Wabi Sabi 詫び寂び & the Triple Heater Meridian

Over the past six months, I've shared various Zen Buddhist concepts that we can integrate during and after our Dō-in yoga practice for a happier life. Chōwa was about searching for balance during the build-up from Winter (yin) to Summer (yang). Next few months, we will apply different parts of the Wabi Sabi 詫び寂び philosophy to our Dō-in practice, as it fits the depleting energy in Nature.

 

In his book 'Wabi Sabi, The Wisdom in Imperfection', Nobuo Suzuki explains that Wabi Sabi originates in Zen Buddhism. In the fourteenth century, 'Wabi' was used by Zen monks who went to live in the Japanese woods as hermits. 'Wabi' is the feeling of loneliness in Nature, which over the centuries took on other meanings such as tranquility, rustic simplicity, and beautiful imperfections. 'Sabi' meant 'withered, rotten, or damaged’ in ancient times, but over the centuries gained a more positive meaning in Japan: 'the beauty and tranquility that a certain age or experience brings us'.

 

Suzuki tells us that Wabi Sabi in Japanese culture is a way of understanding life: “The central principle is acceptance of the imperfection and temporal nature of everything. It is the beauty of the incomplete, the impermanent, and the imperfect.”

 

If I should explain Dō-in in just a few words myself, it would be: “The art of moving along with change”. So integrating the Wabi Sabi philosophy into our practice is about accepting that the only constant is change, which makes life beautiful and meaningful.

 

Triple Heater Meridian
According to the Taoist calendar, July is the last month of Summer, in which the Fire element is slowly transforming into the Earth element. The last Fire element meridian that we focus on is the Triple Heater (San Jiao). This meridian is not connected to an organ, but an energy system that connects the three 'heaters' in the torso:

The lower heater (between navel and pelvis): kidneys, uterus, bladder, large intestine, and small intestine. Also called the center of our energy, which allows the operation of the middle heater.

The middle heater (between sternum and navel): spleen, stomach, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. Takes care of digestion. The energy released during this process moves to the top heater.

The top heater (between stomach and neck): heart and lungs. Here the energy from food mixes with the energy from oxygen, which is spread over all limbs.

This way, the Triple Heater is connected to all other meridians and ensures the life force energy (ki 気) is evenly distributed over the body.

The Triple Heater Meridian starts at the cuticle on the pinky side of the ring finger, running up over the back of the hand, outer arm, shoulder, side of neck, and along the back of the ear to the temples. The Triple Heater is most active between 9 pm and 11 pm.

When the Triple Heater and its partner the Pericardium Meridian are balanced, your circulation and immune system are vital. The Triple Heater regulates the body’s adaptation to changes in temperature. Next to that, it plays a role in the mobility of the neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists.

Mentally, you feel more connected to everything and cope well with pressure and change. Next to that, you can maintain emotional stability and balanced relationships - which is important in this last month of summer. When the Triple Heater is out of balance, you may feel emotionally closed and defensive.