The Wabi-Sabi Philosophy
Wabi-Sabi a world view centred on the acceptance oftransience and imperfection
Wabi-Sabi is an ancient Japanese philosophy based on Buddhist teachings. At its very simplest, it represents the aesthetic theory that everything is perfect not despite imperfections, but because of them.
Wabi-Sabi is very loosely translated as “wisdom in natural simplicity”. How this relates to us as human beings has many interesting and varied facets, and is widely dependent on the person being asked.
In dealing with what you perceive as your own imperfections, realize that they are just that – perceptions that may or may not be rooted in truth. We develop these perceptions from the moment we are born, by looking at how others react to us. But we are rarely taught to look inside ourselves to form our own opinions!
finding beauty in the imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.
It is so easy to be critical of ourselves, especially in today’s fast-paced, materialistic, perfectionist society. It is important to take time daily to remove yourself from that scenario in order to hone in on what is really important to you, personally. Introspection and self-awareness keep us rooted in what is truly real.
The Wabi-Sabi philosophy seeks to give innate value to all of those scars we have, both physical and emotional. It is the experiences that created these scars that make up who we are today and every day, and those experiences are to be celebrated, even if they hurt at the time we were going through them.
Wabi-sabi is a wonky home-grown carrot; a crack in a ceramic bowl; a well-thumbed book; falling cherry blossom; a worn wooden hallway and an elbow patch on your favourite jumper. It’s an appreciation of all that is simple, modest and imperfect.
In viewing ourselves more kindly, we can see that all the places we have experienced pain or challenge have built us up. It didn’t feel like it at the time, but those experiences have made us stronger, more resilient, and through them, we have learned to persevere.
In Wabi-Sabi, the “broken” person is stronger, more beautiful, and more perfect because of all these lessons.
One interesting way to view yourself within the Wabi-Sabi philosophy is to pinpoint something that you view as a flaw, and begin to think of ways you can try to view that flaw as a benefit instead. For instance, if you are critical of your large feet, instead view them as being able to carry you solidly wherever you go because of their size.
When an object is created in the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic, it is not created to be symmetrical, perfect, or free of imperfections. It is these imperfections, intended or happening by chance, that create the value of the object. It is the same with us as human beings!
“Get rid of all that is unnecessary. Wabi-sabi means treading lightly on the planet and knowing how to appreciate whatever is encountered, no matter how trifling, whenever it is encountered. […] In other words, wabi-sabi tells us to stop our preoccupation with success–wealth, status, power, and luxury–and enjoy the unencumbered life. Obviously, leading the simple wabi-sabi life requires some effort and will and also some tough decisions. Wabi-sabi acknowledges that just as it is important to know when to make choices, it is also important to know when not to make choices: to let things be. Even at the most austere level of material existence, we still live in a world of things. Wabi-sabi is exactly about the delicate balance between the pleasure we get from things and the pleasure we get from freedom of things.”
Leonard Koren
Authenticity is a big part of wabi-sabi, so cracks and imperfections are cherished for symbolising the passage of time and loving use. Embracing wabi-sabi in the home teaches us to be content with our current lot without constantly yearning for more. It’s the perfect antidote to a throwaway society built on disposable goods and mass-produced, homogeneous items.
Alan /|\
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