Dear wonderers,
Autumn is finally unveiled. And a newsletter I discovered a while back (thank you, Călina!) is telling us we’re entering Kanro 寒露 which means Cold Dew — in the spirit of traditional Japanese microseasons.
Inspired by it, ChatGPT is telling me I could write to you about:
All thoughtful choices, no? (I mean, if you want me to explore any of them, hit me in the comments 🤓)
Well, I will tell you about ichi-go ichi-e, the Japanese concept of uniqueness, in a slightly different framework, as the subject line suggests — simplicity. I don’t know about you, but for me, the Japanese mentality is all about making the complex seem simple. And this philosophical concept of the unrepeatableness in every moment stems from the tea ceremony as defined by Sen no Rikyu:
Even though the host and guests may see each other often socially, one day’s gathering can never be repeated exactly. Viewed this way, the meeting is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. The host, accordingly, must in true sincerity take the greatest care with every aspect of the gathering and devote himself entirely to ensuring that nothing is rough. The guests, for their part, must understand that the gathering cannot occur again, and, appreciating how the host has flawlessly planned it, must also participate with true sincerity. This is what is meant by ‘one time, one meeting.’ excerpt from Chanoyu Ichie Shuu (茶湯一会集), source here
Paradoxical thinking, right?, as the tea ceremony is one of the most structured and regulated traditions, designed by Sen no Rikyu and other ceremony masters after him.
But it is precisely this that makes it all the more valuable and simple in its essence - this deep understanding that one can have one particular experience in thought and feeling *just once*, as no two moments are exactly the same even if the whole ceremony is exactly the same.
Or, as our Greek counterpart put it:
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man. Heraclitus of Ephes
With its variations, as Wikipedia informs us:
I know, I know. I may be stretching the meanings by juxtaposing the two thinkers, but, at the end of the day, they both urge us to accept that everything flows. A simple thing to think about, but so hard to put into practice.
It is this inherent simplicity, the barebones of our everyday moments, that I want us to pause and ponder.
How do you invite the simple into your life? Is it something that comes naturally, without effort? Is it “an acquired taste” of diligent discipline, as the Japanese treat it?
For me, it is a struggle as I like to control everything and, most of the time, forget to accept that everything changes and every moment is unrepeatable, as I am not the same on a fundamental level.
So I leave you with two tiny thoughts & resources to explore the nature of simplicity in your life and encourage you to uncover your definition for it:
How is the story of “a simple man” the key to unlocking a new way of looking at the world? Enter The Gravedigger Theory
“Plus it's more considerate to write simply. When you write in a fancy way to impress people, you're making them do extra work just so you can seem cool. It's like trailing a long train behind you that readers have to carry.” Paul Graham invites us to Write simply. But isn’t it the same with how we structure our lives? Or how we complicate our moments, relationships, problems?
If you have a resource or thought to share, I’m always looking forward to your replies :)