Bring Boketto (back) into your life

The Japanese art of non-doing

As I was trying to organise my photos - for the umpteenth time, and still without much success - I came across this photo taken about 6 years ago in Wales. I know I look utterly brainless (doh!), as if I were lost in my own self. Ela and Ricky look chilled, gazing beyond the horizon.

Looking back at this photo, I realise we were practising the Japanese art of Boketto. I’m sure you’ve also practised this art, at some stage in your life.

The art of non-doing vs meditation

Boketto is translated as ‘non-doing’, and defined as ‘gazing vacantly into the distance without really thinking about anything specific’. The important part is to see into the distance, whether it’s the horizon, the sky, or the blackness of space and to do nothing.

Although it sounds a bit like mindfulness meditation in the sense that there is no regard to the past and no connection to the future, it’s different because we do not focus our attention either the breath or on sensations. In Boketto, we want to be ‘blank’.

Why? To give our brain a break and reset, and also to be more creative. Research shows that we are more creative when our brains are still.

Bringing in Boketto into your life

When was the last time you allow yourself to look in the distance and do nothing? We’re so conditioned to being active. Even mindfulness meditation requires us to be present, focused.

Right now, with the year coming to an end, most people are busier than ever, organising, planning, socialising… Although it’s a lovely time of the year, it can be exhausting too. So why not use this opportunity to bring Boketto (back) into your life? Even for just a couple of minutes from time to time. Looking out of the window is one way to practise, or if you’re lucky you might be able to take a break in a garden or a park.

I love to sit outside and just gaze vacantly at Nature around me without thinking of anything in particular. When I do that, at least one of my dogs will join me. They seem to enjoy it as much as I do. Enjoy it!

See you on the mat