"Intuition based on sincerity and moral guidance leads one back to the bedrock. It has nothing to say about either time or profit, nor does it advocate wasting time with vague contemplations of the Void. One lives in the world and reacts to things around him."
But at the JAO we use very definite definitions of the Jedi Path, and do not rely on vague truisms that can be altered and shaped to fit almost any philosophy we wish them to be. Therefore a more concise look at the Hagekure is in order, balancing it against the most universally accepted of all Jedi texts, the Jedi Code.
The first line of the Jedi Code states, "There is no emotion; there is peace."
Now, the samurai being a warrior class, the Hagekure does not mention "peace" too often. In fact it can be noted that,
"Peace and prosperity also brought problems for the Samurai class. Without constant warfare, the warrior in a sense found himself without real employment." – the Hagekure.
This line clearly speaks of the Samurai being little more than soldiers in the time that they lived – so much so, that peace, prosperity, those very things that one assumes people are fighting for, actually threatened to destroy them. When one compares this to Mace Windu’s line in Episode II, we see a very clear discrepancy.
"We are keepers of the peace, not soldiers."
A factual statement. The Jedi did not practice war as an art, nor did they wish to. Their philosophy was centered around a distinct respect for life, a preference toward non-violence, and the mindset that one only does as one has to. It is often argued that the Way of the Samurai has similar ideals due to their religion being Buddhist, but many times the Hagekure states such things as,
"It is fine for retired old men to learn about Buddhism as a diversion."
and
"Until one reaches the age of forty it is better to put off wisdom and discrimination and excel in vitality."
Both these quotes imply a distinct disdain for religion being taught to young Samurai, giving the impression that religion is a thing to be settled into once you are no longer able to perform your duties as a warrior, and that wisdom is not a thing to be pursued while you are still young enough to fight. This continual emphasis on "act first, think later," is completely contradicting to the Jedi Path, which encourages the accumulation of both knowledge and wisdom:
"There is no ignorance; there is knowledge."
To better emphasize the "act first, think later" mentality, I have isolated another quote that displays it quite consicely:
"One should think only of cutting the man down and not anticipate later blame."
This recklessness is again portrayed in the statement that,
"The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy, and it is best to dash in headlong."
It is clearly in the midst of the chaos of war and death that a Samurai was at home, and although they speak of harmony, and internal peace with the self, it is only upon the meditation of death that they successfully achieve it:
"Meditation on death should be performed daily. Every day when one’s body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku."
A Jedi does not seek to find a calm mind by preparing themselves daily for a horrible death, nor do they dwell on the chaos warfare brings. Thus it can be clearly shown that the line "There is no chaos; there is harmony" is also inapplicable to the samurai.
Another line states, "If your strength is only that which comes from vitality, your words and personal conduct will appear in accord with the Way, and you will be praised by others."
This line not only refers back to the previous point about shunning a strength based in wisdom and knowledge, but also brings us to the fourth line of the Code, "There is no passion; there is serenity."
Many times throughout the Hagekure, reference is made to a soldier’s "vitality" – that is, his liveliness, his energy, his passion for what he does. The Hagekure states that if a man reaches forty with "no vitality, he will get no response from others." Thus it is clearly a desired trait among the warrior class.
It can also be seen in the descriptions of what the Samurai felt a true warrior should be:
"A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly toward an irrational death."
While very passionate, and perhaps honorable, it is this obvious display of action before thought, and disregard for human life that not only emphasizes the previous points made, but brings us to the final line of the Code:
"There is no death; there is the Force."
It is impossible to say from reading the Hagekure exactly what the Samurai expected waiting for them after death; in the Foreword it is noted that,
"[The Hagekure] has nothing to say about... vague contemplations of the Void."
But what is obvious, and repeatedly said, is that they were very concerned with death. Indeed, the very first chapter states,
"The Way of the Samurai is found in death."
The Jedi were not concerned with matters of death so much as they were concerned with matters of life. One of the rules of their behavior specifically stated, "Honor life," and the Force, quoted as being that which "gives a Jedi his power" (ANH), is also quoted to be "an energy field created by all living things" (ANH). With the emphasis of their teaching being peace, harmony and serenity through the Force, one might even go so far as to say that the way of the Jedi is found in life, as opposed to the Samurai finding theirs in death.
Thus having read the Hagekure and studying the Jedi Code, I find my answer to the original question is no. One cannot learn the Jedi Path by studying the Way of the Samurai. Not only do they place great emphasis on the need to be ready to throw away one’s life emotionally, passionately, for irrational ideals such as impossible vengeance, they show disdain towards learning while one is still young, and praise only the readiness to fling one’s self at the enemy. The only peace and tranquility they found was in the knowledge that they were ready to die, and this is not a Jedi outlook.
Yet perhaps the Samurai themselves say it best, as to why one should not hope to find the Jedi Path by studying Samurai ideals:
"It is bad when one thing becomes two. One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. It is the same for anything that is called a Way. Therefore, it is inconsistent to hear something of the Way of Confucius or the Way of the Buddha, and say that it is the Way of the Samurai. If one understands things in this manner, he should be able to hear about all Ways and be more and more in tune with his own."
- Article by Jasta T'Kara