What Is 'Ichigo Ichie?'
The phrase “Ichigo Ichie” is a Japanese four character that translates to “one time, one meeting.” Ichi-go means "One lifetime" and Ichi-e means "One encounter."
They represent together a powerful truth: When you meet the same person twice in your life, basic things such as the mood and the conversation will never be exactly the same again.
The Origins
This ritual is deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism and the 16th century Japanese tea ceremony “Chado.” The legendary tea master Sen no Rikyu taught that both the host and the guest should treat their meeting with utmost sincerity, acting as if it were the first and final time they are meeting with each other.
Advantages of Practicing Ichigo Ichie
An individual who will adopt Ichigo Ichie in their life, this practice will create a radical shift in their mental well-being:
By implementing this once in a lifetime moment in your life, you will stop living in the past and future and start living and enjoying your present moments,
When you don't repeat the conversations that were already discussed back in the past, you prove to be a better listener and a better individual,
You begin to notice the smallest things of your daily life and start appreciating them. The things could include anywhere from the aroma of coffee, the texture of a sweater, or the specific hue of a sunset,
This practice never asks the individual to create a “perfect” moment, rather it is all about appreciating the unique and authentic reality of the current one.
Also Read: The Blue Zone: Can Spending A Week In Okinawa Change Your Life!
How to Live The Ichigo Ichie Way
Any individual can start practicing this ritual in their daily life. They do not need a tea room to practice this philosophy. Below are some of the simplest ways through which you can practice this art into your daily life’s routine:
As it is already known, smartphones and digital gadgets are our greatest enemies. When you are in a group of people, always try to give your undivided attention to these people. However, if you look at your screen during that moment, then you are effectively telling the “once in a lifetime” moment that it isn't worth your time.
Start treating your daily rituals such as “drinking morning tea” as a ceremony. For this, you can motivate the steam rising from the hot mug of tea and lastly the warmth of the mug which is holding the tea. By doing this, you will not only enjoy that particular moment but also treat that experience as your first and final one.
Japanese culture believes in the philosophy of “Wabi-sabi,” which means beauty is found in the fleeting as well as in the most flawed objects or moments. Hence, if certain things do not go just as we planned, don't think that it was your final goal. It is our “mistakes” that we make through this process that makes that specific experience a unique one on its own.
Everyday, you can stop several times a day to identify one thing that you can smell, taste, touch, hear and see. These simple sensory actions act as a “mental anchor,” which instantly connects your brain to the present moment.
