You are already dead

Once upon a time, in old time Japan, there were two samurai clans fighting each other for their own right and wrong ideas. Right before the battle, there was a young samurai who was very scared of what was going to happen. He came to his master and seek for advice knowing that showing his fear right before battle was considered to be a coward action and that might bring him to a lot of troubles. The young samurai went into the cottage where his master was sitting with several other high ranking samurais and said:

- Master, I know what I am going to say now will lead me to trouble and shame for years to come. But I want to get myself ready for this battle. Yes, I am scared. I really want to fight, to die for our clan, for our ideas but at the same time I am so afraid of death.

- So have you ever been wounded in battles? - The master asked.

- Yes, sir I have, many times indeed.

- Then I bet you are not much afraid of being slashed anymore lately? - The master continued.

- No sir, I am not. I got used to it.

The master then laughed and said: 

- Good, you are already dead!!

The young samurai paused for a second and said thank to the master; then he asked for permission to dismiss and get ready for the battle. To everyone surprise, he fought vigorously in that battle as if he is not afraid of dying and in many more battles after that.

The young samurai's name was Sakamoto Ryōma (坂本 龍馬?, January 3, 1836 – December 10, 1867) who "was a leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period in Japan".

A photograph of Sakamoto Ryoma
Property of Miyoshi Harutaka (Ueda City)