The Shibumi Strategy: A Powerful Way to Create Meaningful Change by Matthew E. May

Author:Matthew E. May
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2010-10-11T14:00:00+00:00

–JACOB RIIS

“Hit my nose with your fist as hard as you can,” she ordered.

The last man struck without hesitation. But his fist never touched her, and he was suddenly on the mat, with Mariko in firm control of his wrist. She let him up, and the Harmons couldn’t help but clap.

“I did not see you there!” smiled Mariko, giving a short bow. “Thank you.”

“That was amazing,” exclaimed Lizzy. “That last move, how ever did you do that?”

“Win chun,” answered Mariko, with a quick grin. “Invented by a woman.”

“Aha!” cried Lizzy, giving Andy a gentle elbow to the ribs.

“You made it all look so easy,” Andy said. “But I know it isn’t.”

“The Italians call that sprezzatura,” informed Lizzy. “The art of making difficult things look easy.”

Mariko was smiling, nodding. “Shibumi!”

“I love the way that sounds,” laughed Lizzy. “Shibumi! So fun . . . I can’t say it without smiling.”

“What’s it mean?” asked Andy.

“It is the Zen term for what you are talking about,” began Mariko. “It is a word without literal translation, because I do not know of a single word in English that captures the essence, but it means effortless effectiveness and elegant simplicity and understated beauty. It is the ability to produce the maximum effect through minimum means.

“When you see a problem cleverly solved in a way that makes you slap your forehead and cry ‘Of course! How else could it be?’ When something has been designed really well, with an understated, effortless beauty, and it really works, that’s shibumi.

“My father would say, ‘To do without doing, act without acting, think without thinking, this is shibumi.’ It is not necessarily something that is achieved, but rather discovered, or perhaps arrived at. It may take many forms, and appears differently depending upon the sphere. It is one thing in the garden, another in architecture, and yet another in the composition of a life. It is more about being and becoming than about doing or achieving. I consider it the height of personal excellence.”

Andy looked glum. “Well, that’s the exact opposite of everything I’ve been about these last two weeks. For me it’s been like the minimum effect with the maximum means. Actually, zero effect with excessive means might be more accurate.”

Mariko considered Andy’s comments, giving him an appraising look. She glanced at Lizzy, and a sparkle appeared in her eyes. “We have a few minutes before class starts. Come with me.”

Lizzy and Andy dutifully followed Mariko out into the small courtyard. Mariko led them to the back, stopping at a far corner. There, a small patch stood apart from the rest of the landscaping. “Welcome to my garden,” gestured Mariko.

“What are you growing?” asked Andy.

“Nothing,” Mariko replied. “More accurately, nothingness. This is a traditional Japanese friendship garden. It is called niwa, which means ‘pure place.’ Not unlike the Garden of Eden. Tell me, what do you see?”

Lizzy remained quiet. She knew Mariko was delivering a lesson.

“Rocks, some little stepping stones, gravel with some lines drawn in it,” Andy replied immediately. “Nothing much, actually.

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