Most people in Western culture are not familiar with the Japanese term “wabi-sabi.” I recently discovered this term myself and quickly observed how it equates to Joshua’s teachings about perfect flaws. Basically, wabi-sabi is the tradition of honoring the beauty of imperfection and the flaws that appear due to the passage of time.
Wabi-sabi honors three simple realities: 1) nothing lasts, 2) nothing is finished, and 3) nothing is perfect. Joshua’s philosophy grasps these simple realities completely, yet Joshua looks upon these realities as being perfectly designed flaws in conscious awareness.
To illustrate perfect flaws, Joshua urged me to enter the following ancient Chinese story in the book:
An elderly Chinese woman had two large water pots; each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”
The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.
“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
Joshua reminds us that we are loved as we are – with our perfectly designed flaws. He urges us to accept that it is our flaws that result in creating beauty, not perfection like so many seek, but natural beauty. Let nature be the mirror. Furthermore, Joshua wants us to remember this story when you judge the perfect flaws of others or when you feel ashamed of your own perfect flaws. I have grown to accept that our nature to judge ourselves is one of our perfect flaws, and this characteristic of human nature serves a perfect function.
Acceptance of our innate perfect flaws results in a release of stress. We experience freedom as we release unrealistic expectations of perfection. We feel more lighthearted when we let go of idealistic notions. For example, I stop expecting perfection from my body, my relationships, my job, my boss, my government, and so on. Expecting perfection always results in disappointment, and feeling disappointed is a form of needless suffering.
I advocate and hold the intention of doing my best. However, I accept that my best effort may fluctuate as I pass through peaks and valleys on my journey. An intention to do my best is an easy shift away from expecting perfection. Doing my best is truly all I can do, so expecting myself to do better than my best is unrealistic and stress inducing. Doing my best includes the intention to learn from my mistakes, and in this intention, I fully accept and own the mistakes I make. Intending to do better next time is not equal to expecting perfection next time. I’m sure you get my point.
As I see it, living a wabi-sabi life brings peace of mind and heart. Accepting perfect flaws in All That Is allows us to appreciate simplicity and enjoy beauty in our imperfection. Hearing the joy and love in the ancient Chinese story shared here, if you call me a crackpot I will laugh.
We’d all like to be perfect. We’d all like to have only strengths and not weaknesses, if for no other reason than to contribute the very best to society. Especially now, with the approaching opposition between Uranus and Saturn we are probably painfully aware of our imperfections (Saturn in Virgo) and our aspiration for perfection (Uranus in Pisces). Another way of saying this is we may feel torn between working the way we have in the past with all our imperfections (Saturn in Virgo) or breaking into a new pattern that we think will insure a more perfect future (Uranus in Pisces).
I appreciate your comment, Kyle. I’m not very familiar with astrology, so I respect your expertise. I agree that the movements of astral bodies have an effect on our electromagnetic field. The (usually) unseen electromagnetic field has influence on our feelings and thoughts. In my opinion, when we are awakened, we may consciously determine how to behave. The sleeping populace is more easily swayed in one direction or another–this is the result of being led by our unconscious thoughts and feelings.
Joshua’s teaching about perfect flaws is aimed at helping us accept our so judged imperfections. His goal is to remind us that we are worthy of love just the way we are. I agree with you that our personal, local, and global society is awakening to a new way of life that is based on love rather than fear. Therefore, we are developing new patterns (habits). I appreciate your insight into how astrology is supporting our transformation. 🙂 JOY!
I don’t need perfect. I don’t even like perfect. Perfection scares me because I know that if one experiences or witnesses perfection, its sustainability is improbable at best and more likely impossible…. If it even existed in the first place. Sure we all use the word pretty freely to describe some incredibly favorable and positive … “thing”, but unless we are talking about something that can be mathematically or scientifically quantified or qualified, then we are subjectively measuring that which is arbitrarily subjective and “measured” differently by each and every one of us.
I agree with you completely, Roxie. The point of the blog is to accept that as humans we are flawed. Nature herself/itself displays flaws. Joshua’s expression regarding our “perfect” flaws is intended to help us accept our flaws and recognize the beauty in flawed human nature. Thus, we can breathe easily when we make mistakes, etc. We need not be harsh in our judgment of others or ourselves when we err. I completely agree that striving for some idealized notion of perfection is stress inducing. Seeking some ideal of what is “perfect” is an impossible quest. Thank you very much for your comment. I hear you very clearly. I appreciate your input on this topic. Shine on! 🙂
Joshua’s teaching about perfect flaws is aimed at helping us accept our so judged imperfections. His goal is to remind us that we are worthy of love just the way we are.