Wabi Sabi | The Perfect Imperfection
Wabi Sabi | The Perfect Imperfection
Wabi Sabi is an elegant philosophy that denotes a more connected way of living. A lifestyle, where we are deeply connected to nature & originality, and thus, better connected to our truest inner-selves. With this article delight, we try to nderstand the meaning of wabi sabi and how to incorporate it in our lifestyle.
What is Wabi Sabi?
‘Wabi’ expresses the part of simplicity, impermanence, flaws, and imperfection. On the contrary, ‘Sabi’ displays and expresses the effect that time has on a substance or any object. Together ‘wabi-sabi’ embraces the idea of aesthetic appreciation of aging, flaws, and the beauty of the effects of time and imperfections. The two separate parts when put together, express an escape from the modern world’s obsession with perfection and accepts imperfections as all the more meaningful – and, in their own way, beautiful.
With this ancient Japanese concept you realize that nothing is permanent, even fixed objects are subject to change and taint. A great example of Wabi-sabi in creativity is the art of Kintsugi( know more about the art here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi ), where cracked pottery is filled with gold-dusted lacquer as a way to showcase the beauty of its age and damage rather than hiding it. This art highlights and praises the faults instead of hiding them.
If everything in nature is always changing, then nothing can ever be absolutely complete. And since perfection is a state of completeness, then nothing can ever be perfect. Hence, the wabi-sabi philosophy teaches us that all things, including us and life itself, are impermanent, incomplete, and imperfect.
Where Does Wabi Sabi Come From? | A Little History Behind Wabi Sabi | HOW DOES WABI-SABI RELATE TO JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY?
In the 16th century, a significant shift happened in the world of Japanese tea ceremony. Before this era, the tea ceremony was about lavish and luxury. Tea ceremony masters chose to change these ideals, in turn prizing items that had a used and rugged appearance. Finding beauty in rustic simplicity ! This change in belief is deeply tied into the concept of wabi-sabi that is still valued in Japanese ceremony to this day.
Instead of using abundant and luxurious decorations people started looking towards plain looking things found in nature. No more grand bouquets crowding the room. Instead, a simple ikebana arrangement consisting of one or two seasonal flowers is found. The teaware doesn’t boast bright colors but instead somewhat basic and faded colors found in nature: browns, greens, and grey.
The teaware isn’t perfectly sculpted and symmetrical. Instead, it is rugged, rough to the touch, sometimes chipped and repaired. The potter often deliberately makes the tea bowls this way, highlighting the perfection of imperfection.
Nowadays, the most prestigious tea ceremonies are still carried out with teacups that are several hundred years old and antique utensils. In Japanese pottery, cups are often distorted and irregular because each object must be unique to have its own charm. The imperfect beauty of wabi sabi is found in many other Japanese art forms. You can see this very clearly in popular styles of Japanese teaware, such as Raku Pottery.
Wabi Sabi in Daily Life | Accepting The Elusive Beauty of Imperfection
You don’t need to be an expert on Japanese philosophy, live in seclusion like a Buddhist monk or have a big budget to adopt Wabi-sabi principles in your home. There is no ‘wrong’ way to go about it. You simply need to shift your perspective from one of chasing for perfection to one of appreciating.
As a sensitivity that can therefore lead to happiness, or to an acceptance of the beauty of simple and natural things, wabi sabi philosophy is applicable every day. It is a daily way to experience little joys. When admiring a landscape, an object, or a painting, during a conversation with friends or when sharing a moment with a good company, everyone can feel the notion of wabi sabi. Today, this notion deserves to be given more emphasis since it encourages a return to humble and unpretentious values.
Is it difficult to adopt wabi-sabi ?
Strive not for perfection, but for excellence instead.
In order to eliminate this negative stigma around imperfection, we first need to completely reject it as being “the opposite” of that fictional construct that is perfection. We need to write a new narrative that reads: Imperfection is not a compromise; imperfection is the only way because imperfection is the true nature of things. Perfectionism, however, is an impossibly high standard. With no room for imperfections and no compassion for mistakes. Having impossibly high standards adds stress to everything you do. So, you constantly feel like a failure, no matter how much you accomplish. When we strive for excellence, we feel satisfied with a job well done. We learn from our mistakes and dont let them define us. We enjoy the process, not just the outcome of our endeavors.
Simply do your best to be the best that you can be.
Final Takeaway | Wabi Sabi | The Perfect Imperfection
Wabi Sabi | The Perfect Imperfection is a beautiful way to acknowledge the beauty of any substance or being in its most natural and raw form. It eliminates the rather westernized concept of artificial beauty and idolizing a state of perfection that is seemingly unachievable . There’s a plethora of wisdom embedded within the very fabric of this age-old philosophy. Awareness of this philosophy helps you to step away from the freakish struggles of moving fast, striving for perfection, and chasing inorganic forms of success.
“Wabi-Sabi is a way of life that appreciates and accepts complexity while at the same time values simplicity. […] Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.” Richard Powell , Wabi-Sabi Simple.
Read also : 5 Tricks To Avoid Decision Fatigue ! ( https://thebrightdelights.com/5-tricks-to-avoid-decision-fatigue/ )