One of the central tenets of Zen Buddhism is the concept of mujo. Mujo means impermanence, transience, ephemerality—in other words, everything is changing in every moment, nothing ever stays the same.
As minimalists, why is it so important that we get our mujo on? Because when we see that everything is impermanent, we become less attached to possessions and consumer goods.
When we embrace mujo:
* We let go of sentimental items and other reminders of “who we used to be,” instead of clinging to our past.
* We accept that our bodies change, and don’t hold on to the clothes that no longer fit us.
* We accept that our little ones grow up and leave the nest, and don’t preserve every item they used, wore, or created.
* We let go of long-lost hobbies and interests, instead of squirreling away their equipment and supplies.
* We pass on impulse purchases, knowing that they’ll have no lasting impact on our lives.
* We give freely and generously to others, rather than grabbing all we can for ourselves.
* We celebrate the cherry blossoms the two weeks they’re in bloom, knowing that they’ll soon fall to the ground.
* We are deeply grateful for every moment, without becoming attached to it.
* We are comforted that a bad situation will pass, rather than fixating on our troubles.
* We avoid frustration by going with the flow, instead of trying to control everything around us.
* We let people, possessions, and ideas flow into and out of our lives naturally, instead of grasping or hoarding them.
* We accept that our loved ones change, and encourage them in their growth and development.
* We realize that it’s often easier to embrace change when we’re not dragging around a lot of baggage.
* We welcome the person we are becoming, rather than trying to freeze our appearance, relationships, interests, or ideas in time.
Embracing the concept of mujo helps us live lightly and gracefully, approach each day with joy and wonder, and never take anything for granted. It motivates us to rid ourselves of distractions, and focus on what truly matters—because our days are as impermanent as the cherry blossoms, and just as beautiful.
How are you getting your mujo on? Please share in the Comments!
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
This post is one of my most favorite ones in ages. It gives so much perspective. You rock girl.
she does rock and so do you! read yours everyday too!
I can feel an uber throwout urge surfacing right now.
Nice. Always good to learn more about philosophies of minimalism. Also, mujo is a fun word to know.
Hi! Great post!
I just found this, and I loved it! So I thought to share it with all the minimalist around here. Next stop: no kitchen!
Lately I’ve been trying to resist the twin urges to a) always be fixing something (the illusion is that finally you’ll fix everything and then it’ll all be perfect) and b) always be pushing towards some goal (the illusion being that if I’m not pushing, everything will remain stagnant). I’ve been trying to give myself permission to enjoy this moment, knowing that next moment will be different – that everything will change whether I’m pushing and fixing or not.
Love this. I have this issue, too. Always looking to the next thing and not enjoying the thing I have RIGHT NOW.
This is my favorite post since “danshari,” which I forwarded to many friends.
I always learn something from your blog!
I’m with Martha. This one’s amazing Francine. ;)
I love this post and I love your blog. Every time I read a post I get a wave of energy and literally go home that night and declutter a little bit more. Thank you for your perspective and inspiration.
I concur with Heather….
Francine’s post always make me declutter my home more and more… :)
Beautiful! As I read through, I spotted areas where I am successful, yet so many more that I need to practice.
I am going to print this and hang it on my fridge. Just perfect! Thank you! Thank you!
I love this post. This is another one that will stay with me for a long time. I believe mujo is related to klesha.
“Understand your (klesha) attachments, your aversions, and your indifference, and love them all, (Instead of acting out or repressing, feel your heart, surrender).” Pema Chodron
Fantastic post. Thank you for sharing this. What inspiration!
Absolutely beautiful. Everything I need to know and remember about life. And I’m already on this path, just trying to push a little further ahead in this direction each day.
Francine, I think, we first have to conquer our various life/psychosocial stages one by one before embracing mujo.
After reading your latest entry, Francine, I suddenly realized I need to examine myself and stop trying to be in control of everything. It is better to just go with the flow and not try keeping things the way they are now.
Another lovely post. The more I embrace minimalism, the more I crave it. My family and friends are the most important things in the world to me and nothing I own will ever top that.
Thank you for this post, Francine, it’s given me a lightbulb moment.
I’ve been feeling a bit like a Bad Mother for not keeping All The Things.
My teenage boys have no use for their baby teeth or their kindy drawings. I don’t need to keep them all to prove I loved my babies. I don’t love my boys less by getting rid of things that are no longer relevant to who they are now.
Mujo, I like it – and you can never have too much vocabulary :)
Yes! I saved all my kids’ baby teeth simply because that’s what everyone I knew did. One day I looked at the container of disgusting little teeth and wondered just what the heck I was holding onto them for, and what the heck was I ever going to do with them anyway?! Into the garbage and never looked back. I know my mom saved my teeth, which I’m sure is part of the reason I saved my own kids’ teeth, but I realized that I’ve lived a full and fabulous life never having looked at my old baby teeth, and that my kids could, too! Very freeing.
As for the kiddo art work, I have saved a small sampling of pieces that I feel represent where each kid was during a certain period of their lives. Everything else was appreciated and tossed. My son is an exceptional artist, though, so it is always hard to pick “the best” and even harder to toss the “less amazing” stuff. I just keep telling myself, “We can’t keep it all, so just let it go.” I’m getting better.
My mother has kept all the things and now I have to cope with it myself. In fact, this post reminds me of the crate of first-grade worksheets upstairs that I need to put in the recycling. Maybe I should do it tonight so they can go away tomorrow.
I love this one Francine. I think the mujo that’s been occupying my days lately is paying attention to the passing moments of the season. I’ve been giving myself the chance to slow down and notice the passing of summer into fall. In Florida, the transition isn’t as apparent as cooler climates, but I’ve been paying attention to the little shifts happening in the nature around me. Maybe mujo? Either way, I love the concept, and the word. Thank you for sharing it. :)
Excellent post, thank you :)
Good post. I see where the control freak in me comes out and I need to let off. “Accepting that your kids grow and leave the nest” is the problem I am wrestling with. My oldest left for Spain for 3 months and I’ve literally been crying like a baby alone at night. This mujo thing is a great concept and reminds me that everything is fluid…our looks, our bodies and our children’s lives. It speaks to me by saying use grace in letting go. Thank you Francine.
Oh the empty nest. I had all three leave in two years. It felt awful for a long time. So much of our identities, as women, can be tied to motherhood. It is not just the child/children leaving, it is also the loss of identity. All I can say is that it does get better. Remember that Buddhism is about letting go of attachment. Hang in there and don’t feel guilty for moving forward. My best to you. I remember it all too well.
Thank you for your words of encouragement Elizmcky.
What a great post, Francine. So many things to think about and internalize. Thank you for putting your thoughts into such beautiful words!
I needed this! I’ve decided to downsize next year and want to get started this weekend. I’m like Ann; I’m going to print this and stick on the wall of whatever room I’m working on. Thanks so much!
“* We are comforted that a bad situation will pass, rather than fixating on our troubles.
* We avoid frustration by going with the flow, instead of trying to control everything around us.”
Yep, need to work on those! However, mental clutter is about 1 million times tougher than physical clutter :/
GREAT post. I agree with everyone that wrote before me. I learned in 2005 when I opened my home to my aunt for five months while she ended her journey here with leukemia and then in 2007 when my mom had a heart attack at 89 and moved in with us that life does not always go as planned. Now Mom will be 93 in January and I try hard not to make EMERGENCIES out of everything and reading your blog and all the others responses help me hit my reset button. EVERYTHING is temporary. She will one day be gone and while it is stressful at times I must make memories…..Stuff and acquiring more of it wont do that!!!!As Theodore Roosevelt once said….Do What You Can, With What You Have, Where you Are!!..
Wonderful post. This came at the perfect time in my life to remind me of everything that is wonderful about my life right now, to let go of useless stuff I’ve been hanging onto, and to remind me to stop stressing out about things that may or may not happen in the future.
Superb post.
Fantastic post! This article definitely makes me seek out new ways to better myself. Thanks :)
Lovely post. These were just the words i needed to read to remind me it’s ok not to have it all under control, that “working on it” is an ok place to be. Thank you =)
What a great post. When you were asking for suggestions about another book I suggested more about Zen philosphy. I’m even more interested now! What a calm sensible way to approach life. Thankyou for your great ideas.
I really enjoyed this. Like a breath of fresh air! I personally embrace change…I love it and it makes life interesting!
Change is natural with life. Life=Change. The only time change does not happen is in death.
Well Written, Thanks Again : )
You’ve really outdone yourself, MM. Mujo/mojo — lots of fun with the word play, and great philosophy too.
Francine….this is one of your best. I keep reading it over and over. Love the reference to Cherry Blossoms…….also one of your favourite vacations. Still have my white string zen reminder similar to the one you got from a Buddhist monk in Thailand.
I remember reading Hilary Clintons comment about her husband – all he needed in life was good food, good books and one suitcase full of clothes. This strange comment resonates in my mind as minimalism. It’s how I aim to live.
Ing a
Foresthill CA
When we embrace mujo we are deeply grateful for every moment, without becoming attached to it. What a beautiful, timely thought for those of us who celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend.
Hello Francine, I enjoyed reading this post very much…so much that I purchased your book from Amazon after reading and re-reading it. I thought I had de-cluttered my life following short-selling my home and moving in with my daughter. However, it seems I have a ways to go yet. I will read your book and see where I need to go. I am subbing to your blog also. I came by way of Susan Rahalla (sp?), at her blog, Simplicity. She designs her cards with a minimalist view.
Thank you for sharing with us.
I really love how you touch on the spiritual aspect of minimalism. I guess when you get right down to it, the energy behind embracing minimalism is spiritual. One would not just start down the path without there being some longing in the heart to be free from possessions. This makes me want to investigate and learn more about Zen Buddhism.
Repeat to myself: I am the person I am BECOMING. Love it.
Thank you for this. I have been pondering it over the last few days, enough that I had to come back and find it. “We let go of sentimental items and other reminders of “who we used to be,” instead of clinging to our past.” I have boxes and boxes and boxes downstairs that for a while have been calling to be liberated – maybe into a backyard bonfire? :)
I’m trying to learn how to go with the flow and let go of trying to control everything around me. At the moment of writing this I’m trying not to hold on to people, experiences and let them flow in and out of my life. I recently came back from a trip to Portugal and, for some reason, I’m having trouble letting go of the warmth of the weather and the fun of meeting new people etc. Usually I’m exhilarated and energized after a trip abroad and savor all the experiences for years afterwards, but now seem to have a hard time getting back to my everyday life. Hopefully I’ll learn something important..? Anyway, thanks for this post!
I am reading your old posts. I found this and I think it’s great. My children are grown but live near me, I can enjoy them but not have their things around. I bought a few toys and books for the grandchildren to enjoy when they come here, but when I buy one thing, I get rid of one.
We found 2 big piles of books to get rid of when we had the place painted. There are things in my home I really don’t remember seeing before. Continuous work has produced some big results.
Just cleaned a closet for a dear relative. Would love to do the cupboards but the husband says no. Found give away calendars from 2000. Will go home and purge more of my own things.
Even though I collect earrings, I bought 2 new pair and gave away 4 pair I haven’t been wearing. Then I went through my bookmark collection. Some are beautiful and were gifts. Some are being recycled, some are in the Goodwill pile. I gave away more books. I still have over 100 that belong to my mother that don’t fit in her room. I also gave away more magazines since I got one at a thrift shop a few days ago.
I love to plan outfits I haven’t tried with the clothes I already have. With 4 pairs of slacks and 6 shirts and 4 dressy sweaters that’s a lot of combinations. I haven’t worn green accessories in a while or red accessories either. Red and silver sounds like something new.