Scott Morton, further explores this Buddhist understanding of existence within the context of the realities which faced medieval samurai. The samurai fought because it is in their nature to do so. Life and death are qualities which are of relative consequence, and it is in how the warrior behaves in life that gives him an identity in death:

There is another feature of Buddhism in general that may have had a peculiar appeal to men accustomed to take risks and to stake all on the outcome of a battle or an individual combat, and that is the Buddhist sense of the transitory nature of human life and glory. Many samurai . . . were far from being crude, unthinking fighters. Glory and honor were of great importance to them, but they were intelligent and subtle enough to realize that these things were transitory. They welcomed a rationale which would account on a universal scale for the known and experienced fact, sic transit gloria mundi--“thus passes the glory of the world.” (62-63)

This notion of impermanence is one of the central themes of the Tale of the Heike. Within this theme of the immutability of time and man's mortal nature we have a duality that exists in human conflict. The samurai, knowing his fleeting nature in reality, is completely loyal and obedient to his master. He knows that because life is short it ought to be lived correctly, that it ought to be treasured. It is a seeming paradox. Because life is short and immortality unknowable, the samurai hurls himself into battle, heedless of the danger that surrounds him. In this regard, death has no hold on him except that of a warm embrace after a short life of pain and misery.

A central tenet of the samurai's world is that of loyalty to his master. Loyalty is a non-negotiable, eternally binding agreement between lord and vassal. Disloyalty, betrayal of one's lord, is the most dishonorable attribute that any man can have. Because of the samurai's unflinching loyalty to his master, the warrior is supposedly prepared to undergo any test, withstand any painful experience, even to the point of death, as long as it serves his master's wishes. This quality of absolute service to the lord did not mean that the typical warrior need be reckless and foolhardy with his own life and safety. In order to avoid a potentially dangerous situation, Tadamori takes special care to guard himself against his enemies. He reminds himself that “It would be a grief to my family and to me if I let myself be humiliated through lack of foresight. Besides, the book says, `Take care of yourself so you can serve your master”' (24): The samurai's responsibility is primarily to his lord, but in order to do so the warrior must be equipped and prepared for any occasion. Because Tadamori took care of himself, he prevented his enemies from humiliating him, and in turn preserved his master's good name.

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