For me, “Acceptance (To Accept)” is one way to explain what “Japanese (Culture)”

For me, “Acceptance (To Accept)” is one way to explain what “Japanese (Culture)” is. Naturally, it requires us to have a proper understanding & application of “Acceptance” to understand what Sashiko is. “Acceptance” is rather easy for us (Japanese) as it has been a part of our lives. However, in contrast, “Acceptance” seems to be quite challenging to Western Mindset regardless how much the trend pushes them to “accept”. The “Acceptance” I talk about (and in Sashiko) has one characteristic. It is the Acceptance of “As is”. When one changes the condition of “As is”, it is not Acceptance any longer – it is “Interpretation”. And, today’s Sashiko in English is full of “Interpretation” – I appreciate you being here to understand this, yet you are a minority in this Sashiko Trend. The Majority of people who enjoy Sashiko “change” based on what they want, comfort, and profit. There is nothing wrong with “Interpretation” – it is just unfair that they say it is not “their interpretation” – otherwise, how can one teach Sashiko without even understanding this “Acceptance” in Japanese?
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Needless to say, the Western Values lead us to be here. Needless to say, there are other “values” than Western Values. Umm. Is it “Needless to say”? Probably, I need to say it. When they teach Sashiko with mixing some cultural values, then one has to learn very seriously. When they use the words “WabiSabi”, “Zen”, or “All you need to know” – then it is for marketing purposes. Sashiko is simple & easy, but also very deep. Enjoying Sashiko will never be disrespectful to me. However, when they say they know about Sashiko (enough to teach) – it is disrespectful & disgusting.
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前回の投稿で「教えるなら中途半端なことはするな」と書きました。ふと「中途半端」への想いについてもご紹介しておきたいなと思い至りました。技術面において、どの師も弟子も道中です。学びがある以上、道への中途で、半端を埋めるための日々です。極論、「中途半端」でなくなることは有り得ないと思っています。では上記の「教える際の中途半端」とは何かというと、「覚悟」の話です。もっと簡単にいうと、心構え。何かを人様に仕事として教えるのであれば、その「何か」に関わる人全てに変化を齎す可能性を抱える覚悟です。私の刺し子が強くなったのは、私達の刺し子がウェブ上で少しずつですがご覧頂けるようになったのは、この覚悟があったからだと思っています。
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現在、英語圏で刺し子を教えている人の中に「覚悟」を醸し出している人はいません。腰掛けなのにも関わらず、覚悟がないのにも関わらず、「日本人は英語ができない」というだけで何か大切なものが書き換えられようとしています。刺し子が、ただのエンターテイメントだけになって終わってほしくないのですよ。
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2023-07-10 02:59:42

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