The Enigma Of ぼけっと, Its Practice and Unavoidability
The meaning of the marginally translatable and fascinating Japanese word,
ぼけっと -- boke tto-- delivers a refreshing freedom in both thought and its release from strict ideation. A photo:
Here is the Moon over a trellis in our garden. I stare at the moon a lot. It is not a "blur", which is the short translation of boke tto. Nor is it yet what it will be when the moon blossoms and spreads across the sky:
ぼけっと also means staring into the distance, thinking of nothing in particular. It is how we imagine.
We receive no information about the universe smaller than a photon, so it is the fundamental unit of grammar. It builds the language of dreams as well as blog-posts --a bottom-dealt extra sense.
ぼけっと: go outside, look into the distance, think of nothing in particular. There are wonders.
There are indeed wonders. For those with open eyes, hearts and minds (none of which get much more open than yours).
ReplyDeleteDear EC, Your comment and compliment come at a good time. There is much to look forward to, but sometimes we must look far to find it.
DeleteSky gazing is our nightly routine. Seeing Jupiter or Venus is exciting. Someday, we might get up early enough to see the Perseid showers. Someday.
ReplyDeleteDear Susan, that is wonderful nightly routine.
DeleteGeo, thanks for this instructive and inspirational post. I am pleased to have an understanding of boke tto. We are fortunate to live on a ridge away from our little village where light pollution is not a problem, so our star field is deep and rich.
ReplyDeleteMost nights I spend time in our spa, looking deep into the distance in a meditative state. It is also a time prayer/gratitude. I consider it a sacred time and a time of great peace. When I need to "clear my mind" I just gaze at the deepness and feel free.
I am so happy to know of boke tto.
My pleasure, Tom. I'm always happy to find a word that is succinct yet has so many associations.
DeleteMoon-gazing is one of my passions - - as well as staring into the distance, thinking of nothing in particular. That's when my most intriguing thoughts always seem to blossom.
ReplyDeleteDid a little squirrel tell me that you have a birthday next week? Sending many heartfelt warm wishes your way.
I see there are many practitioners of boke tto. Should we have special uniforms?
DeleteA squirrel may easily have told you about my birthday, Jon. E(a)rnest has scads of relatives. Thanks for good wishes!
I like it when it happens I walk home in the very late evening hours, look up at the sky and see the moon as if accompanying me and protecting me all the way. It gives me a great feeling of gratitude and I usually say some prayer of thanks.
ReplyDeleteDear Duta, it's a good feeling to sense the company (and protection) of tremendous operations of the universe --and quite beyond amazing.
DeleteDue to old lady insomnia, I often get to see the sun rise in the morning. No thinking, just wonder.
ReplyDeleteMy garden grows mysteriously while I sleep. No thinking, just wonder.
I see the kindness around me. No thinking, just wonder.
Norma’s photos where she shows us what most miss. No thinking, just wonder.
Now I have a word for it all, Boke tto.
Lovely post, dear Geo.
Dear Arleen, Thank you...for your compliment and for expressing Wonder so beautifully.
DeleteLovely post, Geo. I shall endeavor to improve on my mindfulness as I gaze at the limitless worlds above. Or below, as the case may be.
ReplyDeleteKind Bruce, as we are part of that limitless assembly, it's possible the universe gazes back at us. Thanks.
Delete眼鏡が必要でしょうか？ But seriously, when I lived in Japan one immediately notices that despite just how crowded many cities are, people give a lot of space to each other, metaphorically speaking. Best to you, Geo. Hope you're well.
ReplyDeleteYes, I DO need glasses, Mike. I have for many years but must get new lenses now. The Japanese have, by courtesy,art and custom, certainly maintained an enviable scope of the plenum --like the Haiku represents a great sense of ampliative induction.
DeleteAm getting well...slowly. Thanks.
I've often turned to Haiku in the past couple years. I find comfort in Basho and this one:
DeleteThe earth is fragrant
With plum petals falling
On my way home
Fuwa
Beautiful: A path; a season; a planet.
DeleteI have spent a great deal of time puzzling over this post, until it dawned on me that this is another way of describing contemplation and metanoia. At a psycho-spiritual level we need a new way of thinking, because our old egoistic ways have, and are, leading us nowhere.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom. Composing thought, changing one's mind, or just feeling the change: Sometimes I wonder where the difference is.
DeleteI am a night owl, so often do errands in the evening. Especially in winter, this means I am arriving home in the dark. We have a good view of the stars and moon on clear nights, and I always feel compelled to stop and look up. It gives me a peaceful feeling of wonder every single time. Thank you for the new term you have introduced here, Geo.
ReplyDeleteYou're quite welcome, Jenny. My pleasure --and privilege.
DeleteThank you, Geo., for reminding me to look at the moon more often. Yesterday it seemed a bit indistinct, blurred - yet we had no rain today. I wish you good health - and that you gain it soon again, and send you my very best wishes! Britta
ReplyDeleteDear Britta, let's both keep looking upward. Deal? Thanks for good health wishes. I'm getting better.
DeleteBoke tto. Cool. It's nice to know there's a term to describe the beauty and magic of just... being. Of embracing the universe. (so to speak) Sky-gazing has always held a great fascination for me, and even now, when I look up, I sometimes lift my arms. I dunno. I think it's called... joy.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, I wish you much joy for your birthday. (And every other day, dude!)
You remind me, Susan. When I gardened public places, my fieldhouse was located at JFK High School and I arrived before sun-up for several decades. In the half-light, the novice Buddhist monks would greet me "Goot Mornee!" as they jogged through the parking lot. Their teacher, an elder monk, would be at my fieldhouse with his arms up, greeting the sun. I would not speak, nor would he, but always felt this strange but lovely sense of the coming day. Should also mention beautiful Sac.PD Officer Dee Tindale shouting her rookies through the obstacle course would conduct their mighty voices in a chorus "Good Morning Sir", then sometimes run over and hug me.
DeleteAs I look into the distance of the past, I realize boke tto is an effect of time as well as space. Thanks for that --a good gift.
Gosh Geo...I spend a lot of time thining about nothing at all.....I always kind of worried about myself.
ReplyDeleteDear Delores, I was replying to your comment 2 days ago and Norma (yes, she who is never wrong) handed me a few letters to post and knocked my wine glass into the keyboard. I disassembled the laptop and used compressed air on it to no avail. It has been retired. This is written on a new computer which she helped me pick out. At my elbow is a glass of cabernet. Sometimes I worry about myself too.
DeleteThere is much to be found in that vague middle distance.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Indeed, Squid. Wonders spring from that margin. Merry Christmas to you too.
Delete