* do not envy another's good or evil*
The seventh of the twenty one tenets of "The Way of Walking Alone".
Envy. The green eyed monster. Countless fashion magazines and a world of idealism have created untold psychological problems, ranging from inferiority complexes to bulimia and anorexia. Why? Because they envy what they see.
People live their lives… unless such a life is one of privilege. Always wanting something. Sometimes this is constructive, such as the single mother who wants something better for her children. But the overwhelming majority of people seem to envy what others have. They make no motion to attain their own version of what they covet, but are instead perfectly content in their coveting of others, things, or ideals.
Where is the ambition to attain? Where is the drive to enjoy the fruits of your own labor. When envy takes hold, much of that is undermined and completely put aside in favor of this needless, fruitless want.
Another area this tenet touches on is whether it is good or evil, is of no consequence.
In this way, I believe that Musashi is trying to show us that we should strive to have what we want for our own solidly defined personal reasons. To sit back and envy others, for their ideals, professions, possession, etc, is to live a life of want, wasted energy and useless lamenting
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