Zen circle what does it mean

No-mindfulness is one of the pillars of Zen Buddhism that encourages the connection with the spiritual rather than the physical. As such, drawing the Enso circle has been referred to as the Zen way of the brush.

It is simple because it is a circle but it is a very demanding experience because there is no explanation. You need to live with it. An Enso is done decisively, once and no correcting. But it is not so creative. So drawing a Zen circle is a creative experience without using creativity. In art and aesthetics, the expression of a temporary and imperfect beauty is called Wabi-Sabi.

Think of it as the feeling you get when you see a chipped rustic old china-bowl or the sense of awe evoked by a harsh landscape. It is the perfection of the lotus blooming in a muddy pond. In its aesthetic essence, Wabi-Sabi is natural, authentic, asymmetrical, rough, simple and minimal. The reality of life is that nothing lasts, nothing is complete, and nothing is perfect.

Every time the calligrapher has to draw a new Enso, the previous is left behind. This transition is the impermanence of everything. Drawing an Enso can be defined as the practice of expressing the imperfect suffering, emptiness beauty life, awareness, freedom of the present moment, letting it go and starting all over again. In this Art, skill is not important.

The story is told of a young Zen monk named Hakuin. He had undergone intensive symbol painting—his strokes were exemplarily polished. One day, he saw the work of an old Zen Master whom he greatly admired. On reflecting upon this, Hakuin realized that his work had not come from an expression of self-realization, but from the learning.

Realizing that Zen art grows from years of discipline and quest for enlightenment, Hakuin burned his brushes and did not return to art until after 40 years of Zen practice. The moral of this story is that Zen art is an outward expression of the inner state. Drawing an Enso takes as long as it takes to awaken. For most of us, this is a lifetime job. The beauty of it is that even the imperfection of the beginner is perfect because it serves to capture the present moment.

Keep reading to find out more. The circle itself is created with only one brushstroke and is a hand-brushed circle that is traditionally painted in a single breath. It has also been coined as the imperfect circle as in many of the zen circles, the start and end of the brushstroke do not meet.

The enso is usually drawn with black ink on white paper. It looks great and just adds peace to the room. The Zen circle is painted as part of the calligraphy process and is used to express the complexities of the Buddhist religion. Painting the Zen Circle occurs in a moment when the mind is at peace and free to allow the body to create. The symbol can only be drawn correctly by someone who is complete both mentally and spiritually. The space within that circle is the emptiness, or the void, the understanding of which lies at the heart of Zen, and the experience of which is the goal of meditation.

It embodies one of the defining aspects of Zen Buddhism, the no-mind concept. A state of no-mind is where a person is free from thoughts and emotions while being completely present in the now. It is believed that true creativity can arise while the person who draws it manifests the state of total presence. Creating the zen circle is often done standing, so the brush stroke is the expression of the complexity of the body-mind.

At first glance, this symbol appears to be nothing more than a circle. In Japan, circles maru in Japanese are encountered quite often. Zen: simple, easy, tranquil. Zen Buddhists do not believe in a personal God or a Divine being that reigns on the Universe. Zen Buddhism does not have any worshiping, praying, or praising of a divine being.

Originating from a Chinese philosophy dating back to ancient times, yin yang tattoos work to symbolize the unity in opposites. First conceptualized around the 3rd century BCE, by the Chinese school of YinYang, this iconic symbol holds great meaning. Om is a symbol conveying many meanings. The sound Om contains three other sound A-U-M. The circle represents heaven, eternity, and the universe. It symbolizes the idea of unity, infinity, perfection, and utmost perfection.

A circle limits an infinite space within, but the circular motion that makes up this space is infinite. It represents the infinite nature of energy, and the inclusivity of the universe.

Our ancient kin observed a circular aspect to the cycles of time, specifically in the movements of the seasons. An Enso is not a character, but rather a symbol influenced by Japanese calligraphy. Three bold, thick, black lines that wrap around the arm or leg, or any other body part, is often an expression of symmetry and the uniformity that is found in nature.