“Simplify. 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. Wabi-sabi tells us to enjoy the unencumbered life. Obviously, leading the simple wabi-sabi life requires some effort and some will, and also some tough decisions. We still live in a world of things. But wabi-sabi is about the delicate balance between the pleasure we get from things and the pleasure we get from freedom from things.”
There are many meaningful phenomena which contribute to the enjoyment of a truly rich and full human existence – spirituality, art, love – music, poetry, dance – visionary experience, wonder, joy – hope, faith, and even the mysterious world of dreams – all of which live comfortably outside the purview of the intellect. We must use different tools, then, different parts of our perception – different parts of our very being – if we wish to effectively address these factors and understand their true essence. It does not suffice to approach them with classical modes of science. We cannot adequately explain them with calculations or mathematics. Even the standard rules of logic and causality fall short in these high-minded endeavors. We must instead employ our intuition, our powers of attention and abstract thinking, and tap into our spiritual consciousness to properly experience, understand, and divine the value and meaning contained in these elements. And in doing so, the rewards are immense. We expand our minds. We enrich our spirits. We improve the quality of our lives greatly, in a multitude of ways that defy linear explanation, but which are undeniable in their beauty, depth, and value.
“The first mover, then, exists out of necessity, and insofar as it exists by necessity, its mode of being is good. The unmoved mover is perfectly beautiful, indivisible, and contemplating only the perfect contemplation: self-contemplation. And it is, in this sense, a first principle. On such a principle, then, depend the heavens and the world of nature.”
“Giddy grasshopper \ Take care \ Do not leap and crush \ These pearls of dewdrop.”
– Kobayashi Issa
Be gentle with yourself. Show yourself patience. Handle yourself with kindness. The human heart is deep and tender, and it ought to be surrounded by love, even immersed in it. Let us take care to do this for each other, every day. Let us also not forget to do this for ourselves. Being human is not easy. This journey is not for the faint of heart. Every day that you make it through – perhaps having endured some sadness, hopefully having experienced some joy – is a good day, worthy of celebration. Well done! Don’t rush forward. Take it slowly. Tomorrow is another day, another chance to wake up, to take a deep breath, and to engage again with the deep, beautiful mystery of the universe.