18 Dec Is happiness wabi-sabi?
I was recently made aware of this Japanese world view, wabi-sabi, which has inspired me to re-think my definition of happiness.
You can check out the Wikipedia description – HERE
But in brief, the definition of wabi-sabi includes…
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a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent and incomplete”. It is a concept derived from the Buddhist assertion of the Three marks of existence, specifically impermanence. Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity, simplicity, modesty, intimacy and the suggestion of natural processes.
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The words wabi and sabi do not translate easily. Wabi originally referred to the loneliness of living in nature, remote from society; sabi meant “chill”, “lean” or “withered”. Around the 14th century these meanings began to change, taking on more positive connotations. Wabi now connotes rustic simplicity, freshness or quietness, and can be applied to both natural and human-made objects, or understated elegance. It can also refer to quirks and anomalies arising from the process of construction, which add uniqueness and elegance to the object. Sabi is beauty or serenity that comes with age, when the life of the object and its impermanence are evidenced in its patina and wear, or in any visible repairs.
Again, I invite you to read the full entry HERE but more so, to reflect upon your own definition of happiness and especially how it might be influenced by culture, language and/or anything else such as religion and education.
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