Reverence for Things

We all have one or more possessions that we treasure. It may be something that was passed down from generation to generation. It may be something we genuinely earned after an arduous journey to get it. It may be something that someone created for us as a gift of love.

When I walk through my house, I see so many things that I cherish. My possessions represent the 60+ years of wonderful memories I have. Everyday, I am reminded how lucky am I to have lived in different places, studied various subjects with intense curiosity, experienced art and music with fervor, met people that have touched me, and loved family and friends.

Honor the Well-Worn and Long-Used

My mother learned how to play koto, a long Japanese guitar-like instrument that is played on the floor, when she was young. As an adult, she kept up her skills. I remember hearing her play and, now, when I hear koto music, I visualize my mother playing. When she died, I was entrusted to treasure her koto and I have displayed it to honor her at each home I've lived.

The koto, itself, is also beautiful. I am reminded of the Japanese term "wabi sabi" which means "wisdom in natural simplicity". Strictly speaking, in traditional Japanese culture, it represents beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete (such as Japanese poetry, bonsai gardening and pottery). Over the years, it has developed to mean understated elegance through rustic, simple and natural design, and honors the patina of aging.

Respect Things You Let Go

One of the most talked-about organizing and tidying up techniques is Marie Kondo's KonMari Method. She describes a method of assessing your possessions by how it "sparks joy". Tidying up does not mean deciding what to discard but rather what to keep. Marie Kondo tells us to remember to thank it before saying good-bye. By letting go of things with a feeling of gratitude, one fosters appreciation for, and a desire to take better care of, the things in one's life.

Respect Things You Use

in 365 Zen, author Jean Smith documents stories and parables from English language Zen writings, emphasizing its respect for mindfulness. One gem from Philip Kapleau describes respecting the things we use, reminding us that water, food and light are precious gifts:

"The deeply aware person sees the indivisibility of existence, the rich complexity and interrelatedness of all life. Out of this awareness grows a deep respect for the absolute value of all things, each thing. . . . To truly practice Zen therefore means not leaving lights burning when they are not needed, not allowing water to run unnecessarily from the faucet, not loading up your plate and leaving food uneaten."

Honor the Craft

When I was younger, visiting art galleries and admiring the artwork as an art student, a wise art dealer told me to only buy art that you'd want to see everyday - art that evokes a strong, positive emotion; art where the craft inspires. My husband's woodworking projects are stunning - showing off the qualities of the wood, the beauty of the design and the sweat of the effort - but one of my favorite pieces of furniture is a wood chest that his father (and mother) built for us. He was an expert at constructing things and, one day, decided we needed a chest. His wife was there to make final decisions on the design (and I'm very thankful she did). It's worn from years of use but it is a beautiful example of craftsmanship.