[I want you to find your own answers to Sashiko instead of the answer someone made for their convenience or profit]. This is my reply to a question, “What is the right answer for Sashiko”. Unfortunately, some people are not happy with this reply. They even accused me of being “stingy” for not sharing the answers. I am understanding why this type of issue happens – it is because of the difference in our “belief” – and therefore, it is extremely important to share the stories from Cultural perspective.
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Japanese believe(d) that every matter has their own spirit in it (Kind of Animism). We called the spirits “Kami (Sama)” as translated to “God” in English. However, “Kami” in Japanese and “God” in English are not always the same. “God” in Western Culture usually exists outside of our body – to worship. In my understanding, “Kami” in Japanese exists within ourselves – as everyone of us has our own “God” within. A mirror (Kagami) is something to reflect on ourselves. In Japanese, “Ga” can mean “sense of myself”. When we take out “Ga” from ourselves in the mirror (Kagami) – what is left there…? This may be a simple wordplay, but as Japanese has its long history as the language, I think it has more meaning than just a play. Listen to your own story instead of looking for fabricated instant gratification. When you are ready to do so, my stories will sink in more easily & you will find many more answers in what I am sharing.
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「本音と建前」という素晴らしい（？）文化が日本にはあって、この本音と建前という二層構造が社会的に存在できる要素の一つが、「自分の声を聞く」ことができる文化だからだと思っています。絶対的な答え（唯一神）が自分の外に存在する西洋と違い、私達はなんだかんだ言って答えは自分の中にあると思ってたりします。だから必要以上に争わないし、結果として「本音」と「建前」という暗黙の了解が言葉になっているのかなと。ちなみに英語圏の方が「建前」の重要性が高いです。基本的に英語圏の社交的な会話の中で本音は求められません。（How are you? の答えに本音で体調が悪いとか答えるのは基本的にNG）。
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刺し子をお伝えする中で思うのは、上記のような「日本人らしさ」を大切にして欲しいなと思うことです。その「日本人らしさ」が良いか悪いかは状況によって変わってくるのですが、少なくとも安易に出される答えに盲目的に従うような文化の失われ方は嫌なのです。運針というリズムの中の刺し子は自分の声を聞くことができる時間です。そんな刺し子も広まって欲しいなと思うのです。
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2023-01-07 00:33:22
Great story 🙏🏼
Thank you for sharing this message.
I have been studying and learning for many decades now. I think that part of the problem in western thinking began with poor translation. Leaders who have not learned critical thinking or who simply thought that spiritual growth could be forced created different kinds of problems. And today, with all the careless use of media plus a lack of real education, many have lost touch with the spiritual or else don’t have much understanding of it. ‘Sacred’ is not part of many people’s lives these days. If I look at a large forest and see it as one thing, ‘forest’, then I am seeing the One-ness of it. If I look at each of the parts of the forest, I do not say “Oh, there are many pieces, so there is no One-ness”. Instead I see the One-ness is in each part. To me, this is not Animism; just a different way of knowing. I have one body. If I speak of my ‘arm’ or ‘hair’ or ‘brain’ (which will always be invisible to me), I am not saying I have many bodies or that the one body does not exist. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I wish I could sit with you and share a conversation (or many) One last thought: in western culture I often hear people talking about whether people have souls, or do souls exist. I feel they have it backward in that they identify with the body they can see. If the question were reversed “I am a soul. Do I have a body?” How different the discussion would become. I will stop here for now. I look forward to your next posting. Have a wonderful, creative day!
A great explanation. I have visited Motegi, Japan, and surrounding area many times. I also watch NHK which is a great exposure to Japan and its culture. You have helped me even more in understanding the differences in our cultures.
Thank you for your precious sharing. It is so good to hear your stories of your way of sashimi.
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So beautiful !!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing🙏🏻
Así es Atsushi Kami espíritu está dentro nuestro. Es nuestra esencia. Cuando hacemos Sashiko u otro arte tradicional lo expresamos con Kami. Es nuestra conexión al Cielo. ❤️🙌🙌🙌
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Thank you for sharing, being open and educating. These words are so good for me to hear. As often seems to be the case, the English language is lacking in these deep differences, variations and ways of feeling / thinking / being.
Exquisite.
Thank you for your never ending patience #onelove