The Asian Stoic

Maybe because I was born in Japan I seem to have one foot in the Western traditions and another in the Asian. I love the parallels in how religion, politics and philosophy developed in each part of the world in near similar time. Asking similar questions but developing different approaches.

On the Western approach, I have read Ryan Holiday’s Daily Stoic for several years. I love the insight and takeaways that are provided each day. Short, pithy, and to the point. Always something to carry with you. An excellent guide for living day to day and how to ground yourself to life's challenges.

I believe that stoicism began with man as a part of nature integrated into the philosophy. However, over time, nature seems to have been left behind. Recent Stoic writings seem to focus only on the human dimension.

On the Eastern approach, serendipity came into play. I was looking for Japanese beauty products as a gift for my wife and came across Tatcha, an American firm with a line of skin products based on geishas and what they use to stay beautiful. I ended up purchasing some things, including their Rice Wash, which I eventually stole from her and use as my shaving cream. The best.

In exploring the Tatcha website, I found a blog that has some interesting articles. One was “How to Be a Mindful Multitasker.” The article listed eight Japanese philosophical elements that can apply to life:

Wabi sabi: Imperfections make things more unique. “We can so often feel pulled off-balance by a desire to do each and every thing perfectly, in work and in life. This philosophy teaches us to embrace the flaws.”

Ichi-go, ichi-e: Just this one moment, once in a lifetime. “This saying reminds us of the preciousness of each interaction we have.”

Omakase: Entrust to others. “This word is most often encountered at sushi bars, but also applies to our lives. When ordering, it gives the chef authority to make what they want for you, at the price they set. In life, it reminds us to trust and lean on the people who surround us to help us achieve what we need to do.”

Kaizen: Make small, continuous improvements. “It might not seem like much, but kaizen teaches us to take small steps, towards the change we want.”

Shankankan: The beauty of taking your time. “It is easy for us to rush through our work, turning them into mindless endeavors. Shankankan reminds us to slow down, to take time and even enjoy the work at hand.”

Nyunanshin: Have a flexible mind. “Originating in martial arts, the concept of nyunanshin says that we should maintain an open mind and be receptive to new teachings. There are always more efficient or better ways of completing the task at hand. Whether it’s advice from a successful friend or listening to a productivity podcast, seek out new perspectives.” This was where Bruce Lee was a true master.

Chisoku: Know when enough is enough. “Chisoku comes from a zen principle that says there is no limit to human desire. As such, it is up to us to know when to be satisfied. It can be easy to lose ourselves in a flurry of work, but chisoku reminds us to know when our work is done, so we can step away and enjoy other things.”

Yataiki: Find joy in small things. “Even when tasks seem mindless, there are ways to make them uplifting. In the same way a child finds joy in the smallest things, allow yourself to notice the beauty of the flowers as you run, or the sound of your favorite song as you work.”

It is amazing to me how the Japanese are able to wrap a whole way of living in one or two words. Once you translate the meaning it just washes over you.

I need grounding every day, probably more than most. And it needs to be more than just gazing at my belly button. An approach I use is to look at the Daily Stoic which shows up in my mailbox daily. That takes 5 minutes in terms of reading and reflection. Next I read a verse out of the Daodejing. Another 5 minutes of reading and reflection. Finally, I review the 8 Japanese elements to remind me on how to approach the day.

I have found that by combining what the Stoics taught in terms of human interaction combined with Asian concepts for living brings me the best of both worlds. It is just like shaving, a sharp German blade combined with Japanese Rice Wash starts the day out right.

Pat