With notifications after notifications popping up every second, we exist in a perpetual sprint, hurtling at a relentless pace with no intention of slowing down. With every second, the world gets smaller and the days shorter. How many have reached the end of their journey on this earth and asked: what the heck just happened?!
Living life in the fast lane has a detrimental impact on our overall well-being. Many people find themselves scattered, overwhelmed, and stressed as the ever-mounting demands of life outweigh their resources. For these reasons, meditation is a highly sought-after method to help manage daily life’s stress and anxiety. It is so hot, in fact, that Amazon lists over 50,000 results when searching “meditation”. It doesn’t matter what kind of meditation practice one does, whether focus-based, mindfulness, or transcendental; the goal is to be in the present moment.
The art of Japanese Calligraphy is unique because it is a physical activity that brings us to be fully in the present moment while revealing our current mental state. The practice of Japanese calligraphy demands patience, undivided attention, and complete concentration. It is not effortless, and we must throw our entire body and mind fully into the activity of writing with a brush. Anything less than that will result in poor lines smeared on the paper.
Through the principles of patience, undivided attention, and complete concentration, calligraphy practice slows us down and brings us fully to the present moment. When we hold the brush and move its bristles across the paper, we are one with it. Nothing else exists at that moment. Therefore, we can remain serene amidst chaos and alleviate the pressures of daily life. Although at first, we may use calligraphy practice as a form of escapism. However, when we recognize our clear state of mind while writing with a brush, we are capable of maintaining such a state throughout the rest of our daily lives.
Consequently, when we write calligraphy in a wholly integrated manner, it reflects us back in the brushstrokes. The calligraphy is a representation of our state of mind, and it can affect others as well. If the practice of calligraphy brings us to a state of clarity, our calligraphy can bring clarity to those who encounter it.