Wabi-Sabi | A Japanese Philosophy of Perfect Imperfection

The pursuit of perfection has become the norm in today’s world, where chronic dissatisfaction, burnout, depression, and anxiety reign supreme. We’ve subjected ourselves to unrealistic standards and rigorously chase an ideal that’s impossible to reach.
Advertisements show us snapshots of handsome people enjoying their favorite drink dancing among a crowd of fashion models with ever-smiling faces. This uncompromising image of perfect happiness yells at us: “This is how your life should be.” And so, we try to mimic the sublimity of a lifestyle ideal.
We spend fortunes on tweaking ourselves, our lives, our environment and then flood social media with pictures and videos to show the world the exquisiteness of our lives. Perfection is what we need to accomplish: a perfectly symmetrical face, a perfectly sculpted body, perfect hair, skin, jawline, house, friends, family, partner, children, vacations, or in short: an existence without fault. But this isn’t only impossible and exhausting to pursue; it’s also unnatural as far as the Japanese world view of wabi-sabi is concerned.
Wabi-sabi rejects the pursuit of perfection and embraces the reality of imperfection. The philosophy behind wabi-sabi can help us escape the hamster wheel of chasing an ideal life and teaches us to appreciate existence as it is: perfectly imperfect.
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00:00 - Intro
01:41 - A short history of Wabi-Sabi
03:25 - The vanity of chasing perfection
06:23 - The embrace of imperfection
09:13 - How to appreciate imperfection
#wabisabi #perfectionism #taoism

[@ReynaSingh]

The chase for perfection is futile. most often, it’s not our own ideals we chase, it’s someone else’s

[@genesises]

the chase for perfection is what continues to improve us regardless, we just have to accept we cannot reach perfection :^)

[@johnsheppard1673]

Baby. I Am perfect

[@kleckerklotz9620]

All your ideals come from outside.

[@jayleutner9997]

You are absolutely right🙏thank you for this insight human nature is an enigma 🙏

[@nicholasdipilla6993]

I do not agree with this completely , the search for perfection is something as humans we should all agree to reach , improvement and self work is the basis of our life and is the only true way to reach a durable satisfaction and hapiness , cause all this work you put on yourself is eternal and cannot change or be taken away. The goal of the human being is one day to become an angel , and to become an angel you need to detach from your human side to reach your divine side.

[@DivingHawker]

One thing that came into my mind somehow : remember how one simple stick became a sword or a gun when you were a kid? This piece of wood, not big enough or sturdy enough to be used as material, too crooked to be fancy, too rough to be aesthetically pleasing, became a simple source of joy as we just embraced its shape to make it into a source of joy. Only imperfect sticks could create these seemingly undesirable shapes that ended up filling us up with joy because of the different view we had of them.

[@sage9836]

Thia would make a great video.

[@KH-fv3vq]

Nice one

[@mariavictor4324]

Poetically well said. Yes, celebrate your quirks, while striving to be better .a little self shaping is nice to have or you are at the whim of anyones imagination.

[@poemplanet]

Lovely

[@laksanaadi878]

my childhood :")

[@spongebobsquarepants8403]

Wabi-Sabi is just saying "It is what it is." at life and just living it out while you can, very wholesome.

[@interns_4774]

It iz what it iz

[@nothingmatters298]

@@interns_4774 no

[@pinkcat5011]

The funny bit is that I heard _"It is what it is"_ for the first time from Donald Trump 😂 I love this quote but he always comes to mind when I say it 🤧

[@Callummullans]

I like the prayer the AA say I feel it’s a well rounded summary of this philosophy.

[@JakeRichardsong]

It says far more than that.

[@TheDhammaHub]

Perfection has never existed in the real world and will never exist and the aim for it only brings suffering. "Good enough" is sufficient

[@johnsheppard1673]

Good enough is not good. Perfect is I Am

[@kleckerklotz9620]

I would say everything in the world is perfect already.

[@alissonjrcaabreu7534]

The functions of our bodies, biodiversity, places of the planet. Our earth. Perfection exist but the actions of human Makes us think the contrary.

[@slimetank394]

@@alissonjrcaabreu7534 uh, not our body functions, no. The reason why allergies kill people is not that the things they put into their body is poisonous, but because their body over react to said thing and ends up killed itself. "Perfect body" doesn't have self destruct function

[@TheDhammaHub]

@Luo Ji There is a difference between eternal and unconditioned. Nirvana is _not_ eternal as times does not exist without causes. Anyway, maybe I should rephrase it to "samsara" is and always will be imperfect - but most people don't know that word

[@ai172]

Perfectly imperfect reminds me of Kintsugi - the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold :- built on the idea that in embracing flaws and mistakes, you can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art.

[@lukelim5094]

Kintsugi is related deepl to Wabi sabi. And Matsuo Basho...and Haiku

[@natureswhisper1397]

I actually thought that it would be discussed in the video haha!

[@pinktrash2720]

We discussed this in our school on Japanese art. Like this philosophy is their way of life. They find beauty in imperfections.

[@imhereforagoodtimenotalongtime]

@@pinktrash2720 which standard

[@user-vr9jh1gg2c]

Reminds me of Phos from Houseki no kuni

[@bad_money]

"One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist.....Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist" -Stephen Hawking

[@buttonpetrelli]

u seem like a deep dude. u have cool comments

[@johnsheppard1673]

The only rule is there is no rule. Wheelguy dude should have believed in me 🤷🏼‍♂️☠️☠️☠️

[@terrodactyll]

"Yeah" -Plato

[@georgebell9634]

@@buttonpetrelli he's not deep, plus he's just reciting what someone else said

[@Trump-A-Bad-MF]

"Bullshit" ~ Sun Tzu

[@kathysemrau2301]

I learned about wabi sabi in Art class. Because when you make a mistake, use it . The mistake makes the drawing more complicated or unique. Perfection is not an easy goal to achieve.

[@kathysemrau2301]

Thank you for highlighting my comment. Stay safe everyone. 🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷🦋🌹😷

[@kathysemrau2301]

@caprice.t Thank you! But l am sharing what l learned from my seventh grade Art teacher Mrs. Trolia. Art helps you to understand the creative process in your mind. It is fun too. Asian Art is rich in the varied use of lines and textures. Enjoy your style of drawing or creative design.

[@billycox475]

"When you make a mistake, use it." That's brilliant. Thank you! That's just the message I needed today.

[@applekun6438]

So basically like Bob Ross when he makes trees

[@ARA-ee9yr]

If it’s just a goal, it will vanish once it’s reached. Why not embrace each encounter with art in first place 🐌

[@ricardoge96]

I’m a guy from the city and studied at a university to become a profesional farmer, right now i am in the country working and feeling the wabi sabi you are talking about, i kinda want to drop some tears because i just feel satisfaction from my work in the country. Amazing video! :)

[@sdla690]

I think you are experiencing awakening, the nature and the cosmos have become your center rather than yourself. I am looking forward to my awakening, hopefully it ll come soon.

[@way.truth.life.]

Congratulations :) that sounds wonderful

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

are you oliver douglas

[@wanderingsoul1189]

I wanna work with you. 😭

[@elyisus8145]

so happy for you :)

[@BabuMosahi]

The pursuit of perfection is nothing but just a heavy burden which hurts us .

[@Reree-gz5bg]

Facts! 🙏

[@KNakanishi]

The obsessive pursuit of perfection is what put me in therapy for about a year. Let go of perfection, and happiness and love will come to you. Wait for it. Don't force it.

[@ifitsfreeitsforme1852]

Practice, Mind over matter...if you don't mind, it don't matter

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Reflection is key in a world which contains almost none. Mind your own matters, because it matters if you don't mind. "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In Time, all points converge: hope's strength, resteeled. But to earn final peace at the Universe's endless refrain, we must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@Mhmd_F]

Maybe this is part of what makes watching those Bob Ross Joy of Painting reruns on Twitch so satisfying; he embraces imperfection and "mistakes" in his style, and incorporates them into the paintings as "happy little accidents"

[@sage9836]

Wow! Yes.

[@way.truth.life.]

Yes!

[@hosamfikry2924]

Everyone is commenting with a wise statement until we all go back to our impulsive distractions from the reality a few minutes later

[@48038]

We only make ourself presentable out of all imperfection......

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Life is exactly how it’s always been and is supposed to be: generally awful and chaotic, punctuated by occasional bouts of utter catastrophe, and relieved by rare moments of relative happiness and contentment - and this from an optimist...

[@Drigger95]

are the moments of happiness and contentment so "rare"? How many "awful", "chaotic" and "utter catastrophic" moments have you had in the past week? I think we underestimate how many times things go right and over exaggerate the negative.

[@interns_4774]

it is what it is

[@cocothetimeless8382]

@@Drigger95 that depends on one's level of consciousness. The more free you are, the less negativity you experience and the more beauty you see in all things.

[@kerstinmiller223]

😂😂😂 don’t know why this made me laugh, probably because it’s so true ❤️

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Kerstin Miller - 🙂

[@maaryas]

Nothing challenged my perfectionism more than becoming disabled. Recognizing my body's limits is a daily struggle, I often fantasize about being able to cut out and remove all the body parts which cause me pain. But even that is not without side effects. Embracing limitations and imperfection, rather than fantasizing about a magical cure, has helped me have compassion for myself as well as others. We are all doing our best, and even if we do everything "perfectly" like have a good diet, exercise regularly and take all our vitamins, there is no guarantee of health because like all things it is fleeting.

[@Sunshine-pr4tu]

I dropped tears. I remembered how I used to believe many of my physical features were not ideal. I was always one to find the beauty in the imperfect features of humans, how none of us looked the same. I am an artist, so I drew so much inspiration from mostly what society saw as imperfect features. I then thought, why do I see everyone else as beautiful, yet not myself? I soon came to appreciate my physical attributes, because they are what make me myself. The perfect asymmetry and symmetry I saw in others, I finally saw on myself. Nothing from nature perfectly the same, but that's what is great about it.

[@cloudyday1617]

Love yourself, always always.

[@patriciamay5521]

I love imperfections in faces. Particularly craggy scarfaced men,and old faces. Sadly, I don’t like them on my own 😂

[@bonniegaither3994]

The more we try to perfect something, the more rigid and fragile it becomes. Profound words.

[@ObakuZenCenter]

I'm a Zen Buddhist priest and teacher and I usually find that videos on KZbin about such things as Wabi Sabi, Zen, Buddhism and so on, are often just not very accurate, or even interesting. This video was both accurate and interesting and put things so well. Thank you for this.

[@satriadibasuki]

as a (3D) artist I can say that what makes an artwork feel real is if we add details like imperfections, and it takes extra effort than creating an ideal, clean perfect subject coz it just feels so computer generated

[@brennancarter7721]

I’m a perfectionist, this video changed my life.

[@Reree-gz5bg]

Me too. I am still working on it tbh.

[@lyndonstucker6710]

One does not obtain perfection. Perfection is the natural state of all things. How arrogant of us as humans with a lifespan of 80 years to judge the work of a universe that is 14 billion years old. Everything is as it should be at all times.

[@cwtm9558]

This reminds me of a personal experience of a certain Christmas: we had an imperfect tree; it was smaller than us, it was asymmetrical, you could say it was almost a bush. But I loved it. This tree where we put our presents was more beautifull than i could've imagined. I think I was more content with that tree than any other christmas-tree we had before

[@maxpower3206]

Is that you, Charlie Brown?

[@elyisus8145]

Perfect imperfection:)

[@captainswing4487]

I hope you planted it.

[@tobsternater]

How gold is this? That's awesome! My mum for quite a few years had us heading into the hills in our region...in Aust and we were to find the eucalypt branch we could use for our Chritmas tree being in Australia. We started out painting the tree spray painting it for a while....then we just had the tree without paint for a good while. I loved the idea...and sometimes it wasn't the best....but that's the beauty of imperfection. You can get to see it in a different way after time.

[@hannahorst3652]

Wabi 😄 since a few years I take the least perfect christmastree home. The one usually left behind. Btw decorating is much more fun this way.

[@law_9840]

I was obsessed with perfection. In fact, I worked out at my fullest, I gained as much knowledge as possible, I embraced a extremely healthy lifestyle and... I realized i wasn't perfect. With all that effort and fatigue spent to achieve it, I still couldn't be perfect because... I was just born imperfect as everyone else. I can't achieve perfection because imperfect and this can't be changed in any way. Realizing this helped me to give me some rest and think "you're enough now."

[@butfirstkoffee1375]

Used to be obsessed with perfection in whatever I do. But the toll it used to take on my mental health was huge compared to the very few compliments I used to get for my so called perfect work. Gave up on perfection, long ago and have been happier than before. 😊

[@ladyelainefairchild3546]

You were looking for outside approval, a real perfectionist gets an inner high from the perfection itself.

[@krowkovtuber]

einzelganger: *uploads* my day: *is made*

[@Lovenik77]

This feels so good to my soul. I’m taking deep refreshing breaths as I watch it and I find more and more reasons to be grateful for my life just as I am and my surroundings just as they are

[@mjolninja9358]

I have just entered a national painting competition, I’ll definitely get to use everything that I’ve learned from this amazing channel in my creative process. Win or Lose, I will express myself!

[@elyisus8145]

Good luck! maybe share your artwork in some way :)

[@MiguelGonzalez-bg8hx]

Good luck

[@kerstinmiller223]

Good luck!! Hope you win

[@mtarik00]

How did it go?

[@rohansharma2761]

Everytime I watch a new video , I feel pretty calm no matter how crazy my day went. So kudos to the channel . And I wish all the best to anyone reading this up 👍

[@fdprudhomme5586]

As the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami wrote in "Kafka on the Shore" about Shubert's piano sonatas, the works that possess a kind of imperfection are the ones that speak most to our hearts, precisely because they are imperfect.

[@gustavoodysseytrance4ever706]

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is perfection"

[@user-gn5qt4hi9s]

Such a human-friendly and resource-saving philosophy)) Thanks for these words of wisdom)

[@fawazudeen]

Attaining perfection is like trying to fill a black hole which is highly impossible .! actually the things around us attained perfection except our mind so practice gratitude and appreciate things ❤

[@glintofhappiness7272]

The Chase of Perfection is a Journey of an Imperfect Person while the Acceptance of Reality as it is and let things be as they are is Perfection in its own way, Cause after all the World is Created Perfectly with Imperfect Factors giving One Another meaning which then creates Harmony.

[@ipalion_peace]

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”

[@Reree-gz5bg]

I hear this saying a lot 🙀😬

[@_Solaris]

Aside from some conveniences and relief wealth brings, we all generally suffer the same fate in different ways socially, physically, emotionally, healthwise, psychologically and dealing with events & circumstances beyond our control. No need to feel alone or singled out.

[@dantepieperify]

Bold statement about drug addiction. Doesn’t have to be the urge to pursue a perfect state of mind. People just love getting high, it’s fun and feels good.

[@jkeiffer]

Without imperfection, symmetry wouldn't be a thing. I think the reason people like symmetry is because everything else is imperfect. I enjoyed hearing the comparison between WS and Minimalism.

[@damianlemina9210]

As an imperfect perfection seeker I feel that I should adopt this philosophy to stop this endless frustration and be able to focus on what I should and can do.

[@kyupified2440]

How timely.. I needed this. Fun fact related about this, my classes started a week ago and my goal was to get high grades because my grade last semester almost cause me to be kick out. I told myself to perfect every requirement as long as I can. I unknowingly spent 3 hours perfecting a 100 word paragraph. Also, I fear failing and embarrassment so the anxiety was high.. I feel stupid spending that much of time, at the same time, I hated myself for wasting time on a simple requirement.. in short, I was beating myself down because I feel dumb. I am fighting that feeling tho. But I am so glad I saw this, I am taking this as a reminder that mistakes is a good thing and I shall learn from it instead of beating myself

[@meatmoneymilkmonogamyequal5583]

I love it. I didn't understand before. WE can self improve but WITHOUT the goal of attempting to reach perfection. I also love this idea of "ruthless perfections and chronic dissatisfaction. My lord that's how I've been living part of my life for the past 25 years or so. At 51 years of age I can say that I'm burned out. I don't want to do my best anymore its utterly exhausting and pointless.

[@WeRNthisToGetHer]

Wow,I needed this today. Crazy timing. Thank you! Allowing myself to be imperfect and vulnerable is a neurotic fear I have and lately acceptance is a theme I feel I'm having to grapple with. I can easily accept and even appreciate other people's imperfections, but not my own, for some reason. I actually torture myself, unintentionally, this way. This is helpful.

[@cloudyday1617]

Love yourself, always, the way you are, as long as you aren't a baddie! Simply love yourself 🌸🌸🌸

[@deifor]

ironically, the Japanese make everything as close to perfection as possible.

[@ThatCologneGuy]

Good point.

[@khldounsoulrebel1092]

.

[@BetoAzamar]

I dont think that they are trying to be perfect. They are trying to create balance.

[@harshitrautela6585]

That's what I was thinking too

[@drusilladana4184]

Doing their best.

[@johncrondis4563]

In some schools of thought "desire" or "wanting" is a or the main root of suffering, and I would link that to this video by saying: The desire for perfection is itself imperfect, the desire is erroneous and this means that our idea of perfection is also imperfect. The "imperfect" nature unfolding as it does is in fact to perfect(ing) even if it doesn't align with our desires or our inaccurate perceptions.

[@rifqihatta]

I am obsessed with perfection when it comes to objects like my brand new phone has a little scratch I'd stress over it, buying new shoes and looking for the perfect one. Gladly I started to embrace wabi sabi, and it's very calming

[@robertcorpuz9385]

To Einzelganger,,,, many have studied many ways of thought,,,, and you have the talent of bringing ancient thought into today's issues ,,,,, keep up the good works ,,,,, you have a life time job of explaining ancient and modern thought,,,,, for as we move forward the more we need the wisdom of ancients.....

[@drinnoshika4233]

Not gonna lie Eienzel, started watching your videos a year after moving in with my bf and soon to he husband. Having your calm and collected voice explaining and giving context to these different philosophies and veiw points have helped me with getting over some bad memories. Sometimes i still demand more for myself and im a 22 year old young man, now with this new year i wanna learn how to make a small videogame with my free time, it doesn't need to be amazing but just a game that tells a simple story and doesn't take too much time from the people playing it.

[@nsunny3897]

Mayuri Kurotsuchi gives a very “Wabi-Sabi-like” speech in Bleach, and I guess that’s why this seems like a pretty familiar concept. It’s probably one of the best monologues in the series.

[@shirankedo-ib8uv]

Wabi-sabi and Kintsugi, etc are based on the Buddhist philosophy that "Everything in the world is not constant, but always changing, and nothing is eternal(諸行無常)" and "Everything in the world exists through interconnection, mutual reliance, and mutual assistance, and nothing exists on its own.(諸法無我)" The last words of the Buddha, who breathed his last surrounded by white camellia trees, were "All things are changing."

[@wesleycardinal8869]

I think a deeper level of awareness can be reached where you don't need to go out in the forest to experience beauty, but experience it in the ordinary things right where you are. Leave the shells on the beach, an old cracked mug in the sink offers abundant fractal loveliness and it's not trying to be anything else. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

[@crisaunt]

it’s been long since i incorporated this philosophy into my lifestyle, ive been so overwhelmed these past few years with the way i appear to other people. thank you so much for this video and the book recommendation

[@cloudyday1617]

Love yourself, always do.

[@crisaunt]

@@cloudyday1617 thank u (‘: i’ve been feeling much better lately

[@Munkaa]

Hey! just dropping by to say great video! Loved the footage choice and the music as well!

Thanks! The animations were pretty okay too, I guess ;)

[@Munkaa]

@ oh yeah, they are ok too, do you make them by yourself :D Everything looks great! ;)

[@bkhn8576]

In my country many surveys shows that are large number of the youth have emotional problems. Many of them are given diagnoses and medicine. This happens due to increasing focus on competence and perfection. It´s not the youth that are sick - It´s the society.

[@tessacortes9226]

I grew up with the idea that there are no consequences for trying to be perfect until I developed a mental disorder the last two years of healing have been the most painful of my life but I feel so enlightened I wouldn’t change the experience. I am still sick but I learn the value of taking small steps day by day.

[@AlfredKamon]

I've just bought a book about Wabi-sabi and I absolutely adore this philosophy. Highly recommended, especially if you're always stressed

[@timmunroe7363]

Thou I myself am new to this venture of philosophy, I agree that the values that this teaches is an important one to learn, especially if you are in an environment where everyone else tells you to be perfect.

[@way.truth.life.]

Love this video. It's the first thing that is helping me to feel peace after a long and arduous struggle in a toxic relationship that I've decided to let go of. I was striving for my vision of perfection and was holding on to something that really needed to be released.. thank you.

[@KumarsGaming]

I don't see wabi sabi in your video production quality, I only see perfection lol

[@PeachesSkinCare]

I love this!! I am a holistic Master Esthetician of almost 4 decades and I teach Wabi Sabi🙌🏻 Social media and the pursuit of unattainable perfection is destroying so many. We must love who we are and be grateful for age and uniqueness. We must stop changing our faces and who we are. Wabi sabi embracing the imperfections of life, in ourselves and aging a beautiful gift. Thank you for this. Blessings to everyone 🙌🏻🧡🍑Lisa

[@WeAreAllOneNature]

2:59 'Wabi' refers to simple things in a basic, rough, imperfect, asymmetrical manner - as we find in nature. 'Sabi' refers to things touched by time, and that show signs of decay or damage. 11:40 Focus on the beauty of nature, and open yourself up to it's healing capabilities.

[@mjamesharding]

Sabe originally meant chill, lean, or withered. Wabi originally meant the misery of living alone in nature, away from society, and suggested a discouraged, dispirited, cheerless emotional state. Wabi-sabi: Around the 14th century the meaning of both words began to evolve in the direction of a more positive aesthetic value. Over the intervening centuries the meanings of wabi sabi have crossed over so much that today the line separating them is very blurry indeed. When Japanese today say "wabi" they also mean "sabi" and vice versa. Most people most often people simply say wabi-sabi, the convention adopted for this book. But if we were to consider while being so be a separate entities we could characterize their differences follows: Wabi refers to: a way of life a spiritual path. the inward, the subjective. a philosophical construct. spatial events. Sabi refers to: material objects in art and literature the outward, the objective. an aesthetic ideal temporal events Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren

[@wren_.]

i understand everything else, but how do you find beauty in death? how does it make life more “meaningful” to cut it short?

[@ObakuZenCenter]

@@wren_. You've partly answered your own question. Consider if life was endless (actually it is in a sense but one has to discover that for themselves), apart from anything else, constantly having the same routine, same experiences, nothing left to achieve perhaps, or to learn, that would get pretty boring. So life would be quite meaningless in some ways. Because human life is short, there is then more meaning, not less. As for beauty in death, it's not so much that death itself is beautiful, more that it's actually part of life. It's not separate, and, again, shows us how valuable and beautiful just our being alive is. I hope this helps.

[@wren_.]

@@ObakuZenCenter but there would always be more to do if you were immortal. you would literally have all the time in the world to do anything you wanted to do. there would always be new skills and jobs to master, and there would always be old ones to brush up on. there would be an endless amount of achievements to earn because as you said, people don’t like to sit still for very long and would eventually invent new things.

[@wren_.]

@@ObakuZenCenter death is an obstacle that prevents me from achievement. it permanently locks you out of every other new, cool thing humanity will do forever

[@lesliengo8347]

The process of trying to achieve perfection can really bring us down. And perfection looks different for everyone. Learning to say, "let this be good enough" can help deal with perfectionism. Also, great to meet you

[@AnthonyStJames-yn8nr]

I learned to let go of this pursuit midway into my college days as I've concluded that trying to live up to society's standards and not your own will get one nowhere. Who cares if they disapprove of you, are they the ones living your lives or are they the ones who gave you your life? No, right? Conformity and achieving for something feels great sometimes, but chasing the horizon will just tire you out. Live your life on your terms and don't take lip from others for it.

[@teatimetarot9199]

I remember being so bothered by people and their opinions long back, I felt that external validation is one of the most important thing in life but it wasn’t. True liberation is realising that the only wealth is have is time and the only true emotion is love

[@Franco_Kellerman]

I've watched each and every one of your videos. This one takes the cake!

[@johnsheppard1673]

Apple pie?

[@tonyschwab1108]

Look at a Boulder, it's not symmetrical, has pits, holes, and rough edges. Would you say look at that imperfect rock? It is a Boulder, nonetheless, perfect in its existence.

[@marvelsandals4228]

Exactly. I love this. We can take that one step further. If you look at a car and proclaim "that is a bad boat," you are technically correct. A car would make a lousy boat. Yet, at the same time, the car is not a boat at all: it is a car. This perceived flaw with the car is actually a flaw with our reasoning, in believing that the car ought to be something different. Imagine how ridiculous a man would look pushing a car into a lake, and growing frustrated when it sinks. Yet, isn't that what all of us do so often? We see the world not as it is, but as it is not. You would make a lousy me, and I would make a terrible you. Yet, each of us is exceptional at being who we are. There is no person who has ever lived or who shall ever live who could ever be better at being you, then you. Being who you are comes naturally to you, as natural as it is to a boulder being itself.

[@elonever.2.071]

@@marvelsandals4228 In the 1960's Ford made a small car that you could drive directly into a calm lake and motor across it.

[@65WZ]

I looked up "Wabi-Sabi", and didn't know about it before today. I felt relieved with such approach to life, and as a photographer will begin to observe Wabi-Sabi imperfections in my walks & photograph them. Thank you.

[@lenaalpha456]

Thank you very much. We all know the perfectionism is an unattainable idea, a kind of fiction. But we need to hear this true again and again...

[@elonever.2.071]

Perfection is the state of becoming; and once achieved it loses its allure.

[@johnsheppard1673]

I Am

[@elonever.2.071]

@@johnsheppard1673 And to show for your perfection, you are just some letters on a screen, like everyone else here.

[@goncalovalerio6487]

wabi sabi: "perfection does not exist" horse hairline at 12:00 : 👁👄👁 Einzelganger, thank you for doing this research and video, it really brought me a bit of inner peace and what I believe are the tools to practice the Art of Slowing Down

[@acrylleak4340]

This KZbin Channel is way better than the folks you see around social media doing Fake Motivational Speakers.

[@SomethingEternal]

People chasing ads aren't chasing perfection.. Unless you mean the vacuum in their head.

[@jaytorrent5177]

Thank you for making this video. I am a huge fan of eastern philosophy, but I had never heard of this particular idea before. I've always tried to live my life slowly and find beauty in as many places as I could even if it was only to help my own mental health. Hearing your say "wabi-sabi gives you permission to be yourself" despite it being a quote read off of a script felt incredibly real and beautiful to me, so thank you for the wonderful information and reassurance in my life.

[@danny.golcman6846]

Great Video Einzelganger! Speaking of Wabi Sabi And Simplicity, You should really make a Zen Buddhism Video as it ties in with all those things!

[@victorhugo9]

one of the best videos ive ever seen. perfection is an illusion

[@SushiSuxs]

I've already watched this video, but still come here to be reminded

[@AM23.]

Im sorry to burst your bubble, but this channel is perfect!

[@surfside75]

✔️😁

[@guydude7550]

Yes! Thank you! Ive recently really started to get into and appreciate the philosophy of Wabi Sabi, and I love your videos. Awesome!

[@jojijosette5946]

This content is LIFE-CHANGING for me. Thanks again and again. Priceless, truly. Watching from Los Angeles, the capital of shallowness and showing off. But in truth, there are more content humble people here, than the showbiz type.

[@gregoryburne5251]

I needed this. Thank You.

[@mayankmakhija1879]

Long time subscriber, I don't usually comment on videos but, I do when I truly appreciate some content and this is one of your best in my opinion ❤️ Kudos to you and your work 😊

Thank you Mayank! 🙏

[@mayankmakhija1879]

@ Thank you for such great content brother 😉

[@7eon581]

Thank you so much for your content! Your videos are very enlightening, and they introduce me concepts I might have never stumbled upon, yet needed in my life without knowing it! Keep up the amazing work my friend!

[@shubhamsingh-ob4rt]

i needed this channel so badly

[@alexdelreal4290]

Thank you man, I really needed this video.

[@jtgd]

Now i get the origin of the Epic Rap Battle of History line from Lao Tzu. “You must remember, a bowl is most useful when it is empty”

[@marystacey4796]

Wow! I am blown away by this philosophy. Can’t wait to share it and talk about it

[@b1ngnx33]

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR VIDEOS!!!! TYVM!!!!

[@__-nw8xu]

OMG, I really needed this. Thank you so much.

[@naujaral2131]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom 🙏 this wabi Sabi concept makes so much sense!

[@luvpcmom]

Truly enlighting, glad that I learn something precious in this channel, especially this video.

[@liberatetheforks]

Thank you for posting. I needed this

[@misscoccinell9659]

Appreciating this channel more and more with each video thank you!😌🙏

[@Yourhighnessnona]

Wabi Sabi does embrace imperfection due to the natural unfolding of nature/life (change is just a metaphor for life, in the words of Alan Watts) and its principles, making things, people and situations beautifully imperfect as they naturally are.

[@JosephineGyps]

Thank you! This came up on my feed at the exact moment I needed to hear this. 💖 Calmed me and made me remember perspectives on things. This makes me able to focus instead of being anxious about a mistake I made at work, and when more focused I’ll perform better.

[@simondesu1]

This is one of the best explanations of Wabi Sabi I’ve come across. I feel it’s one of the hardest concepts to fully grasp - and perhaps one of the most misunderstood. This video really simplifies it.

[@rinariribee]

This channel has saved me many times. Thank you.

[@myachappell3383]

Thank you for creating this wonderful and informative video!

[@j3s333]

What an amazing nuanced insightful video. Thank you for the time you put in this, I appreciate you and wish you happiness stranger :)

[@ishitasharan8201]

I really needed this at this particular time.

[@nadilay2577]

Great timing i saw this video! I've come to the point in my life where i'm too worried abt what if i become nothing, so i try so hard and push myself into the place and call it self-improvement the whole time by myself, but what i didn't really notice until you explain is that i was just chasing the idea of 'perfection' the whole time. Maybe that's why i always feel exhausted. I know that everything is about timing, and the universe doesn't allow perfection to anybody. We are here to embrace, to appreciate and to be grateful. I have to practice that one more time i think.

[@suzakico]

Well done and Thank you! There are lots of subtleties that we may miss when we are caught up in our mind. I have moved out of Japan 40 years ago, now at 74 yrs, with deep exposure with Zen, but more. As you guys may be already doing in your channel, if we could shed a light to our life from various angles, it may gradually penetrate into our deep consciousness/heart and awaken it, so that we may find a way to bring out the wisdom and compassion to enrich our life! Be well! Kio

[@sophieartmusic]

I’m happy that it doesn’t take much for me to be happy. I strive to see beauty in almost anything, especially witnessing love. ❤️

[@senseivictoriawhitfield3868]

I needed to hear this today. Thank you 🙏 ❤

[@iheysel]

I didn't know how much I needed this. Thank you