything that they can get their hands on about the dō martial arts. That doesn’t sound the least bit peaceful to me. Wouldn’t you rather just wonder why M&M’s come in green and red for Christmas? How do the M&M’s know it’s Christmas?
Dude, I’m a social worker. The earnings potential of a mystic look phenom to me. Dentists have a high suicide rate. Law enforcement get shot at. I don’t think the Mystic Mafia see any territory cross-over in recreational slackers.
Brought up what?
The budōka comes to understand what it is to beat swords into plowshares, and embraces it. It goes with the territory.
When they start dying in droves, I imagine.
Geesh, their grandmother sent them an advent calendar with little windows you open for each day, starting December 1. They fight over whose turn it is.
Pizza?
Redwolf
As a mystic, I would like to ponder aloud that pizza is a most delicious perfect food. Now why do you folks keep bringing mysticism and pizza together?
(Great comment emm. I hope the opportunity arises in my life that I get to say that too.)
I prefer the old spelling “mystick.” I have several including a nice old ice axe hiking stick, nobody touches it 'cept me.
If yer serious- Mystic Pizza
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095690/
Not a film buff, or a Julia Roberts fan?