Reni’s sharing
This morning at the zendo, I had the joy of sharing the concept of “omoiyari” with everyone. Kaz & I worked together on a wood panel design which would reflect our community’s mindset. Omoiyari seemed like the perfect expression on how kindly we treat each other. I’m a complete beginner in shodo as you can see from my Japanese kanji writings. It took me just a moment to embrace the concept in my heart but many months before I was ready to write “omoiyari”on the wood piece. Erin Niimi Longhurst beautifully describes “Omoi” and “omoiyari” as a Japanese term that embodies selfless compassion and empathy towards others. Omoi can refer to the way people think, or their feelings, emotions, sentiments or desires all accumulated into their whole existence. Omoiyari is about anticipating the needs of others in an altruistic way, imbued with sympathy and empathy, without expecting anything in return.
In the book she describes various ways to express omoiyari such as mottainai, kirei, teinei, zakka, wa, omotenashi, onkochishin, senbazuru, omakase and so on. In kirei we find harae which is a Shinto shrine purification process where you wash your hands with temizuya water by mindfully using a hisaku. Omoiyari could be as simple as being mindful and kind in our daily interactions, not just towards others but also towards ourselves. Sometimes, we can help others so easily that we forget about our own needs. Omoiyari reminds us to be kind to ourselves as well.
Kaz added an everyday example from Japanese culture. He explained how even aligning shoes neatly at the entrance of a home is an act of omoiyari. It makes it easier for guests to enter, showing consideration for others. This small act is deeply embedded in daily life in Japan.
At the Zendo, we practice omoiyari by being mindful as we enter the space. We take a moment to center ourselves and be present with each other. This simple act of mindfulness sets the tone for a harmonious environment.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share omoiyari with my zen community. It’s inspiring to see how this concept resonates with everyone and how we can incorporate it into our daily lives, creating a more compassionate and mindful zendo.
Thank you for embracing this journey with me.
Warm regards,
Reni
Hakone Zendo 