EP 103: Beth Kempton - Life Lessons Inspired by Ancient Japanese Wisdom

<p>Beth Kempton is an author, Japanologist and curious explorer. Beth spent many years living and working in Japan which led to a deep love and a rare understanding of Japan's culture. Beth's beautiful and profound book <em>Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom For A Perfectly Imperfect Life</em> holds a wealth of valuable life lessons extracted from centuries-old Japanese culture and aesthetics and was inspired by a twenty year love affair with Japan. Wabi Sabi was highly recommended by TIME Magazine.</p> <p>The conversation:</p> <ul> <li>Framing Wabi Sabi.</li> <li>When people ask Beth what she does, how does she like to reply?</li> <li>What's the Wabi Sabi philosophy behind imperfections?</li> <li>What's the relationship if any between Wabi Sabi/Zen and tea?</li> <li><span style= "color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica Neue;">Beth discusses the 94 year old lady who taught her about the route to unhappiness.</span></li> <li><span style= "color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica Neue;">The rituals we can use as reminders to refocus on Wabi Sabi.</span></li> <li>The Japanese have an intuitive way of learning. How do they do that?</li> <li><span style= "color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica Neue;">What’s the Japanese way of understanding or using intuition?</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">Beth explains what is meant by Soulful Simplicity.</span></li> <li>One of the core teachings of Wabi Sabi is the acceptance of the true nature of life: everything is impermanent, imperfect and incomplete</li> <li><span style= "color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica Neue;">Beth tells the story of the linen on her wall, the noren.</span></li> <li>Beth has spent the past year researching slow living, inspired by life in rural Japan. What has she discovered that she did not know or relise?</li> <li>The oscillate between fog and clarity, idleness and usefulness, adrenalin-pumped and calm. Beth explains this oscillation?</li> <li>Why when we attach our worth to our output, slowness is the enemy.</li> <li><span style="fon