Going Japanese: Embracing Japanese Wisdom For A Better Life

secrets to a long life during his interview with journalist Judit Kawaguchi. Some of his guidelines for living are: ● Don’t retire. And if you must, retire much later than 65. ● Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot. ● Don’t be overweight. ● Take the stairs. ● Have fun. ● Having fun is the best way to forget about p

How can we master ichinen? Read on. ● Today one must be better than yesterday, and tomorrow better than today. Mastering a skill is a lifelong quest. To become better at what we do, we must be consistent and persevering in being better each day and in facing the struggles in our lives. ● A competent man, or one engrossed in a pursuit he enjoys, wil

Wabi-sabi differs from one individual to another but the common thing about wabi-sabi is that: ● It is a state of the heart. ● It lies in the nature of life itself. ● It is an acceptance and appreciation of the incompleteness and imperfections of our universe. ● It teaches perspective. ● It implies stillness. ● It is living in simplicity, slow and

As we get older, our interest changes. Our curiosity and ideas shift from one topic to another.

Appreciating Simplicity Wabi-sabi is made up of two separate words — wabi and sabi. Wabi: ● It is about finding beauty in simplicity and a spiritual richness and serenity in detaching from the material world. ● It implies stillness. ● It is a sense of contentment in the material world. ● It is a mindset that appreciates humility, simplicity, and ac

All that matters is having a single minded purpose (ichinen), in the here and now. Life is an ongoing succession of ‘one will’ at a time, each and every moment.

Most of us are doing the things we are told to do not because we want to do them. We do it because of social pressure from the internet, family and friends. Then, we become slaves to their expectations. It is tough to live a life when you don’t love what you’re doing.

The Four Principles of Cha-no-yu Tea master Sen No Rikyu left behind four tea principles that represent the spirit, foundation and philosophy of the tea ceremony. It is known as wa, kei, sei, and jaku or harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. ● Wa (harmony) — An ideal nature of interaction between the guest and the host or any people in life. H

During the pandemic, I’m sure that you must have tried out other things. You may suck at it during your first try but that’s okay. By taking the action and not being stagnant gives you energy because you are feeding your curiosity. Remember, not everyone has the will to act. Once you enter the state of flow, you become more alive and get in touch w