Wabi-sabi: Perfection of Imperfections

(T&H Inspiration & Motivation) What is the most skillful art? Noninterference, flowing, surfing

The art of golden joinery

More beautiful for being broken? (Etsy)

Kintsugi (Japanese 金継ぎ, lit. "golden joinery," also known as kintsukuroi, 金繕い, "golden repair" [1]) is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with golden urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with actual powdered gold, silver, or platinum.

• A crack in a vessel is not a mistake, not an error, but rather a means of allowing light in.
• "NO-MIND" (Japanese mushin, Chinese 無心, wúxīn, Sanskrit acitta, acittika, acintya, nirvikalpa) is a mental state that is important in East Asian religions, Asian culture, and the arts. The idea is discussed in classic Zen (Chan) Buddhist texts, described as "the experience of an instantaneous severing of thought that occurs in the course of a thoroughgoing pursuit of a Buddhist meditative exercise" [1, 2].
• It is not necessarily a total absence of thinking, however. Instead, it can refer to an absence of clinging, conceptual proliferation (cycling through an endless hamster wheel), or being stuck in thought [1].
• Chinese Buddhist texts also link this experience with Buddhist metaphysical concepts, like Buddha-nature and Dharmakaya. The term is also found in Taoist literature, including the Zhuangzi. This idea eventually influenced other aspects of Asian culture and the arts. Thus, the effortless state of "no mind" (flow state) is one cultivated by poets, artists, craftspeople, performers, and trained martial artists, who may not even think it is associated with Buddhism or Taoism [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. More: No-mind

The method is similar to the maki-e technique [2, 3, 4]. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object rather than something to disguise [5] or hide.

History

Let's have a tea party with fine China, not wood

Kintsugi became closely associated with ceramic vessels used for chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) [3].

On the one hand, one theory is that kintsugi may have originated when Japanese shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a damaged Chinese tea bowl back to China for repairs in the late 15th century.

When it was returned, repaired with crude metal staples, it may have prompted Japanese craftsmen to look for a more aesthetically pleasing means of repair [2].

On the other hand, according to Bakōhan Saōki (record of tea-bowl with a "large-locust" clamp), such "ugliness" was considered inspirational and Zen-like, as it connoted beauty in broken things.

Goryeo ewer with gold repair spout/handle (20th cent)

The bowl thus became highly valued due to the large metal staples, which looked like a locust, and the bowl was named 'bakōhan ("large-locust clamp") [6]. Collectors became so enamored of the new art that some were accused of deliberately smashing valuable pottery so it could be repaired with the gold seams of kintsugi.

It is also possible that a pottery piece was chosen for deformities it had acquired during production, then deliberately broken and repaired, instead of being discarded [2].

The technique of kintsugi was also applied to ceramic pieces with origins outside of Japan, including China, Vietnam, and Korea [7].

 

Wabi-sabi, philosophy of embracing flaws and imperfections

As a philosophy, kintsugi is similar to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, an embracing of the flawed or imperfect [8, 9]. Japanese aesthetics values marks of wear from the use of an object.

• WABI-SABI (侘び寂び) in traditional Japanese aesthetics centers on the Buddhist acceptance of transience and imperfection [2]. It is often described as the appreciation of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" [3]. It is prevalent in many forms of Japanese art [4, 5]. Wabi-sabi combines two interrelated concepts, wabi (侘) and sabi (寂). According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, wabi may be translated as "subdued, austere beauty," and sabi as "rustic patina" [6]. Wabi-sabi derives from the Buddhist teaching of the Three Marks of Existence (三法印, sanbōin), which states that ALL things are impermanent (無常, mujō), unsatisfactory (苦, ku), and impersonal (or empty, shunyata, devoid of self-nature, 空, kū) [7].

Maybe tai chi exercise would be good

This can be seen as a rationale for keeping an object around even after it has broken. It can also be understood as a justification of kintsugi itself, highlighting cracks and repairs as events in the life of an object, rather than allowing its service to end at the time of its damage or breakage [10].

The philosophy of kintsugi can also be seen as a variant of the adage: "Waste not, want not" [11].

Kintsugi can relate to the Japanese philosophy of "no-mind" (mushin, 無心), which encompasses the concepts of non-attachment, acceptance of change, and fate as aspects of human life [12].

Not only is there no attempt to hide the damage, but the repair is literally illuminated...a kind of physical expression of the spirit of mushin....often literally translated as "no mind," but carr[ying] connotations of fully existing within the moment, of non-attachment, of equanimity amid changing conditions. ...The vicissitudes of existence over time, to which all humans are susceptible, could not be clearer than in the breaks, the knocks, and the shattering to which ceramic ware too is subject. This poignancy or aesthetic of existence has been known in Japan as mono no aware, a compassionate sensitivity, or perhaps identification with, [things] outside oneself.

— Christy Bartlett, Flickwerk: The Aesthetics of Mended Japanese Ceramics

Materials and types of joinery: There are a few major styles or types of kintsugi:

• "Crack" (ひび), the use of gold dust and resin or lacquer to attach broken pieces with minimal overlap or fill-in from missing pieces
• "Piece method" (欠けの金継ぎ例), if a replacement ceramic fragment is not available and the entirety of the addition is gold or gold/lacquer compound
• "Joint call" (呼び継ぎ), the use of a similarly shaped but non-matching fragment to replace a missing piece from the original vessel creating a patchwork effect [13]. More: kintsugi
• CC Liu, Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

Keep company with fools? Fall with them

(Venerable Gotami) Leads loving-kindness (metta) meditation makes us happier and nicer

Can yoga mantras help simplify life?

Can this mantra simplify our lives?

(Yogmantras) July 21, 2025: Ever feel overwhelmed by life’s chaos and wish for a smoother, more peaceful journey?

What is the primordial sound, the shabda? OM

Dive into the timeless wisdom of the Rigveda 1.41.4, a profound Vedic verse that reveals the secret to a life free of obstacles and filled with clarity.

In 2025, as mindfulness (Sanskrit smirti, Pali sati) and spiritual growth dominate digital platforms, this video offers a fresh take on aligning with truth and purpose to create a fulfilling life.

This mantra teaches us how to walk a path of ease by embracing truth, righteousness, and the guidance of wise souls. Learn practical ways to apply its teachings, from choosing honesty in daily decisions to surrounding ourselves with uplifting company.

Let’s go through a guided and powerful meditation practice, combining breathwork and visualization to clear mental clutter and foster inner calm.

With the rise of YouTube #shorts for quick spiritual insights, this video taps into the growing demand for meaningful content.

Try this 5-minute daily routine to connect with the mantra’s energy and experience a stress-free mindset.

Ready to make life’s path smoother? Watch now and share in the comments how this wisdom inspires a more satisfying life!

Subscribe to Yogmantras for more transformative Vedic insights and mindfulness tips! Connect with Yogmantras: YouTube: Yogmantras Instagram: @yogmantrasg Facebook: YogmantrasG Twitter: @Yogmantras. Email (collaborations/queries): dharmasyatv@gmail.com. Music: Aqua Euphoria (with Lucentia) (432 Hz) by Spheriá | spheriamusic. Music promoted by chosic.com/free-music/all. Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses... #Rigveda #VedicWisdom #Spirituality #Yoga #Meditation #SpiritualAwakening #Yogmantras #AncientIndia #VedicMantras #InnerPeace #DivineWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #CosmicOrder #DivineGrace #PathToLiberation #MantraMeditation #SpiritualJourney #VedicTradition #KarmaAndGrace #YogicWisdom

• Yogmantras on YouTube; Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation) (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Simulation: Gravity is fake, says science

If fall rate exceeds terminal falling speed, ship will move down as levitation occurs like coaster

Clearly, gravity is fake. We are not pulled down so much as pushed, except for this cat. ;,)

Mindfulness in Zen Buddhism (Alan Watts)

Alan Watts (Audio Archives, KPFK.org); Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

Chasing satori is like herding oxen.

On being "Zen," California British philosopher Alan Watts (alanwatts.org) can explain, if anyone can. And it may well be that no one can. One who knows does not speak, and one who speaks does not know. That may be true, but one can point. It is like the movie My Dinner with Andre. What was Andre on about? It's a great movie, but he can only point. There's no direct saying that can communicate. That may not make sense, but it becomes clear with practice. When asking a spiritual question, one will get a mundane answer. When asking a mundane question, one will be given a spiritual answer. It's the custom, not a rule of the universe. Let there be suchness. (What is suchness?) Nice weather we're having? (Weather, what's wrong with the weather?) It is empty, void of qualities, fickle as a thought. (Huh?) You're catching on.

• AUDIO: Alan Watts explains Zen or something like it, Buddhist Radio, Sunday, 12/17/23, 8:00 am, KPFK Archives

No, seriously, what is Zen?

Zen is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word chan, which is China's attempt to pronounce the Pali word jhana (jhan), from the Buddhist Sanskrit dhyana (dhyan). That word means "meditation" (which originally meant meditative absorption) but Zen has come to mean what one finds through meditation, through calming and training the mind by mindfulness.

• Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness

Letting go of hoarding and clutter (video)

Christopher Nyerges, School of Self-Reliance; Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

Christopher Nyerges (\nighr-gesh\) runs the School of Self-Reliance, Los Angeles

.

Get on Amazon or School of Self-Reliance

School of Self-Reliance Founder Christopher Nyerges is the author of 22 books. He teaches students how to do more with less. Why? “Frugality is a fulfilling lifestyle. Some of his books are

• How to Survive Anywhere: A Guide for Urban, Suburban, Rural, and Wilderness Environments
• Extreme Simplicity: Homesteading in the City
• The Self-Sufficient Home: Going Green and Saving Money
• Urban Survival Guide: How City Dwellers Can Live Well, and Frugally, Even in Dire Times.
• See SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com (for all titles and discounts)

There was a sweep of a homeless area in Highland Park (N.E. Los Angeles, California), where they all had to move their tents and stuff. The sanitation department’s large crew filled trucks with junk and scrubbed the sidewalk. 

There's a time for spirituality at WTI (NELA)

Before their work, one could smell piles from 200 feet away.  Fifteen police officers stood by because some of the homeless campers were angry. At least a few shouted violent accusations towards the insensitive “pigs.”

When it was nearly over, I walked through the thick of it to see what stuff homeless people collect. My eyes saw a few useful objects for daily life, but mostly junk and trinkets.  My mind was spinning.

I could not help but contemplate the vast amounts of worthless material stuff so many of us accumulate.  The difference is that housed people can hide their stuff in garages, back rooms, and rental storage units.

We all accumulate these things, thinking them valuable. We cling to these objects, believing they will impart something special or that they will appreciate in value, or even gain some spiritual or esoteric worth. But it is all material stuff.

One day my simple living space will be down to the bare essentials and I'll be free!

How to Survive Anywhere

Here are a few reasons I have become a minimalist in my approach to the collection of physical stuff.

First, when I began becoming interested in survival skills, I realized the great value of storing enough food at home to get through an emergency. It might last a few weeks, even a few months. A safe food supply is not what I call hoarding.

One of my initial purchases of grain was so large that I had an entire wall in a back room full of sealed buckets. A year later I realized I rarely ate it and slowly gave away or sold most of them.

Then I considered being prepared for blackouts and other emergencies. I realized the great value of having extra clothing, blankets, manual (non-electric) tools, knives, and such things.  Yes, I was starting to collect a cache or hoard.  From there, it just went on and on.

Self-Sufficient Home: Go Green Save Money

Should we store all the wood we find so that we can light a fireplace every night for the next year?  Should we collect all the tools and lumber we find so we can build a shed or coop in our backyard without buying it from a lumber yard? Should we collect all that wood even if we’re not actually building anything? That’s how the collection of stuff starts. Anticipation.

It’s all really good useful stuff we might use in an emergency. Before we know it, we’re scouring yard sales and thrift shops, buying things at ridiculously low prices that we might use some day. Or we tell ourselves we could sell it to make extra cash. Maybe we could barter it.

But we don’t sell it, because the retail price for these objects – despite their inherent usefulness – is little more than we originally paid or what the market will bear.

I’ve now gotten to this point. I had plenty of stuff to survive the next apocalypse, but I wasn’t really using it. I had to get shed after shed after paid storage unit after paid storage unit to store all of these really good things.

Before I knew it, I was living in a space crammed full of stuff that I never actually used but which is –I had convinced myself –  very, very valuable.

It’s a big trap. In the past 20+ years, I moved a few times and carefully looked at all the very good material things I had collected. I realized that much of it was never used by me. Never. So I decided to bite the bullet and clean house. I was unwilling to move truckloads of stuff to a new place.

My criteria became, if I had not actually used the object – despite my having determined that it was “very valuable” – in the last 10 years, then I got rid of it.

Urban Survival Guide: How City Dwellers Can Live

I gave dozens of boxes of goods to a scout leader to give outdoor gear to low-income scouts. I gave a truckload of wood and bone and rock and other natural materials to Native American friends to use in the production of art projects. I made donations to the Salvation Army and Goodwill. And I filled my blue recycling bin a dozen times, and I filled the black trash containers many times as well.

Yes, I sold some things, but selling takes time, and I rarely got back what I paid, especially not when I was under a time crunch.

Oddly, I never regretted shedding my life of material baggage. I found the world still had lots of hardware stores and grocery stores and art supply stores, and that if I was actually doing and using a product, I could just go get it as needed.

And if it were really unavailable, I realized that would not be the end of the world. I could do without. I learned to be rich in the degree to which I could do without stuff. More

[To be rich? Let go. Be like the Buddha, who as a wealthy prince renounced everything. Seeing the hidden danger, why would anyone cling?]

• SoCal Burning Man: IgNights Joshua Tree (desertsun.com)

Vagabonding: Living Well vs. Doing Well

Tim Ferriss (Experiments in Lifestyle Design)
A positive vagabond, the wandering ascetic (h.koppdelaney)

“From all your herds, a cup or two of milk,/From all your granaries, a loaf of bread,/In all your palace, only half a bed:/Can man use more? And do you own the rest?” – Ancient Sanskrit poem.

Living well is quite different from “doing well.” In the quest to get ahead — destination often unknown — it’s easy to have life pass you by while you’re focused on other things. This post is intended as a reminder and a manifesto: keep it simple.

This is written by Rolf Potts, author of my perennial favorite and heavily highlighted Vagabonding. In the below piece, I’ve bolded some particular parts that have had an impact on my life. Enter Rolf.

In March of 1989, the Exxon Valdez struck a reef off the coast of Alaska, resulting in the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Initially viewed as an ecological disaster, this catastrophe did wonders to raise environmental awareness among average Americans. As television images of oil-choked sea otters and dying shore birds were beamed across the country, pop-environmentalism grew into a national craze.

Instead of conserving more and consuming less, however, many Americans sought to save the earth by purchasing “environmental” products. Energy-efficient home appliances flew off the shelves, health food sales boomed, and reusable canvas shopping bags became vogue in strip malls from Jacksonville to Jackson Hole. Credit card companies began to earmark a small percentage of profits for conservation groups, thus encouraging consumers to “help the environment” by striking off on idealistic shopping binges.

• How rich are you? (compared to the world)

Such shopping sprees and health food purchases did absolutely nothing to improve the state of the planet, of course — but most people managed to feel a little better about the situation without having to make any serious lifestyle changes.

This notion — that material investment is somehow more important to life than personal investment — is exactly what leads so many of us to believe we could never afford to go vagabonding. The more our life options get paraded around as consumer options, the more we forget that there’s a difference between the two. Thus, having convinced ourselves that buying things is the only way to play an active role in the world, we fatalistically conclude that we’ll never be rich enough to purchase a long-term travel experience.

Fortunately, the world need not be a consumer product. As with environmental integrity, long-term travel isn’t something you buy into: it’s something you give to yourself.

Indeed, the freedom to go vagabonding has never been determined by income level, but through simplicity — the conscious decision of how to use what income you have. More>>

The Amish are Expanding

Sarah Schweitzer (Boston.com)

Amish girl walking home from school in Unity, Maine (Joel Page/The Boston Globe)

UNITY, Maine -- The land was gorgeous. Pastures bounded by forests and overlooked by the distant Dixmont hills. And that was the problem. As dairy farms in Unity have struggled and died in recent years, town leaders worried the setting would draw developers more interested in erecting neo-Colonials and paving roads than preserving the town’s agricultural heritage. They recruited organic farmers who bought small plots. But vast swaths remained.

Then a little more than a year ago men in banded straw hats and denim suits arrived and started buying big parcels. They built sturdy houses on the hillsides above fields where they planted strawberries and butternut squash, and loosed goats and cows to graze. They started small businesses on their land, turning out metal siding, wind turbines, and furniture, and sold vegetables and baked goods. “The Amish were the solution that we were looking for..." More>>

• PHOTOS: Amish in Unity - COMMENTS
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Zen Artist: Ekaku

Terebess.hu

Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1768) possessed an unusual ability to convey the meaning of Zen to large numbers of people from all classes and religions. Though he chose to work at a small temple in the countryside, he was frequently invited to lecture, and his writings were published, eventually bringing him fame.

His writings could be rough, humorous, or sometimes even shocking, intended to rouse his followers from their complacency into a deeper contemplation of religion and spiritual life. His copious writings continue to main-tain pivotal importance within the Rinzai Zen sect. His work, both as spiritual leader and as painter, had a profound effect on all subsequent Zen study and Zen painting.

Hakuin's Writings Hakuin in Japanese: HAKUIN ZENJI HOGO ZENSHU, 14 vols. Edited and annotated by YOSHIZAWA Katsuhiro. Kyoto: Zenbunka Kenkyusho (The Institute for Zen Studies), 1999-2003. More>>

Hakuin practiced painting late in life, beginning in his sixties and continuing until his death at 84. As he grew older, he increasingly relied on it as a means of communicating Zen ideals.

By the end of his life, he had produced well over one thousand paintings and calligraphies in a remarkable range of styles and subjects, often suffused with humor. Though he painted a variety of subjects, the one that he returned to the most was Daruma.

Daruma is typically shown with attributes thought to be South Asian—a heavy beard, large, bulging eyes (reflecting a legend that he pulled off his eyelids after becoming sleepy during meditation), and the elongated ears of an Indian noble, stretched by heavy earrings. However, the hooked nose, high cheekbones, and oval visage are seen again and again in Hakuin’s paintings of various subjects and may, in fact, reflect the physiognomy of the artist himself.