L'art de la Simplicité by Dominique Loreau

Author:Dominique Loreau
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

EMBRACE DISCIPLINE

Your body is a repository of knowledge and techniques. Remember the tea ceremony, with its focus on the learning of forms? Through discipline, the practitioner achieves release from material comforts and physical laziness, and attains a state of perfect tranquillity. We should also assiduously and consistently devote a portion of our time to meditation, reading, music or walking. These disciplines should be self-imposed, and practiced with pleasure and conviction.

In the West, ‘discipline’ suggests hardship, effort, suffering. In Asia, it is understood a priori as beneficial to the body, mind and spirit. The geniuses of the European Renaissance used repetitive practice and technical exercises to elevate painting and sculpture to new heights of creativity, celebrating the culture of ‘mind and hand’.

Imitation and emulation are important when acquiring new skills and faculties. Eventually, one day, they become second nature: we are no longer copying, but have made the skill our own. By practicing discipline in the service of beauty, we find a thousand ways to perfect ourselves and become more radiant.

Five minutes of concentrated discipline can deliver better results than forty-five minutes of superficial dabbling. When we know the power of discipline, we understand its benefits more fully. Set yourself small personal targets and challenges: eat little, get up at dawn, take a cold shower. Make them part of your lifestyle. You will develop greater strength of character and stamina for the things that matter. The twilight, peace and calm of early morning help transform these ascetic disciplines into precious rituals.

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