Jo Peters - The Art of Japanese Living

THE ART OF JAPANESE LIVING

Copyright Summersdale Publishers Ltd, 2019

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Text by Claire Berrisford

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INTRODUCTION

Japanese culture is known for its sincere and thoughtful approach to life. From small day-to-day routines to ancient traditions such as the tea ceremony, the Japanese way of living shows us that in every corner of the day there is room for a moment of mindfulness.

In a world thats constantly speeding up, there is much we can learn from the Japanese attitude to life. With its roots in Buddhist thinking, the culture has a lot to say about the positive power of gratitude; about the vital connection between nature and our well-being; and about the value of a calm and considered approach to the everyday.

You can find all these things and more inside this beautiful volume. Take a step into the meditative arts of bonsai , ikebana and origami, or try your hand at cooking some delicious Japanese dishes. Rediscover the restorative wonders of a hot bath, be inspired by the philosophy of the tea ceremony, or bring stillness to your heart with forest bathing. See the world through a new lens with wabi sabi , or discover value and beauty in imperfection with kintsugi .

Within these pages lie the secrets to everyday contentment and the key to living a rich, joyful and thoughtful life. There are many ways that we can be inspired by Japanese culture to find peace and happiness, and this book will show you how.

Ikigai

Finding what gives you a meaningful life

YOUR IKIGAI

We all want a sense of purpose in our lives something that makes us happy and makes our lives feel full; something that spurs us on to get out of bed in the morning. The Japanese have a word for this feeling of purpose: ikigai , which translates roughly as a reason for living. Its a core belief or feeling that characterizes who you are and whats most important to you, and many believe that finding and defining your ikigai the thing that makes you tick is the key to feeling fulfilled and happy.

Your ikigai is a current that runs through your whole life. However, although it sounds grand, the actions you take to pursue it often play out on the small-scale your ikigai will inform the simple transactions of day-today life. For instance, if your ikigai was to help other people, holding the door open for someone could be a small everyday way of pursuing what makes you feel happiest.

Your ikigai will be unique to you, because we all find happiness in different ways. You may find it through your work, or through a hobby. Your ikigai could be providing and caring for your family, or you could find it through creating beauty, by making laughter, or by spreading peace. You may even find that your ikigai changes as you go through life, because what brings you joy at 25 may be different to what fulfils you at 65.

Finding your ikigai is not something that happens overnight. Being able to boil your lifes purpose down to one sentence requires self-reflection and insight, and it means being completely in tune with yourself. Even if you have an approximate sense of what your ikigai might be, it can take years before you reach a conclusion.

You probably have a good idea of what you like and dont like doing, but your ikigai runs deeper than having a passion for something. For instance, you may be a keen gardener, but ask yourself why you love gardening. Why does it bring you joy and satisfaction? Is it because you like seeing the continual progress of the plants that you tend to? Is it because you want to cultivate beautiful things? Is it because you like to create order and structure? Once you have answered this question, think about it in terms of your life as a whole. Do you enjoy finding beauty, structure or progress in other areas of your life too? Once you start looking, it is likely that you will start to see patterns in your answers. This is the start of finding your ikigai .

WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ISNT

Primarily, your ikigai should be something that brings you joy and leaves you feeling fulfilled rather than drained. Even if your ikigai is related to making others happy, it should also make you happy; it wont be something you do out of a sense of obligation.

Your ikigai will usually help you connect to the people around you, as its often about what you can give to the world rather than what you can take. For instance, a writers work will be read and discussed, an artists work will be viewed and a volunteers time will help another person. An ikigai will also be active not passive. Its something that you deliberately pursue for the specific purpose of bringing you joy, even if its as simple as going for a walk, reading a book or talking to a friend.

Your ikigai is often related to things you can see growing and developing, whether youre working on a project, improving a skill or watching a child growing up. This is also why an ikigai will not be a specific goal. Your ikigai is a defining part of your self that will always be with you, so there is no finish line. However, it doesnt mean that your ikigai cant help you achieve your dreams. For instance, your ikigai would not be to publish a novel, but it could be sharing stories and connecting with others. In that case, publishing a novel might be something you do in the course of pursuing your purpose.

THE GIFTS OF IKIGAI

So why bother identifying your ikigai ? It takes so much time and effort why not just carry on through life doing the things you like to do and avoiding the things you dont? Because having a concrete grasp on what makes you you a definite sentence that defines who you are and what your purpose is is empowering.

Knowing your ikigai means that you have a deep understanding of yourself and what makes you feel your best. It means you know how to find happiness. It also gives you a sense of control, it helps you direct your life and it enables you to pinpoint what motivates you.