Ουάμπι σάμπι: Η ομορφιά της ατέλειας

by Nobuo Suzuki, Ειρήνη Σπερελάκη (Translator)

Η αρχαία φιλοσοφία του ουάμπι σάμπι, που στα ιαπωνικά σημαίνει «η ομορφιά της ατέλειας», είναι ένας αυθεντικός, προσωπικός και εναρμονισμένος με τη φύση τρόπος να φροντίσουμε τον εαυτό μας, να ανακτήσουμε την εσωτερική αρμονία και να εξελιχθούμε. Όπως ακριβώς ένα κύπελλο από πηλό δουλεμένο στο χέρι δείχνει τα ψεγάδια του και θεωρείται στην Ιαπωνία, ακόμη και ραγισμένο, πιο όμορφο και πολύτιμο από ένα τέλειο, συμμετρικό και ομοιόμορφο, η φιλοσοφία του ουάμπι σάμπι επικεντρώνεται σε τρία χαρακτηριστικά της φύσης:
• Τίποτα δεν είναι τέλειο (και καλύτερα έτσι).
• Τίποτα δεν είναι ολοκληρωμένο (πάντα εξελισσόμαστε).
• Τίποτα δεν είναι παντοτινό (η εφήμερη φύση των πραγμάτων και των ανθρώπων είναι αυτό που τους προσδίδει αξία).
Βασισμένο σ’ αυτές τις αρχές, το αποκαλυπτικό βιβλίο του Νομπούο Σουζούκι μάς δείχνει πώς μπορεί η σοφία του ουάμπι σάμπι να αλλάξει ριζικά τη ζωή μας σ’ όλους τους τομείς, κάνοντάς μας πιο ευαίσθητους απέναντι στην ομορφιά και πιο δημιουργικούς. Με άλλα λόγια, πιο ανθρώπινους και ευτυχισμένους.

«Το ουάμπι σάμπι είναι ένας αόρατος ιστός που διέπει την τέχνη της Ιαπωνίας, τον τρόπο ζωής της, την αρχιτεκτονική, την ιστορία, τη φιλοσοφία, τις θρησκείες της χώρας, την κοινωνία και τη νοοτροπία της. Η δυτική σκέψη, ειδικά στις μέρες μας, μας ωθεί να αναζητούμε την τελειότητα
στα πάντα, με την ελπίδα ότι αυτό θα μας οδηγήσει στην επιτυχία και στην ευτυχία. Στο βιβλίο του ο Νομπούο Σουζούκι μάς βοηθά να στοχαστούμε σε βάθος αυτή τη σφαλερή για την τέχνη της ζωής ιδέα. Τα λόγια του με βοήθησαν να ανακαλύψω ότι, κατ’ αρχάς, η τελειότητα δεν υπάρχει καν· είναι απλώς μια ψευδαίσθηση της ανθρώπινης φαντασίας (ίσως και των μαθηματικών)».
Από τον πρόλογο του Έκτορ Γκαρθία

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Self Help, Japan, Japanese Literature, Spirituality, Zen

200 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 2021

About the author

Author and philosopher, he studied Art and Literature in Europe before starting to write about creativity and personal development. He loves playing the piano, traveling around the world and living with cats.

Reviews

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Q:
It is said there was a monk in charge of the garden of a Zen monastery in Japan who had a peculiar habit. When sweeping the fall leaves from the stone path, he would let one leaf fall to the ground just before going back inside his house. (c)
Q:
... the Japanese spirit of wabi sabi, which regards things that resemble nature as beautiful, and which may be summed up with the following three principles:
1. Nothing is perfect.
2. Nothing is finished.
3. Nothing lasts forever. (c)
Q:
... in a wabi sabi life there are no mistakes. Life is imperfect by definition, so if I make a mistake, so be it!” (c)
Q:
If each person has their own truth and we cannot even be certain of the reality we believe ourselves to be living in, what sense is there in having certainties about how things are or how they should be? (c)
Q:
Give up on yourself. Begin taking action now, while being neurotic or imperfect, or a procrastinator, or unhealthy, or lazy, or any other label by which you inaccurately describe yourself. Go ahead and be the best imperfect person you can be and get started on those things you want to accomplish before you die. (c)
Q:
“In all things, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete… gives one the feeling that through this imperfection the life of living things is extended.”
...
Leaving something incomplete makes life interesting. It is said that even when building the imperial palace, some corner is always left unfinished. And in the writings of the old spiritual masters, there are always chapters and parts missing. (c) Tsurezuregusa by Yoshida Kenkō
Q:
Kintsugi (gold joinery) is a slow and mindful process, involving many steps and a lot of waiting before moving from one step to the next. The gold highlights and celebrates the break that leads to the repair, as well as the repair itself. The repair, performed with love and care, creates something new out of what which was broken, something even more precious than the original. (c)

[T O À N P H A N · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hạnh phúc là thực tế mà chúng ta sống trừ đi những gì chúng ta khao khát và hy vọng đạt được."
•
Biết đủ là hạnh phúc. Wabi sabi (ngày xưa khi lần đầu bập vào khái niệm này, tui hay đọc là wasabi 🙄) không quá khó để thực hành. Triết lý này rất đơn giản, hãy tối giản mọi thứ, từ đồ vật đến tâm trí, cố gắng đừng để bản thân bị vướng bận bởi tiêu dùng vô lối và những người phiền nhiễu. Cứ thả lỏng, chấp nhận cuộc đời như một nhành cây, lá xanh rồi sẽ vàng, dẹp bớt kỳ vọng, bình thản mà sống.
•
Sách mỏng, nhưng khái quát đầy đủ, dễ hiểu, dễ làm. Bản thân tui đang hướng mình vào lối sống tối giản, nhưng đôi lúc hay bị chệch choạc, ngoài những phương pháp, tui còn cần một mớ động lực, cuốn sách này đã thảy cho tui cái mớ động lực đó. Tâm trí thoải mái, vạn sự hanh thông.
•
Nói chung là, đừng suy nghĩ nhiều. Biết đủ là được. Vậy nghen.

[Yuen Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book full of great quotes, with quick intro to many great concepts apart from wabi saving - kintsugi, naturalism, ichigo ichie, danshari and Zen.
Beautiful book, can do with more depth.

“Accepting our imperfections is not an excuse for sliding into conformism and standing still. We must take a step forward each day to be the best imperfect person we can be.”

“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places - Hemingway”

“Wabi sabi - reality is neither uniquely joyful nor sad, but include both emotions at once.”

[Viki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! It's the type of self-help book I like—the kind that teaches you something new while also making you pause and think.

The concept of Wabi Sabi is fascinating, and I would love to learn more about it.
The structure of the book was well thought out, featuring meditation prompts and beautiful pictures, both in color and black and white.

This book made me realize that sometimes I create my own stress and anxiety by striving for something that doesn't exist: perfection. It helped me see that there were many times in my life when I felt everything was going wrong because I had imagined a "perfect" path that didn't unfold as I expected. Later, I would often realize that things actually worked out for the best, and I didn't need to worry so much that I couldn't sleep or think.

If you like self help books, I highly recommend this one!

Here are some quotes that I loved:

"Perfection does not even exist to begin with; it is only in the realm of our human imagination" 🌸💭

"Why should we worry about the future or present if nothing will be the same tomorrow as it was yesterday?" ⌛️

"I secretly wish for the day to come when everything in my life is stable and perfect. On the other hand, I also know that this paradisiacal state will never come, since the only constant in life is change" ✨

[Lefteris Knt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Όσο όμορφο είναι το εξώφυλλο άλλο τόσο όμορφο είναι και το περιεχόμενο! Με απλά λόγια αποκτά αξία η ομορφιά της ατέλειας! Ας ζήσουμε τη στιγμή και ας μην βάζουμε εμπόδια στη πραγματική μας ευτυχία η οποία εμπεριέχει τις ατέλειες της!

[Ayon Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised that this book has just 100 ratings because it's a fantastic intro to this sort of Eastern philosophy! It doesn't go super deep into the various aspects of Wabi Sabi and Zen Buddhism, but that was never its aim (in fact, it explicitly says so right in the foreword). But still, there is enough substance in here (especially for a novice like me) that I know I'll be coming back to this book time and time again.

If I had to describe this book in terms of the main emotion I felt while reading it, tranquility immediately comes to mind. The words felt gentle and calm, which is generally the opposite feeling I get with most self-help books that urge you to grab life by the horns and be as productive as you can be. This is sort of the opposite, in a very good way. Wabi sabi is about accepting and finding beauty in transience, natural simplicities, and imperfection, and this book leisurely takes you through this idea and how it can be implemented in your art, your work, your home and your life.

Nobuo Suzuki judiciously employs enjoyable and thought-provoking anecdotes, legends, and hypothetical situations to help you consider why incorporating wabi sabi into your life would be a positive thing. Two of my favorites include: the monk who sweeps the garden in front of the monastery but then purposefully knocks one autumn leaf off a branch onto the otherwise immaculate path, cheerfully accepting that the inevitably of that happening anyway; and, the situation where you get a new car and mindfully and peacefully accept that soon enough, whether it happens the next day or the next year, it will get scratched and dented (and that's OK!).

Honestly, I'm having a hard time finding the right words to describe why I liked this book so much. I think many of ideas in this book - that maximizing productivity isn't the meaning of life, that it's absolutely fine to feel satisfied doing nothing sometimes, that imperfections are OK, that a chipped mug isn't worth less, that a worn-out book is likely more loved than brand-new one, that stories and projects don't ever truly finish, you just choose to finish working on them so you can move onto other things - are thoughts I've kept in the back of my mind for a long time, and reading this book has made me more consciously aware of them.

As I wrote above, I will definitely be coming back to this book in the future, and I think I have just begun walking the long (never-ending) road to understanding more of this sort of philosophy. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those who sometimes feel helplessly caught in the rat race of fast-paced modern life, where we are told that the correct way to live and succeed is to keep trying to get the better job, the better house, the better whatever.

I'll close this by listing the 3 main tenets of wabi sabi, which I hope to mindfully incorporate into the philosophy of the rest of my life:

Nothing is perfect.
Nothing is finished.
Nothing lasts forever.

[Richa Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wabi Sabi: The Wisdom in Imperfection by Nobuo Suzuki, is a book on the Japanese Zen Philosophy that everything is imperfect, impermanent and ever changing. The book guides us through Wabi Sabi in art, history and how this philosophy will affect our life. Wabi Sabi doesn't conform to adding but following a more minimising lifestyle that's freeing and fruitful.

The book is a perfect beginning to the Japanese Zen Philosophy, the author himself accepts that Wabi Sabi cannot be defined, it is a journey. With many sections based on the Wabi Sabi philosophy and the author's personal accounts, this book reads like a dream, a soothing dream. It's a fast read with various quotable lines, adding to it is the meditations that will keep you motivated and curious.

[Surattikorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

เป็นหนังสือที่จะอ่านง่าย ๆ สบาย ๆ อ่านไปเรื่อย ๆ ก็ได้

หรือจะอ่านช้า ๆ พยายามคิดตาม ทำความเข้าใจ ก็จะกลายเป็นหนังสือที่อ่านยากขึ้นมา
เพราะหลายอย่างมันขัดแย้งกับความคิด ความเชื่อ ค่านิยมของคนทั่วไป

โดยความเข้าใจหลังจากอ่านจบ
วะบิ ซะบิ มีหลัก 3 เรื่อง
1. ไม่มีสิ่งใดสมบูรณ์แบบ
2. ไม่มีสิ่งใดเสร็จสมบูรณ์
3. ไม่มีสิ่งใดคงอยู่ตลอดไป

โดยส่วนตัว อ่านแล้วรู้สึกดี รู้สึกสบายใจ ปล่อยวาง
รู้สึกว่าแนวคิดของ วะบิ ซะบิ เป็นแนวคิดที่ ชีวิตเบาสบาย

[Rithun Regi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why chase perfection when there is beauty, wisdom and a sense of naturalness in imperfection. This is a very good book with a lot of nuggets of wisdom. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.

[Yamaguchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those rare books that manage to make me feel more calm and peaceful just by reading them.

[Roya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
1- کتابایی که با جودی می‌خونم رو یه‌جورِ دیگه‌ای دوست دارم و یه‌جورِ دیگه‌ای تو ذهنم می‌مونن. راستش اینکه من رو قابل می‌دونه که یه کتاب رو باهام بخونه خیلی منو ذوق‌زده میکنه. اینکه بدونم اون راجع به این فصل از کتاب چه فکری میکنه، اون کدوم قسمت رو بیشتر دوست داره، به بهونه کتاب باهاش صحبت کنم و چیزایی که راجع به کتاب پیدا کردم رو باهاش شِر کنم رو واقعا دوست دارم.💜

2- یکی از دلایلی که این کتاب رو دوست داشتم، این بود که با کلمات�� از یه زبانِ غریب آشنا میشدم که توی زبانِ دیگه‌ای (و یا حداقل توی فارسی) معادل نداره و یک مفهومِ عمیق رو می‌رسونه. اینکه یه کلمه توی فرهنگ و طرز فکر مردم یک کشور ریشه داره و خاصِ زبان خودشونه و نه تنها ترجمه‌ای به زبان دیگه‌ نداره بلکه برای درک معناش باید با اصول و تفکر مردم اون کشور آشنایی داشته باشی، برام بی‌نهایت زیباست.

3- وابی سابی از این جهت خیلی زیباست که مثل کتاب‌های دیگه راه حلی برای بهترین و کامل‌ترین و بی‌نقص‌ترین انسان بودن نمیده! بلکه می‌خواد بگه هیچکس کامل نیست و اتفاقا همین نقص‌هامونه که ما رو محشر میکنه😌 هیچ چیز پایدار نیست و همه‌چیز بالاخره یه روز تموم میشه پس غصه‌شو نخور و این رو جزو طبیعتِ دنیا بدون.

4- من قبل از خوندنِ این کتاب، شیفته‌ی تمامِ ویرانگی‌ها، نقص‌ها، آوارها، دَرز و تَرَک‌ها، چین و چروک‌ها، پوسیدگی‌ها، رنگ و رو رفتگی‌ها، بخیه‌ها، زخم‌ها، شکستگی‌ها، وصله و پینه‌ها‌‌‌‌.... بودم و همچنان هم هستم🥹
انگار مثلِ آهن‌ربا منو سمتِ خودشون می‌کشونن. یجور شکوه و اصالت و اُبهتِ بی‌اندازه‌ای دارن.
زیباترین خونه‌ها برام، خونه‌های خشتیِ نم‌دار و ترک‌خورده‌ست. چینی‌های گل‌سرخی بند زده شده رو به کریستال ترجیح میدم و عاشقِ زبری دستِ آدمام.
و خوندنِ این کتاب باعث شد عشقم به تک‌تک نقص‌های دنیا شونصد برابر بشه😍💙

5- چیزی که از همون اول دوست داشتم با خوندن کتاب بیشتر بهش باور کنم، اصل عدم قطعیت بود. یجوریه که آدم میدونه و تاییدش میکنه ولی حقیقتا بهش باور نداره!
یعنی هیچکس انکارش نمیکنه و مدام هم تکرار می‌کنیم که چیزی موندگار نیست ولی پاش که برسه، می‌بینیم قلبا بهش باور نداریم، چون انتظار داریم چیزای خوب همیشه پایدار باشن ولی کتاب میگه که: "نکته خوب درباره عدم قطعیت این است که همه‌چیز ممکن است. همین که بپذیرید هیچ چیز در کنترل شما نیست و نیز اینکه جهان تغییر می‌کند و بر پایه سناریویی اسرارآمیز تحول می‌یابد، دست از نگرانی می‌کشید و از این ماجراجویی لذت می‌برید."

6- برای منی که هر لحظه آماده‌ی رها کردن و دورانداختنم، کتابِ وسوسه‌انگیزی بود!😂
هر روز دوست داشتم وسایل‌مو که هیچ نیازی هم بهشون ندارم بریزم دور و به یه روستای کوچیک اون سرِ دنیا فرار کنم، هر روز مراقبه کنم، توی ظروف چوبی غذاهای سالم بخورم، با تکنولوژی قهر کنم، غروبا روی تپه یوگا کنم و ....
(در صورتیکه کتاب فقط میگفت از هیاهو و مشغله دوری کنید و زمانی رو برای آرامش خودتون در نظر بگیرین)

7- چند کتابِ مختلف با عنوان "وابی سابی" نوشته شده که ما کتابِ "نوبو سوزوکی" رو از نشر سنگ خوندیم.

8- به طور کلی، کتابِ کوتاهیه که بهتون آرامش تزریق و حالِ خوبی القا میکنه. از خوندنش لذت ببرین :)))))

[Hanin Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

يعرض الكاتب كيف يمكن للجمال أن يكون في الأشياء غير الكاملة، في التفاصيل البسيطة، وفي مرور الزمن نفسه. ويمنح القارئ طريقة جديدة للنظر إلى العيوب—not as flaws but as part of the story.

أجمل ما في الكتاب أنه يدفعك للبطء، للهدوء، وللرضا عن الإيقاع الطبيعي للحياة. ستجد نفسك تفكر في بيتك، في روتينك، وفي مشاعرك بنظرة أكثر تسامحًا وعمقًا.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Học cách yêu những điều không hoàn hảo
Học cách chấp nhận và sống giản đơn

[Les mots d'Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

« Au lieu de nous attrister, accepter que rien ne dure toujours nous pousse à apprécier la beauté de l'instant, qui est la seule chose que nous pouvons capturer ici et maintenant. »

Un de ces livres qui m'a fait énormément de bien.

Je vous explique.

Rien n'est parfait.
Rien n'est achevé.
Rien ne dure toujours.

Ce sont les trois principes qui régissent la philosophie japonaise du Wabi-Sabi (et pas le wasabi).
Fortement inspiré de la nature et son esthétique, ce mouvement de pensée nous invite à vivre pleinement l'instant présent, et à l'accepter dans toute son imperfection. Voire, même, à magnifier ses défauts, nos défauts, car ils sont ce qui nous différencie et nous forge.

Nos imperfections nous constituent autant que nos qualités. Et il serait dommage de les camoufler. Elles font partie de nous. Nous sommes la somme de nos imperfections, sans elles, nous n'existons pas. Alors, abordons les avec bienveillance et faisons leur une place au lieu de vouloir les enterrer.

La lecture de ce bouquin a été un véritable délice. Vraiment. En plus de nous délivrer des conseils pour mieux vivre avec les imperfections de nos mondes intérieur et extérieur, il est vraiment très bien écrit / traduit et fourmille d'exemples artistiques et culturels qui ont trouvé une jolie résonance dans mon pitit être

En bref, inspirant, apaisant, beau. Pour nous rappeler que la vie est parfaitement imparfaite. Et que c'est OK.

Je vous le conseille fortement 🤍

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic was not new to me, but this approach helped me to better understand some details and nuances, which were not clear to me before. The fact of trying to be imperfect, however, has been clear to me for some time.

L'argomento non mi era nuovo, ma questo approccio mi é servito per comprendere meglio alcuni dettagli e sfumature, che prima non mi erano chiare. Il fatto di cercare di essere imperfetta, invece, mi é chiaro da tempo.

THANKS EDELWEISS FOR THE PREVIEWS !

[Pauline Fireheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

My healing book !

I took my sweet time reading this book just after closing it for the first time. I read a chapter every morning just after waking up and let the philosophy it teaches become a mindset to have in my day to day life.

[Hawraki · Rating 5 out of 5]

هذا الكتاب بسيط، ومباشر وغير معقد. يشرح فلسفة وابي سابي بشكل متكامل، ويتطرق إلى كيفية تطبيقها في الحياة. يحمل بين طياته الكثير من العمق والاقتباسات التي تستوقفك وتهزك من الداخل.

مُتعة الحياة في عبورها..

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will re-read this book again. It is a very valuable book.

[Marc ZEIMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Westerner, what to expect from reading a book on this core Japanese philosophy, Wabi Sabi, in addition, largely influenced by Zen-Buddhism, where its focus is put on the wisdom in imperfection? The reader may need to perform a paradigm shift in her brain and mindset to follow the teachings.
And this is probably the first and most important requirement: be open-minded to the explanations provided by the author, Nobuo Suzuki.
Not everything is so easily understandable at the first read, and this has nothing to do with the amazing texts presented in this publication. It is rather more related to the challenge of letting all those new ideas and views, at times quite opposed to Western thinking, enter one’s mind and be appreciated for what they present as a world view, a way of looking at the world and more importantly at life, its value, its sense, the handling of it as we live from day to day, every single moment.
The Western thinking-driven permanent search for perfection may be less the option to find inner peace, as frustration is inevitable in front of attempting to reach the higher ideal of flawless and ultimate perfection.
In this way, the Wabi Sabi concept makes all its sense. It is worth a thought and reflection, and for some who want to mediate further on a new way of life and thinking, this book is a great starting point.
Carefully worded, in an appealing at times poetic prose, illustrated with photos from nature, art and architecture, it guides around the Wabi-Sabi occurrences and implementations that can be observed and contemplated in everyday life.
At the end of the book, there is also a part dedicated to a set of self-help instructions for anyone who would like to train herself in the Wabi-Sabi lifestyle.
A challenging read for people who seek to enter the realm of Wabi-Sabi philosophy, but then for sure - enlightening, enriching, not least opening the door to a new world of ideas, helping to see the world and our life in a different way.

[Sreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this inspiring book while traveling on a train, and since then, it has become a constant source of inspiration in my life, reminding me to appreciate the beauty in the flawed and to find contentment in the present moment.

This book offers a fresh perspective on how to embrace life's flaws and find serenity in the midst of chaos. It reminds us to appreciate the simplicity and authenticity that lie within every moment. "Wabi Sabi" is a gentle reminder to find joy in imperfection and discover the profound wisdom it holds.

"In embracing the imperfect, we find the true essence of beauty."❤️

[daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really lovely book which provides a stillness in our modern hustle. a reminder to be present, to be forgiving on our own imperfections and that there is so much joy found in nothing but also everything all at once.

i loved the meditations, images, and quotes throughout the book. these additions really helped to practice the concepts of wabi sabi and too acknowledge its presence in all areas of life.

[Lívia Hlavačková · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful but slightly annoying

There were many thoughts that I liked, that gave me insight to life and beauty. On the other hand, I found the style of writing somewhat annoying as the book seemed to be preaching about the right way to live and a wrong way to live with whatbthe author understood as wabi-sabi being the only right way to live.

[Madalina Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read so far. It taught me a lot of valuable lessons regarding the beauty of imperfections, vulnerability, resilience and ceasing the moment. Highly recommend! 💖

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading. There's really something with the way Japanese perceive life and maneuver it in a calm, fulfilling way.

[chachachoco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches you to embrace the imperfection of life and see the beauty of it.

[Satangan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Source: Hoopla Digital (Free)
Content: Ebook
Length: 192 pages
Written: Nobuo Suzuki
Published: Tuttle Publishing
Year: 2021

I was looking for some positivity reading and brain thinking. I kind of needed something to make me feel better and back on track. I browsed and found this ebook. I though I should read more like this and gave it a read.

Tba more……

[Kes Kanlaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a reminder that nothing is perfect and we need to learn to appreciate imperfections.

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

**this is more of a journal entry than a review

I moved to Korea 3 months ago. Even before I moved to Korea, I had this issue with beating myself up over being shitty at anything I put time and dedication to. This usually manifested in frustration at playing piano and climbing. Both things that don't even really matter!

I was rarely frustrated at my academic performance because while I may not be the most intelligent, I'm quite proficient at standardized learning. In school, I constantly had set goals to achieve and it was either I did it or I didn't.

In my hobbies like piano and climbing, you're never done improving. There's always something you can do better and this pursuit of perfection really tore me down. I see it happening now with learning Korean. I'm in this impossible quest for perfection.

Now, I've recognized this as an issue for a while now. Recently, because I have a lot of time alone with my thoughts, I've come up with some valid solutions.

1. I need to move my goal post. Acting with intention is good, but sometimes my intentions were blatantly unrealistic and disheartening. Yes strive to improve but do so in moderation and differentiate progress and perfection.
2. My actions and achievements do not give me value as a person. I'm still trying to figure out who I am, but I need to be aware that my skill in piano, climbing, school, work, etc. are do not increase or decrease my worth as a person.
3. Just show up. Life is life. I always tell people "why do something because you're good at it?" And I need to apply that to my life. If I want to improve, sometimes just showing up is enough. Do not dwell on progress or lack thereof when it gives you stress.

Now, moving on to the actual book. This was very lovely. This simplicity is a great mindset. Some themes that stuck out to me in no particular order:

1. "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." - William Morris
2. There is such beauty in the natural world and that beauty comes from imperfection. While a computer can play a piano piece the same way perfectly each time, part of the piece's allure is the musician's interpretation on that specific play-through.
3. Balance is everything. Where there is happiness there is sadness and where there is spring there is fall. Neither is bad as they both need each other to exist. They simply are.
4. There is no should have or could have there simply is and that is what is so great.
5. Existing is enough. You have nothing to prove.
6. Life is transient and the only sure thing in life is change. Accepting that change and that you are not in control opens you up to really appreciating how special and unique each moment in life is. Striving for permanence or perfection is what causes disharmony
7. Similar to how nothing is perfect, nothing is complete. We will always be learning and there is always something we can do better and that is okay. We are doing the best we can given our circumstances and that can be utterly beautiful.
8. Happiness = Reality - Expectations

How will I apply this to my life? Well I just listed 8 pretty non-specific life ideals and to be honest, I get overwhelmed with lists or aspirations that are too large. So to simplify it more:

1. Get away from the phone.
Stop taking my phone to the bathroom every time I need to shit. Try not to check my phone for the first and last hour of being awake.
2. Journal and reflect more. 2 things to be grateful for, 1 thing that gave me energy, 1 thing that took away energy.
I'm not a big fan of big tasks so I need to make this simple:: I have this tiny little notepad so I'll start writing in it and stick it on my wall.
3. Just show up and just accept.
I don't need to prove anything to anyone. I study Korean, read, go climbing, and play piano for my own enjoyment thus making mistakes will be inevitable and okay. Don't be too harsh on yourself Lannie. Just stick with your current goals (you know them)
4. Spend your TIME and your ATTENTION wisely
This will be the hardest. Since elementary school, I've used books or stories as a sense of escapism which is fine! But it's gotten to the point where I'm desperate for cute little love stories and I don't just sit with my thoughts because I have to be entertained.
But, boredom is good and everything must be in moderation so Lannie there's no specific SMART goals for this but just put more conscious effort into what you give attention and time to.

[The Adaptable Educator · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Elegy to Transience: The Poetics of Wabi-Sabi in Contemporary Life

Nobuo Suzuki’s Wabi Sabi: The Wisdom in Imperfection offers a contemplative and deeply felt meditation on the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi—a worldview that finds beauty in imperfection, transience, and the unfinished. More than a cultural or artistic study, Suzuki’s work is a philosophical reflection, a poetic invitation to embrace impermanence in both the material and metaphysical dimensions of life.

Suzuki’s prose is elegant yet restrained, much like the aesthetic he describes. He does not impose wabi-sabi upon the reader but rather allows its essence to emerge organically through quiet observation and thoughtful analysis. This approach mirrors the way wabi-sabi itself manifests: subtly, almost imperceptibly, in the patina of an old wooden floor, the asymmetry of a handmade bowl, or the melancholy of a fading autumn leaf.

Structure and Thematic Resonance
Rather than adhering to a rigidly academic framework, Suzuki structures his book as a series of interwoven reflections, much like the gentle, irregular patterns of nature. He explores the origins of wabi-sabi within Zen Buddhism, the tea ceremony, and traditional Japanese arts, illustrating its historical evolution while emphasizing its contemporary relevance.

His thematic approach is particularly effective in bridging the gap between ancient philosophy and modern sensibilities. Suzuki does not merely recount wabi-sabi’s historical significance; he invites readers to consider how it might serve as an antidote to the modern obsession with perfection, speed, and material excess. In a world dominated by digital precision and mass production, the wabi-sabi ethos reminds us of the irreplaceable beauty found in the organic, the handmade, and the ephemeral.

Philosophy and Aesthetic Experience
At its core, wabi-sabi is an aesthetic philosophy that transcends the visual and enters the realm of the existential. Suzuki masterfully articulates this by drawing parallels between the imperfections of art and the imperfections of life itself. His discussions of pottery, calligraphy, and architecture are not simply about form and technique but about the deeper philosophical implications of embracing imperfection.

The book also serves as a meditation on time and decay. Suzuki highlights how wabi-sabi is not merely about the appreciation of aged objects but about an acceptance of the natural cycles of growth, erosion, and renewal. In this way, his work aligns with broader existentialist themes—echoing, in a way, the writings of Jean-Paul Sartre or Martin Heidegger, who also grappled with the impermanence of being. Suzuki, however, approaches this with a gentleness and reverence that stand in contrast to Western existentialist anxiety.

A Call to Presence and Authenticity
One of the book’s most compelling arguments is that wabi-sabi is not simply an aesthetic principle but a way of being. Suzuki’s insights encourage a reorientation of values, suggesting that by embracing imperfection, we cultivate a more mindful and authentic existence. His reflections on how wabi-sabi manifests in relationships, personal growth, and even our perception of success challenge the reader to reconsider their attachment to ideals of flawlessness and control.

This is where Suzuki’s work becomes more than an art historical study—it becomes a quiet manifesto for a slower, more intentional way of living. In an era of relentless self-optimization and social media curation, Wabi Sabi: The Wisdom in Imperfection offers a counterpoint: an invitation to find meaning in the incomplete, to dwell in the present rather than strive for the unattainable.

A Poetic Philosophy for the Modern World
Suzuki’s Wabi Sabi: The Wisdom in Imperfection is a luminous and contemplative work that transcends genre, balancing history, philosophy, and personal reflection with remarkable sensitivity. While some readers may find its fluid structure elusive—lacking the definitive conclusions of Western philosophical discourse—this is, in itself, a reflection of wabi-sabi’s nature. The book does not seek to provide answers but to shift perceptions, to awaken an aesthetic and existential awareness in the reader.

For scholars of aesthetics, philosophy, and Japanese culture, Suzuki’s work offers a nuanced and deeply evocative exploration of wabi-sabi. For the modern seeker looking for solace in a world of impermanence, it is an essential read—a quiet, profound reminder that beauty is not found in perfection, but in the transient and the incomplete

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Wabi Sabi thematically coherent, but not always structurally so; Suzuki seemed to jump around a lot, and as a result, I often found myself wishing for more elaboration and expansion, more time spent in one place, a more contemplative pace for a book on contemplative matters. Nevertheless, even if I didn’t love the presentation, I liked the principle espoused, in its various manifestations, and the ways in which Suzuki made me consider it from various perspectives. Some of the applications were ones that I had already stumbled into doing—often blindly, as an apparent fallback position or in a manner that felt defeatist—but I was gratified to learn not only that such behaviors were in keeping with the philosophy of wabi sabi but also to learn the rationales and bases behind them, so that I can continue them in a more purposeful and thoughtful manner. Other applications were new ideas, but ones that intuitively both appealed and made sense, my favorite being that of creating negative space in one’s life and letting it fill up organically (rather than actively filling it with one’s preconceived notions of how one would like to), which promotes staying attuned to the present moment and one’s ever-changing self, and has a freeing aspect such that even when the negative space is created involuntarily, it can be received as contributing to the same end goal.

But a significant number of pieces of advices seemed to be given with no steps provided, no explanations or even suggestions of how to put them in practice, sometimes even without clear definitions (for example, it is suggested “in order to lead a wabi sabi lifestyle, do not add or eliminate more than is necessary,” without any indication of how to define how much is too much in either direction, or even how to get a sense of this admittedly personal range); sometimes we are at least given clues—or, more commonly, examples, so that we can at least see how a wabi sabi–related aim might manifest itself in our lives, though without the work being show of how to get from principle of manifestation—which can makes parts of the book feel a bit like being shown a series and having to determine the pattern, which often at least provokes productive thoughts, if inconclusive ones.

Suzuki does note, near the end of the book, that he is not a fan of offering formulas (though he makes a significant exception at that time), but by then I had come to terms with the fact that these exclusions might well be intentional, and that my inability to gain clarity was somewhat fitting, not so much in that it required me to accept the unalterable circumstance, or even that it fulfilled the principle of reduction more generally—the principle of being able to be satisfied without that which we desire, en route to being without the desire, with satisfaction derived internally or from what does exist externally in one’s life)—but in the fact that one, in seeking to live a life in accordance with wabi sabi, should not be trying to impose a singular set of rules, or be thinking about the changes to one’s life in terms of rules at all. Suzuki’s suggestion of keeping a wabi sabi–centered diary is one of the most compelling ideas presented, and emphasizes learning to think of wabi sabi in many different ways, and as being highly individualized in the context of one’s life. Wabi sabi, ultimately, needs—and has—no fixed template leading to it—not even an individualized one—because the principle exists not as an endpoint, or an achievement, but almost as a kōan, an asymptote to be approached from various directions (similarly to the ideal asymptotic approach of what one wants to what one has, of what is hoped for to reality), the accumulation of the lessons of one’s life and one’s attempts to approach it comprising that which is being approached.