Thinking about ikigai

In the 2 weeks at school, we spoke of many things related to learning and the mind, and varied philosophies of thought. One of the discussions was set around the difference between western and oriental thought on work and learning. One of the stark differences for me was the emphasis on the empirical and verifiable in western thought, and the emphasis on continuous and internal in oriental cultures.    

I have been intrigued by the concept of ikigai for a while now and discussions made me revisit my interest.  Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being." Everyone, according to Japanese culture, has an ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search of self. Such a search is important to the cultural belief that discovering one's ikigai brings satisfaction and meaning to life.^[1] Examples include work, hobbies and raising children. Whether it was Paulo Friere, David Pekins or Ivan Illich, I saw bits of Ikigai peeping in their thoughts!

A quick interpretation of ikagai could be finding a balance between the areas listed below, 

• What do you love?
• What are you good at?
• What does the world need from you?
• What can you get paid for?

But in Japan, ikigai is a slower process and often has nothing to do with work or income it can be mapped to two other Japanese ideas – ittaiken and jiko jitsugen. Itaikken refers to “a sense of oneness with, or commitment to, a group or role”, while jiko jitsugen relates more to self-realization. [2]

Ikigai is not something grand or extraordinary. It’s something pretty matter-of-fact  

and, can change with age. The search for a new ikigai allows for continuum. Applying this philosophy to the Indian context does not seem hard. For a culture which has for years nurtured the crafts as an integral part of our collective, ikigai must have an Indian equivalent both as a word and a philosophy!

I see facets of ikigai emerging in learning-centered around creating, as ittaiken and jiko jitsugen, the sense of oneness and self realization are at the highest when learning through construction.This also sets me to think, how then did our learning methods change so drastically into the quest for the verifiable and instructional.

In the course of this journey of 2 years, I hope to dwell in making these connections and finding my ikigai too! 

[1] Mathews, Gordon (1996). What Makes Life Worth Living?: How Japanese and Americans Make Sense of Their worlds. University of California Press
[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/mind/finding-ikigai-japanese-secret-health-happiness/