Do you know why the Japanese tea ceremony includes imperfect & mismatched cups and utensils? Well, it's because of their most influential philosophy of wabi-sabi which is all about finding beauty in imperfections.
Can broken be still beautiful? Let's dive into this concept to understand it more deeply.
I used to struggle with perfectionism. I would over-analyze every little detail in my outfit, my makeup, and the way I talked. I wanted everything to look perfect. But in pursuit of perfection, I had caged myself.
I didn't realise that perfectionism was a barrier stopping me from saying what I wanted to say in my class, from starting my writing project, dancing on those beats, and wearing what I loved. While learning the Japanese language, I learned the concept of Wabi-Sabi.
It was an unusual but interesting concept for me. And, this is helping me navigate my ways in an imperfect world now.
" There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in "
-Leonard Coren
What is Wabi-Sabi?
In Japanese, Wabi means simplicity, flaws, impermanence, and Sabi refers to the effect of time on objects. Wabi-Sabi embraces the idea of appreciating ageing, flaws, imperfections. In other words, it thrives for simplicity and the truest form of an object. It seeks comfort in purity. Wabi-Sabi can transform the common perception of what beauty and aesthetics are.
Wabi-Sabi In Real Life
You can experience this intriguing concept through the arts of Urushi, tea ceremony, pottery, and ikebana(flower arrangement). Japanese pottery reflects the idea of accepting flaws. Kintsugi or gold knitting is a technique of intentionally breaking the pottery and put it back together by filling the cracks with either golden or silver lining. It delivers a unique piece of pottery, which is made beautiful by its imperfections.
Interesting, right?
Sometimes, life breaks us to teach us valuable lessons and makes us stronger. I believe Kintsugi to be the same.
It's Origin
Sen Rikyuu, a tea ceremony master popularised the concept of Wabi-Sabi during the Warring States period in Japan. It was one of the bloodiest times in their history as the wars between Samurai were too common. The idea of Wabi-Sabi spread because people found solace and peace of mind in accepting flaws and imperfections.
It helped them to separate from the materialistic world. People slowly started to embrace the raw beauty of nature. It is difficult to grasp the actual meaning of Wabi-Sabi initially. It reminds us to be okay with our imperfections and to accept the natural course of life.
Buddhism and Japanese School of Thoughts
"Those who know don't say: those who say don't know" - This is the reason why this concept isn't so well known. Wabi-Sabi is deeply influenced by three core aspects of Buddhism: impermanence, suffering, and emptiness.
Impermanence sheds light on how one can find beauty in death or the end of something. Suffering generally focuses on adversity and how we fail in our plans. We emerge from our trials of errors with scars.
The emptiness within ourselves shifts our focus from the materialistic world to nature and surroundings.
To truly understand the concept of Wabi-Sabi, one requires an ample amount of time, dedicated curiosity, and a never-ending desire to learn.
Lessons I have learned from Wabi-Sabi:
Remain true to yourself: Nothing is more beautiful than knowing who you are and what you stand for. I used to suppress my opinions and let other people take control. I have adopted a worldview that is more forgiving to my scars, flaws, regrets.
Live in the present moment: I used to sit and plan every little thing in my life and, that pressure to excel every time used to snatch my valuable time. I still plan things while cherishing my present moments.
Slow down a bit to notice the little things: By little things, I mean take a moment to express your gratitude to old friends, enjoy a cup of tea with your family. It might seem very trivial, but trust me these little things add so much value in our lives.
Express gratitude for everything: I have now started to pray for people responsible for the food on my table. It brings so much peace and positivity to my mind.
Appreciate what you already have in your life: Something isn't beautiful because it's not perfect. Wabi-Sabi says beauty is embedded in its existence.
Respect the natural course of life: I now feel the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them. Because making mistakes is natural. We get better slowly. There's a fixed course for everything that is unavoidable.
Accept the ageing process: It is natural to grow old and is a sign of maturity. I now steal moments from my hectic schedule to talk to myself. It makes me happy and sane too!
While our universe destructs, it also constructs. We all start from dirt and as soon as we enter into this world, we are in the process of returning to the soil. Wabi-Sabi is present in things that are uneven, asymmetrical, incomplete, rough.
In a society that idolises perfectionism, we all strive for a picture-perfect life. We have accepted the world view of constantly judging each other to see if we are better or worse than them. The desire to overachieve and to reach that level of excellence sounds interesting. But the weights of unattainable expectations drag us down into the seas of sadness.
Behind the great wall of perfectionism, there is a pressure of not making any mistakes. But you can break dependence on materialism when you adopt the mindset of slowing down and noticing things the way they are. Wabi-Sabi gifts you with a more intentional and mindful life.
Wabi-Sabi gifted me calmness and serenity. I no longer tend to run after perfectionism. I relish the beauty of imperfections while living to the fullest.
I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to comment down below or connect with me on Instagram.
See you next week.
Take care!
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