Wabi-sabi is the aesthetic philosophy on the acceptance of transience and imperfection, celebrating things that are weathered, aged or slightly damaged.
Wabi: Refers to rustic simplicity, humility, and living in harmony with nature. It finds elegance in unpretentious, sparse, and asymmetrical things.
Sabi: Refers to the beauty and serenity that comes with age, wear, and the natural process of deterioration.
In that spirit… announcing two online Wabi-sabi sangha discussion/study groups!
Format
Settling/meditation
Chapter reading from selected texts
Reflection (breakout rooms and/or sharing circle)
Closing
The themes are:
Fuyu buddha (Winter buddha): Embracing old age
Thurday evenings: October 15, November 12, & December 10
Join ONLINE from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm (see button below!)
Selected text - Aging as a spiritual practice: A contemplative guide to growing older and wiser (Lewis Richmond)
“Old age is like winter; it has its own quiet beauty” [unknown]
“Aging brings us to a new phase of life, inevitably marked by losses, big and small – and yet this can also be a phase of renewal. Bringing a beginner’s mind to our own aging, we see we have an opportunity to devote more time to reflection an inner exploration, to dive deeply into life’s meaning and connect to the love that is the essence of our being.” (Ezra Bayda)
Facilitator: Kakukō Kaye (she/her), MRZC priest who finally noticed her quiet slide into elderhood!
Kintsugi buddha (Golden repair buddha): Embracing chronic illness
Thursday evenings October 29, November 26. No December meeting (Rohatsu/Holiday season).
Join ONLINE from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm (see button below!)
Selected test - Tend to your spirit: Mindful living with chronic illness (Julianna Lepp & Florence Caplow)
“The key to release from suffering lies in paying closer attention to it, even forms of suffering as challenging as arthritis, depression, or chronic illness. Paradoxically, when we keep our pain at bay, we keep pleasure at bay too. The two are interdependent, and our ability to experience each is totally dependent on our understanding of the other. “ (Darlene Cohen)
Kintsugi is the general concept of highlighting or emphasizing imperfections, visualizing mends and seams as an additive or an area to celebrate or focus on, rather than absence or missing pieces. It is part of a philosophy of embracing our human flaws and life’s fragility. It is about celebrating imperfections. Kintsugi reminds us that no matter our difficulties, we can find a way to reframe and find meaning in life.
Facilitator: Kakukō Kaye (she/her), MRZC priest who comes with her own fair share of personal maladies and foibles.
The schedule for the two groups will be alternating approximately every 2 weeks between groups. (once a month/group).
Fuyu Buddha - October 15, November 12, December 10
Kintsugi Buddha - October 29, November 26
You are welcome to attend one or the other or both as applicable. We will gradually work our way through the selected books. Individual chapters stand well on their own – as such regular attendance is optional. At the time of the meeting, selected text(s) will be available online for group reading/discussion.
