In conjunction with the spring festival, Dzogpa Sangye Buddhist Society collaborated with Mind Place to organise a Japanese Ikebana floral display. At the main hall of the Heritage Centre were floral displays that exude a strong Zen ambience. Lined along both sides of the shrine, innovative Japanese Ikebana floral arrangements were showcased.
According to records, Ikebana has its roots in monasteries in Japan. While Zen masters offered flowers to the Buddha, they also made use of whatever materials that were within easy reach to come up with floral arrangements that portray a state which is unconventional, spacious and beyond concepts. As Ikebana gained popularity among ordinary folks, it evolved into an art of floral arrangement and even became commercialised.
Our Buddhist society and Mind Place hope that a mindful introduction of traditional Ikebana would bring us back to simplicity and nature. A small-scale activity was hence organised prior to Lunar New Year for participating friends to experience Ikebana. Through a simple explanation and demonstration, and without prior concepts of Ikebana arrangement, participants first practised mindfulness meditation before commencing the activity. Thereafter, each in their own space that knows no limits, at their own free will and without any expectations, they gave full play to creative ideas, expressing their present state of being. One would marvel at their ingenuity, each in their own unique ways. Materials used were easily available ones such as dry branches, withered leaves and plastic flowers for festive decorations. In the floral displays, flowers and branches complement each other, achieving an overall balance and harmony. The curvy branches dance with elegance in the space, embodying flexibility in strength. Less is more, depicting the primeval essence of Ikebana.
From this simple activity, we had a surprising discovery. Having the attitudes of mindfulness such as non-judging, non-striving, not setting limits or frames, self-beliefs in one’s creativity, etc., and coupled with one-pointed focus and a stable mindset, our potential can be unleashed beyond our imagination!
Space naturally avails when the confines of concepts are absent. Appearances are then able to manifest spontaneously within space. Such a union of emptiness and luminosity is the essence of Dharma. The spirit of Ikebana invokes our return to Mother Nature, leaning towards simplicity, to embrace and at the same time willing to let go. Giving space to ourselves and to others can indeed lead to pleasant surprises.
Written by: Susan Chionh
