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It's cherry blossom season in Japan right now and it's exquisite

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Koel Purie Rinchet
Koel Purie RinchetApr 08, 2017 | 17:35

It's cherry blossom season in Japan right now and it's exquisite

In Japan you learn many things just by being. Their gentle, regimented, Zen way of living is ingrained in them at their mother’s knee, and a lot of it is governed from the way they see and absorb the natural world. It’s now Sakura or Cherry Blossom season (although it really should be called days) and, with typical Japanese precision, the flowers bloom on the exact date, for exactly as long as they are predicted to.

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Now that I’ve been living here for more than a year, I am convinced there has to be more to Sakura than just the beauty of the flowers, or the contents of your hanami (flower viewing) bento, or whether or not you managed to grab the best picnic spot under the tree. My Japanese friend tells me she panics every year about being able to do hanami or where she’ll get to see it. When I say, “What’s the big deal? You see it every year”, she frowns at my philistine ignorance and ends the conversation by saying, “I feel great sadness if I miss it.”

Contemplating beauty for the sake of beauty for sure is very Japanese, but what is the deeper thought? Trust me, there always is one here. Being the eager beaver that I am, I abandoned my wonderful Hanami Sake soaked picnic in search of the great teachings.

This is the big one - wabi sabi, which roughly translates into the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Even a Japanese person struggles to explain this ancient cultural concept fully; it has to be intuitively felt. It is the idea of finding beauty in impermanence and embracing its limitations.

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The much-loved cherry blossom only blooms at its peak for a few hours - it’s literally here now - look away and it may be blown off by a strong wind but the impact it leaves can last a lifetime. People from all over the world plan their trips to catch a glimpse of this fleeting bloom. No doubt, for most of them, the allure is because it’s a rare fortunate sighting that they can strike off their bucket list. But the fact that it is so transient, like the fragility of human existence, means you have to be in the moment whether you intend it or not, else you will miss it.

It is neither the most striking nor perfect flower. It has a quiet, elusive, loveliness that can be overlooked if the viewer is not receptive. It teaches you to be present and alive and soak in the here and now. It doesn’t matter if it’s colder than usual, if the gardens are bursting at the seams, if people are stepping on your mat or if you can barely see a blossom, when you are here on the days of the peak bloom then you will put your picnic basket together, wrap yourself as warmly as possible and appreciate it or you will be the bigger fool. I love this idea so much because I live more and more by one maxim - maximise the moment.

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Contemplating beauty for the sake of beauty for sure is very Japanese, but what is the deeper thought? Photo: Mail Today

We are scared of setting a timetable or putting pressure on ourselves to enjoy ourselves. The way I see it, life is too short and rushed to wait for these moments to happen organically by magic. If they do, great, nothing like it, but meanwhile I’m taking a leaf (or a petal) off the Japanese book and planning my pleasure to the hour. If this is too much stress for you then go ahead and wait for it all to come together naturally and carry on doing whatever you are doing. But I’m a woman on a mission not to miss a thing.

Another friend explained the appeal of the cherry blossom in a way that was akin to life. Unlike other flowers, the Sakura bloom together, in clusters - which is similar to the way we live in society. People need each other to “flower” and thrive, together we add meaning and splendour to each other’s lives. It is also a very unique flower; it never droops or clings to life. It goes from peak magnificence to falling down - wafting gently in the breeze as it falls, still showering the awestruck spectators with petals even with its dying breath. It’s proud of its glory but knows that it cannot go on eternally. This is the embodiment of extreme, disappearing beauty.

The flower does not lose its exquisiteness by being temporary. If anything, its ephemeral nature adds to its appeal. It requires strength to let something beautiful go and not hold on to it. The flower fills you with joy and then leaves you empty. This melancholy is part of life and must be accepted. Understanding this idea that nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect can bring us great peace. The Japanese not only learn from nature but they capitalise on its examples to heal their pain. The story of the cherry blossom has often been used as a metaphor to console soldiers and warriors who know they will not return and yet will leave a lasting impression.

Now that I’ve unravelled some of the veneration, I must run with my bento box to grab that perfect spot under the quickly disappearing tree.

(Courtesy: Mail Today)

Last updated: April 08, 2017 | 17:35
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