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As mentioned in my previous article, where I explained the concept of Wabi-Sabi, this Japanese philosophy is about the beauty of imperfection. The origins of wabi-sabi lay in Zen Buddhism. The natural circle of life constantly embraces the beauty in imperfection.
It’s also about the beauty in humble simplicity, which by the way, is reflected in the art of ikebana – Ikebana (Japanese: 生け花, 活け花) which also translates as “arranging flowers” or “making flowers alive.”
Another word for it is kadō (華道, “way of flowers”). Those flower arrangements are surprising with their simplicity and nature-like arrangements alike.
While the wabi is all about beauty and simplicity, sabi translates more into the passage of time and recognizes the growth, aging, and decay of all things in the circle of life.
The circle of life is one of the most well-known elements of Japanese painting. This typical circle is called an ensō (円相, “circular form”). It is, according to Wikipedia, “a circle that is hand-drawn in one or two uninhibited brushstrokes to express a moment when the mind is free to let the body create.”
Japanese Wabi-Sabi Philosophy About the Attachment to Possessions
One crucial Zen teaching is
“Let go, or be dragged.”
Being attached to possessions creates more dependencies than you might imagine. On the one hand, in our world, money is always involved when buying something. After that, you must pay more on interest rates, upkeep, or follow-up costs like gas, electricity, etc.
The more you follow the Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy, the more you learn to let go of things you don’t need.
Currently, I am downsizing wherever possible. I reduced the number of shoes and clothing to a minimum of ten to fourteen pieces per kind. I also reduce the number of things I own and either throw them away, sell, or preferably give them out if they are still good for someone else to be used.
If you want to follow the wabi-sabi teachings, you should also stop judging things as “good” or “bad.” Everything you own, see, or feel has its unique actual value. Don’t let your ego get in your way, and stop comparing the things you hold to the possessions of others.
The idea is to not wish for things you can’t obtain – it’s more important to judge things by their usefulness and treat them kindly.
Learn to embrace the imperfection and the beauty in it and strive for excellence but not perfection
You for sure heard the quote or saying
Nobody is perfect
The wabi-sabi philosophy translates into “nothing is perfect,” as the whole school is based on the imperfection of everything. This teaching is embraced in many traditional Japanese art forms like Ikebana.
You can see this philosophy reflected in Japanese architecture and landscaping. While in the western world, reaching perfection was and still is the ultimate goal, in the Japanese culture, striving for excellence is the higher goal.
While many European architectural styles are based on geometry, the raw materials available in Japanese architecture, geography, climate, and even the course of natural disasters have more influence over the design. But this does not mean that architecture in Japanese based on Wayō, the Buddhist architectural style developed in Japan before the Kamakura period, is less appealing or involves no geometry at all – it does exist more subtly.
Take martial arts for another example. There are many forms where the ultimate goal is not a 100% well-trained and lean body but more about your mindset and perfection in applying techniques that you learned for many years, if not a lifetime.
Appreciate the Beauty of (Broken) Things – an ancient part of the Japanese Wabi-Sabi-Philosophy
Kintsugi (金継ぎ or “golden joinery”), or kintsukuroi (金繕い, “golden repair”), is the practice of fixing or mending broken pottery with gold filaments to preserve its natural and used beauty. Here is a sidenote or more warning for you if you are interested in buying kintsugi bowls or decor. Try not to fall for fake kintsugi bows like this one on Etsy. They are fake because the artist breaks cheap pottery on purpose, fills the cracks with gold, and sells it for a fortune compared to what it’s worth.
Kintsugi means literally “to join with gold.” When we live in a disposable society, kintsugi does have a special meaning to me. It embraces the natural wear and tear and makes you think about whether you should throw away a thing that seems to be broken.
Slow down and simplify your life so that you can feel the joy of what it means to be alive
Many of us are driven by “better, faster, more.” Technological advancement might be one of the reasons why society keeps pacing forward at such a high speed. I firmly believe that you also need some time to wind down so that you can feel the joy of what it means to be alive. The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi teaches us that not everything needs to be perfect to be good. And so do you.
When it comes to slowing down and simplifying your life, that translates into less work and more time for family and friends. Remember that you accomplish 80% of your tasks with 20% of your time based on the 80/20 rule.
If you incorporate this idea into your life, it can profoundly change your life. Your life will become less harsh and less challenging soon. So you may want to think about the following two ideas.
A good read to get to know more about the 80/20 rule is the book The 80/20 principle – Achieve more with Less by Richard Koch.
Remove instead of add
Our life tends to get more complex over time. Most of us forget that change should involve removing things and not adding additional items to our life. Sometimes it’s essential to throw out old stuff or let go of old habits. To be able to grow, you need to declutter sometimes.
My wife and I have always had the dream of living abroad. Now that there is a potential opportunity for us to move to the US within the next few years, we have already started getting rid of the non-essential things we own.
Even if you don’t have a goal like that, let me tell you that it’s liberating non the less.
Slow down instead of rush
Sun Tzu was a famous Chinese military general who wrote the book The Art of War around 544 BC. One of my favorite quotes is
He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not will be victorious.
This should teach us all to be patient sometimes when it’s necessary. Try to slow down your life, and don’t rush into new things before taking the time to evaluate and think about them. These times, we are all driven by speed, immediate progress, and performance.
I believe it is essential to spend quality time daily to rest and take a breath before you can grind again. You can become more present in the moment and be there for the people around you, whether it’s your family, friends, or coworkers.
Make sure that you don’t suffer from burnout! As managing director of an international marketing agency, I always tell my employees to take their time, get some rest, spend time outside during lunchtime and even take an hour off if needed. I don’t need to know about it. It’s more important for me that they feel well.
Be content with where you are and what you already have to be happy finally
This teaching of the Wabi-Sabi philosophy goes against all principles of my life. At least in some parts. I always strive to be on the move. Standstill is a pain for me. I constantly try to learn and adapt to my ever-changing surroundings. It is less about catching up. It’s more about thinking ahead.
Many people I’ve talked to are seeking happiness in the new. They are searching for the next big whatever. I seek happiness in what I already have, and so should you. It takes considerable stress out of your life and helps you stay happy and content.
There is the illusion that once you make it, once you attain your goals or reach your destination, you will get lasting happiness. That whole obsession to seek and find your happiness most likely blinded you to what happiness is: it’s just another emotion.
The same goes for unhappiness. It’s only an emotion. Still, both can be life-changing.
Value your time because nothing stays in this world forever
A few days ago, one of my last two cat’s died. Initially, we had five cats. Bonnie and Clyde, mom and dad of Jacky and Jilly, and Mogli, whom we adopted 12 years ago. Jilly was the last of his family who left us only a week ago during the night. So there is only Mogli left, and we will ensure to provide him with the best life for the rest of his time as we always did, as he’s a member of our family.
Seven years ago, my dad died suddenly and unexpectedly, so I know that nothing stays in this world forever. It’s the circle of life you have to embrace and accept. The concept of Wabi-Sabi does not mean that there should not be any grief involved.
My Iaido sensei once told me that his Japanese sensei still fought with a sword during WWII in Japan. He said when you enter a battle, you must be prepared and accept that you can die. No matter how short or long your life may be, the sooner you learn to live with it, the easier you will learn to cope with challenges and difficulties.
Nothing is as important as time with friends, family, acquaintances, and yourself. Value the time you have, learn to enjoy the little things, and don’t put a lot of emphasis on the big things. My highlight is going for a walk every single day. I am happy to walk, enjoy the forests and nature, be alive, breathe, hear, and see.
My final thoughts on the Japanese Wabi-Sabi Philosophy
The Japanese philosophy can help you lead a better life. It can teach you to stay in the moment, in the here and now of everything, and be more content and happy with how you are, where you are, and how you do. Free yourself from your judgment and the judgment of others. You are good the way you are.
