Embracing Life as It Is: Lessons from Wabi-Sabi, Haiku, and Zen

In haiku, we pay attention to the moment without embellishment. We embrace the moment as it is, not how we would like it to be. Just this, right here, right now.

Wabi-sabi is valuing imperfection, impermanence, and the natural devolving of everything born or made. Just this, right here, right now, as is.

Zen also teaches us to pay attention. The past is gone. The future is unknown. The only thing we have is this present moment. Meditation helps us to mindfully attend to this moment, just this breath, right here and right now. We learn to be where we are completely.

Our premise is that wabi-sabi, haiku, and zen all provide important lessons in many things, including selflessness, acceptance, non-discrimination, compassion, and self-compassion.

Dr. Alan Gettis is a clinical psychologist who is well steeped in both Western psychology and Eastern philosophy. His collection of "Upside Down World" self-help books includes the critically acclaimed Seven Times Down, Eight Times Up: Landing on Your Feet in an Upside Down World, the award-winning The Happiness Solution: Finding Joy and Meaning in an Upside Down World, and the highly praised It's All Part of the Dance: Finding Happiness in an Upside Down World. In the 1960s Dr. Gettis was a Vietnam-era army psychologist stationed at a military hospital, and in the 1970s he was chief psychologist at a large mental health center in Northern New Jersey. Since 1974 he has maintained a private practice where he specializes in individual psychotherapy for adults. Dr. Gettis holds degrees from four different universities, including Utah State University and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons..

Carl Bachmann received Dharma transmission from Roshi Robert Kennedy in 2010 and obtained the White Plum Asanga title of sensei. He took the dharma name "Genjo," meaning "original silence." At his installation, he said, "Zen has helped me experience the intimacy of not knowing, allowing me to live a more connected and openhearted life. Teaching is an opportunity to help others experience this for themselves and to serve the greater community that is us." Sensei Bachmann teaches at Clear Mountain Zen Center in Montclair, New Jersey.

Cyndi Goetcheus Sarfan is a fine art and nature photographer living on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. She has traveled the world and has created an extreme portfolio of wabi-sabi images that can be viewed at wabisabiimages.com. She considers her finest creations to be her sons, Ryan and Austin Sarfan. Ms. Goetcheus is a member of numerou state, regional, and national associations of artists and photographers. A variety of her photos are available at cjnewlifephotography.com.