Japan has a rich, unique and fascinating culture. It hoards a few essential and meaningful beliefs. Japanese culture values harmony, collectivism, respect, self development and order. Shinto, an ancient Japanese religion is the foundation for most of these values. The scholar of the religion Clark B. Offner stated that Shinto’s focus was on “maintaining communal, ceremonial traditions for the purpose of human well-being”.
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Japan is home to several profound philosophies embibing which, can lead to a content and fulfilling life.
Ikigai: Find your purpose
Ikigai is the Japanese Concept Of finding purpose in life which is also a secret to a joyful life. It is an ancient philosophy that is considered the main reason for the happiness and longevity of Japanese people. Ikigai is what makes us feel alive, a reason for us to get up in the morning and to keep going. If you find pleasure in what you do and you are good at it, that’s your Ikigai!
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Shinrin-yoku: Forest bathing
Shinrin-yoku is to be connected with nature through all our senses. Bathing in the forest atmosphere rejuvenates us, restores our mood and refreshingly energizes us. Feeling the damp soil barefoot, touching the trunks of the tree, smelling the fragrance of flowers, dipping our toes in a stream can create a sense of joy and take us away to a different world.
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Gaman : The art of Perseverance
Gaman originated from Buddhism. Endurance with patience and dignity to achieve a long term goal is the foundation of gaman. To patiently persevere in tough times is an art that cannot be mastered easily. Calm and orderly behavior even during a crisis is the essence of gaman.
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Wabi-sabi: Embrace Imperfection
Wabi-sabi is an elegant philosophy of finding beauty and accepting it with all its imperfections. It also concerns with the impermanence in nature. Every person and object is unique and has its own charm. This is beautifully depicted in Japanese art too. Appreciating the beauty and accepting that it is bound to disappear is wabi-sabi. It is a feeling, not a concept.
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Kaizen: Change for better
Kaizen is “continuous improvement” over time leading to personal development. This is a philosophy that helps in overcoming laziness by setting achievable targets and meeting them in an organized way. It can bring about a positive change and lead us to excellence.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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From The Good Men Project on Medium
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Photo credit: Andre Benz on Unsplash
