A week ago, I was happened to get a Zen calligraphy book. I personally don’t follow any religions but I think anyone who was born in Japan (or perhaps in any Far East countries) is influenced by Zen (Buddhist) and Shintoism philosophy at some extent. We never actually learn it from school or temple. But I suppose the way of living is some how contains a sense of Zen. Perhaps that is why these Zengo (禅語/Zen words) explained in this book are so familiar to me although I have never learned in these words.

In Zen teachings, 無 (mu / nothingness) is very important. The great tea master, Sen no Rikyu (千利休) established wabi sabi (侘び寂び),  which “represents a comprehensive Japanese aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection” (wikipedia). He changed the concept of beauty from adding to taking away. After letting everything go, there will be emptiness = Mu.

We have a lot of attachment in our life. Not only materials but also our thoughts or feelings. To be enlightened (satoru /悟る), we need to let them go. This “letting go” is Hanatsu (放つ) . I have chosen this word as a today’s word.

To be enlightened may not be what we are looking for but I certainly believe that we obtain too many things and sometimes it’s good to “lighten” ourselves. Because the life as it is is complicated enough and many of us may be seeking a little simpler life. Would you like to hanatsu some weight?