Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of rhyming Japanese philosophy, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I started this whole thing because, well, I’m a huge fan of Japanese culture and thought, but I also love a good rhyme. It’s like peanut butter and jelly – two great things that you wouldn’t necessarily think go together, but they totally do!
So, I dove headfirst into this project. I started by just reading a bunch of stuff about Japanese philosophy. You know, the usual suspects: Wabi-Sabi, Uketamo, and Shikata ga nai. All those concepts that are supposed to bring you inner peace and stuff. I scribbled down some notes, trying to wrap my head around these ideas that have been around for centuries.
My First Attempts
Then came the fun part – or at least, what I thought would be the fun part. I tried to take these profound philosophical concepts and turn them into rhymes. My first few attempts were… well, let’s just say they were pretty bad. I struggled to find the right words, the right rhythm. It was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
Here’s one of my early attempts, don’t laugh too hard:
- Wabi-Sabi, oh so grand,
- Beauty in things, not so planned.
Yeah, not exactly Shakespeare, right? I kept at it though. I experimented with different rhyming schemes, different rhythms. I read my rhymes out loud, cringing at some of them, but also getting a little excited when one actually sounded halfway decent.
Things Started to Click
Slowly but surely, things started to click. I found that the shorter, simpler rhymes worked best. And I realized that I didn’t need to explain the whole philosophy in the rhyme, just capture a little piece of it, a feeling, a vibe.
Here are a few that I’m actually kind of proud of:
- Uketamo, let it be,
- Flow like water, wild and free.
- Shikata ga nai, don’t you fret,
- Some things happen, just accept.
I shared these rhymes with a few friends, and they actually liked them! They said it was a fun and accessible way to think about these ancient ideas. One friend even suggested I make a little book out of them. Not going to lie, that idea is pretty tempting.
Still Learning
So, that’s where I’m at with this whole rhyming Japanese philosophy thing. It’s been a fun, challenging, and surprisingly rewarding experience. I’m still learning, still experimenting, and still having a blast. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll actually have a whole collection of these things. Until then, I’ll just keep rhyming and keep exploring these fascinating concepts from the other side of the world.
