Half out of my mind in the midst of the dog days, fresh out of school and waiting for work, I discovered the ensō, a Japanese word translating to circle. My first exposure was through a simple, imperfect, beautiful stroke of blue curled on a paper signed WAG posted on Tumblr. Curiosity piqued and a Google searching frenzy began.
The tradition of the ensō originates from Zen Buddhism, which considers the symbol sacred. Defining and understanding the symbolic nature is difficult due to the ensō's diversity of meaning. According to Bankei Yotaku, a Japanese Rinzai Zen master, the ensō "represents the universe and everything, while at the same time symbolizing the void." Unraveling this complexity is out of reach for us novices, but through the Art of Mindfulness, the opportunity to explore ourselves and gain consciousness has been granted though the #ensoaday project.
My initial intrigue derived from the uniqueness of each circle. Despite the vast similarities due to shape and the general guideline of one to two brushstrokes, the potential for distinction grows with mindfulness. Even if you create the ensō in one stroke every single time, what about the color? Fine, only black. What about the direction? Right to left always. What about the amount of breath contained in the circle? On the in breath. What about the time it was created? At 6 p.m. on the dot. What about the duration? 15 seconds. What about the thickness? The tip of the brush. What about where you are? The dining room table.
As calculated as you make what is intended to be a mindful experience, your ensō will not be the same as the day before. We can control the physical aspects as much as possible, but our mindset and our environment during the creation process is out of our hands. The way we feel -- hungry, tired, angry, lonely, sad, mad, happy, in love, silly or scared -- influences our art. We can't enforce our friends, family, and pets to stay out of the room. The weather will deviate. Obstacles will arise. And that is completely OK. Why go against the force of change? Release control. Let go and dive into the experience. Accept that every circle is different.
Within that acceptance of art, the artists learn acceptance of self. The ensō captures a moment in time that is to be taken as is. This daily practice is a little reminder that you are alive. That whatever happened is already in the past and whatever will be is waiting ahead, but what currently is happening is here right now. Accept the past, the future, your mistakes, and allow room for the present. Be an active participant in your life and be mindful in however you spend this moment.
