Ikigai and other Japanese words to live by

       

    You'll be familiar, I'm sure with the recent trend for gimmicky, more-style-than-substance books on concepts from other cultures. At first glance Mari Fujimoto's Ikigai and other Japanese words to live by* might seem to be part of that group, but in fact it's much more considered, reflective, informative and useful.

    Granted, it's a short book and it aligns itself with modish mindfulness and paying attention to the here and now, but there's more to it than a bitesize, buzzword-based borrowing designed to simplify Japanese philosophy for a western audience. 

    Mari Fujimoto is Director of Japanese Studies at Queens College, City University of New York, but her early life was spent in Japan and the beliefs and traditions of Shinto, "the indigenous spirituality of the Japanese people" were highly influential. Informed by animism, a profound respect for nature, a view of beauty which accepts and celebrates its inherent transience and imperfection, the cultural wisdom of the country incorporates concepts as valuable to all of us as they are novel to many, and here they are presented via brief definitions of over forty words, each one embodying a way of looking at life which can enrich and sustain.

    The book is illustrated by atmospheric black and white photographs by Michael Kenna, images of simplicity and stillness which complement the text perfectly. What I found less compelling were the so-called 'essay pieces' by David Buchler, vignettes which preface each of the seven sections; while they sit alongside haikus by the poet Matsuo Bashō, other readers may better appreciate them as "a frame for the words that follow".

    Those words themselves are grouped under headings such as 'harmony', 'gratitude', 'time' and 'respect', and range from shibui - beauty enriched by the passing of time, enryo - thoughtful hesitation, to kotodama - spiritual greeting, and zazen - a form of healing meditation "to refresh your sense of purpose, restoring the potential simplicity of existence". Altogether, and especially if read slowly and absorbed before moving on, they serve to bring our awareness to ourselves as part of a greater whole, and provide guidance, perhaps, for a more balanced way of being within that bigger picture.

 

*From which there's an extract here.

Comments

[Toffeeapple]

I like the sound of the book but knowing my capacity scattiness it might be a waste of money!

[Cornflower]

You're right - it's one thing to read and appreciate something useful or wise, another thing to remember to practise it!

[Dark Puss]

Intrigued by the potential simplicity of existence since to my mind existence is extraordinarily complex and not potentially simple in the slightest other than in the extreme reductionism of physicists perhaps. Which of the many very different cultural wisdoms available to us are the ones to practice? How did you decide on these from Japan.

[Cornflower]

A little more on zazen to, hopefully, clarify:
in the face of distractions, tumult, and confusion, the mind can be calmed by the practice which involves sitting "to ponder and to try to reach a state of egolessness ... to do this you should suspend all judgmental thinking, letting words, images, ideas and thoughts pass by and through you without getting caught up in their complications; focus instead on your body and your breath ..."
I can't speak to zazen specifically, but I have practised transcendental meditation twice daily for the last year, almost, and I have found it to be of enormous value in stilling and refreshing the mind and increasing resilience to cope with stress. I would strongly recommend it or something similar.
As to wisdom from other cultures, the trend - exemplified by the likes of hygge, lagom, even the Scottish coorie, lately - has been for something more superficial than this book represents, and it was the greater depth of the concepts presented here that drew me to it.

[Dark Puss]

Thank you! Peter x