Aesthetics that begin with "just sitting" - Dogen and the tranquility of WABISUKE

Aesthetics that begin with "simply sitting" - Dogen and the tranquility of WABISUKE

Morning in Kyoto. A single fallen leaf flutters down an alleyway that is still deserted.
What do we feel in that silence?

WABISUKE values ​​the sense of "white space" and "space."
This idea resonates deeply with the idea of ​​"shikantaza" (simple meditation) preached by the Kamakura period Zen monk Dogen. Who was Dogen?

Dogen (1200–1253) was the founder of the Japanese Soto sect and taught that “Zazen is the whole of Buddhism.”
His words are difficult to understand, yet somehow poetic and quietly powerful.

"Flowers in spring, nightingales in summer, the moon in autumn, and cold snow in winter."

Like this song, Dogen found the image of Buddha in the changing of the seasons.
This is a sensibility that is also reflected in the seasonal illustrations and color choices that WABISUKE draws.

"Being" rather than "doing" - Dogen's philosophy and the nature of brands

In today's world, emphasis tends to be placed on "what to do" and "how to present it."
However, Dogen taught that all the answers lie in "simply sitting."

WABISUKE also values ​​"how we exist" rather than "what we sell."
The stories behind the products, the meaning behind the colors, and the tranquility that permeates the air.
Like Dogen's philosophy, they contain beauty that is beyond words.

To the younger generation: Recommending "sitting"

In our busy lives, finding time to do nothing can be a little intimidating.
But Dogen says, "To sit is to become a Buddha."

We hope that WABISUKE's items and blog will inspire you to take that "sitting time."
For example, try taking a deep breath while looking at an illustration of the season.
That alone might just change the way you see the world.