One of the most common sayings in Japan is “Hara hachi bu,” which is said before or after eating and means “Fill your belly to 80 percent.” This is why stop eating when  stomachs reach 80 percent of capacity, rather than overeating and wearing down bodies with long digestive processes that accelerate cellular oxidation.The way food is served is also important. By presenting their meals on many small plates, the Japanese tend to eat less. Having five plates in front of you makes it seem like you are going to eat a lot.

The 80% Secret

Both Buddhism and Stoicism remind us that the present is all that exists, and it is the only thing we can control. Instead of worrying about the past or the future, we should appreciate things just as they are in the moment, in the now.We should never forget that everything we have and all the people we love will disappear at some point.Being aware of the impermanence of things does not have to make us sad; it should help us love the present moment and those who surround us.“All things human are short-lived and perishable,” Seneca tells us.

The here and now, and the impermanence of things

Whether threats we perceive are real, stress is an easily identifiable condition that not only causes anxiety but is also highly psychosomatic, affecting everything from digestive system to skin.The central premise of this stress-reduction method is focusing on the self: noticing our responses, even if they are conditioned by habit, in order to be fully conscious of them.In this way, we connect with the here and now and limit thoughts that tend to spiral out of control.One way to reach a state of mindfulness is through meditation, which helps filter the information that reaches us.

Be mindful about reducing stress

What do Japanese artisans, engineers, Zen philosophy, and cuisine have in common? Simplicity and attention to detail.It is not a lazy simplicity but a sophisticated one that searches out new frontiers, always taking the object, the body and mind, or the cuisine to the next level, according to one’s ikigai.When someone sets out to create something, his/her responsibility is to use nature to give it “life” while respecting that nature at every moment. During this process, the artisan becomes one with the object and flows with it.It's not man versus nature, but rather a union of the two.

Sophisticated simplicity

Spending too much time seated at work or at home not only reduces muscular and respiratory fitness, also increases appetite and curbs the desire to participate in activities.Being sedentary can lead to hypertension, imbalanced eating, cardiovascular disease, and even certain kinds of cancer. We can access a more active lifestyle that makes us feel better inside and out - we just have to add a few ingredients to our everyday habits:<ul><li>Walk to work</li><li>Use your feet instead of an elevator</li><li> Participate in social /leisure activities</li><li>Replace your junk food with fruit</li><li>Get the right amount of sleep</li></ul>

A lot sitting will age you

There is village in south of Japan named Okinawa, where there are 24.55% people over the age of 100 for every 100,000 inhabitants - far more than global average.Is ikigai the reason there are more centenarians in Okinawa than anywhere else?  How does it inspire people to stay active until the very end? What is the secret to a long and happy life?The purpose of the book is to bring the secrets of Japan's centenarians to you and give the tools to find your own ikigai.

Book's Intention

As Nicholas Taleb explains "we use the word fragile to describe people, things that are weakened when harmed, and the words robust and resilient for things that are able to withstand harm without weakening, but we don’t have a word for things that get stronger when harmed". Taleb proposes the term antifragile.“Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better.”Catastrophes and exceptional circumstances offer good models for explaining antifragility.

Beyond resilience: Antifragility

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept that shows us the beauty of the fleeting, changeable, and imperfect nature of the world around us. Instead of searching for beauty in perfection, we should look for it in things that are flawed, incomplete.Japanese concept is that of ichi-go ichi-e , which could be translated “This moment exists only now and won’t come again.” It is heard most often in social gatherings as a reminder that each encounter is unique and will never be repeated, meaning that we should enjoy the moment and not lose ourselves in worries about the past or the future.

Wabi-sabi and ichi-go ichi-e

Ask yourself these questions:<ul><li>What do the activities that drive you to flow have in common?</li><li>Why do those activities drive you to flow? For example, are all the activities you most like doing ones that you practice alone or with other people?</li><li>Do you flow more when doing things that require you to move your body or just to think?</li></ul>In the answers to these questions you might find the underlying ikigai that drives your life. If you don’t, then keep searching by going deeper.Also, try new things that are not on the list of what makes you flow but that are similar and that you are curious about.

Using flow to fing your ikigai

<ul><li>Stay active; don’t retire.</li><li>Take it slow.</li><li>Don’t fill your stomach.</li><li>Surround yourself with good friends.</li><li>Get in shape for your next birthday. </li><li>Smile.</li><li>Reconnect with nature.</li><li>Give thanks.</li><li>Live in the moment.</li><li>Follow your ikigai.</li></ul>There is a passion inside you, a unique talent that gives meaning to your days and drives you to share the best of yourself until the very end. If you don’t know what your ikigai is yet, as Viktor Frankl says, your mission is to discover it.

The ten rules of ikigai

The Japanese concept, which translates as " the happiness of always being busy".According to the Japanese,everyone has an ikigai - French philosopher might call a raison d'être(purpose). Having a clearly defined ikigai brings satisfaction, happiness, and meaning to our lives. The purpose of this book is to help you find yours, and to share insights from Japanese philosophy on the lasting health of body, mind and spirit.

IKIGAI

What is the best way to live longer? Here are a few factors within your control

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

longevity

Longevity

food

Food

health

Health

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

How To Live A Long Life

The book brings out the purpose or how to continue even without purpose with doing the mundane tasks like walking, doing dishes, cleaning house and many more things that will keep us busy and helps us enjoy life, whilst we search for our purpose. Because those who discover their ikigai have everything they need for a long and joyful journey through life.

Los Angeles Times bestseller • More than 1.5 million copies sold “If hygge is the art of doing nothing, ikigai is the art of doing something—and doing it with supreme focus and joy.” —New York Post Bring meaning and joy to all your days with this internationally bestselling guide to the Japanese concept of ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy)—the happiness of always being busy—as revealed by the daily habits of the world’s longest-living people. *And from the same authors, don’t miss The Book of Ichigo Ichie—about making the most of every moment in your life.* * * * What’s your ikigai? “Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—the place where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy. In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day? A PENGUIN LIFE TITLE

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • 1.5 MILLION+ COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE “Workers looking for more fulfilling positions should start by identifying their ikigai.” ―Business Insider   “One of the unintended—yet positive—consequences of the [pandemic] is that it is forcing people to reevaluate their jobs, careers, and lives. Use this time wisely, find your personal ikigai, and live your best life.” ―Forbes Find your ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) to live longer and bring more meaning and joy to all your days. “Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb   According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—where what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs all overlap—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy. In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day?

Hector Garcia was born in Spain in 1981 and has been living in Tokyo since 2004. During his spare time he writes aGeekinJapan.com, one of the most widely-read blogs in the world in Spanish and in English, as well as books about his experiences in Japan. He is the author of the bestsellers: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life and A Geek in Japan. You can find more of Hector's musings at ageekinjapan.com

Héctor García

Francesc Miralles Contijoch is a Catalan writer, essayist, translator, and musician.

Francesc Miralles

Ikigai

Failure to read what is happening in another's soul is not easily seen as a cause of unhappiness: but those who fail to attend to the motions of their own soul are necessarily unhappy.

Meditation Book: 2 Passage: 8

If somone can prove me wrong and show me my mistake in any thought or action, I shall gladly change. I seek the truth, which never harmed anyone: the harm is to persist in one's own self-deception and ignorance.

Meditation Book: 6 Passage: 21

You have seen that: now look at this. Do not trouble yourself, keep your self simple. Someone does wrong? He does wrong to himself. Has something happened to you? Fine. All that happens has been fated by the Whole from the beginning and spun for your own destiny. In sum, life is short: make your gain from present moment with right reason and justice. Keep sober and relaxed.

Meditation Book: 4 Passage: 26

What a tiny part of the boundless abyss of time has been allotted to each of us - and this is soon vanished in eternity; what a tiny part of the universal substance and the universal soul; how tiny in the whole earth the mere clod on which you creep. Reflecting on all this, think nothing important other than active pursuit where your oen nature leads and passive acceptance of what universal nature brings.

Meditation Book: 12 Passage: 32

Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one

You can strip away many unnecessary troubles which lie wholly in your own judgement. And you will immediately make large and wide open room for yourself by grasping the whole universe in your thought, contemplating the eternity of time, and reflecting on the rapid change of each thing in every part - how brief the gap from birth to dissolution, how vast the gulf of time before your birth, and an equal infinity after your dissolution.

Meditation Book: 9 Passage: 32

From my mother: piety, generosity, the avoidance of wrong-doing and even the thought of it; also simplicity of living, well clear of habits of the rich.

Meditation Book: 1 Passage: 3

"Fate brought this on him." So let us accept these prescribtions just as we accept those of Asclepius - many of them too are harsh, but we welcome them in the hope of the health.You should take the same view of the process and completion of the universal nature as you do of your own health: and so welcome all that happens to you, even if it seems rather cruel, because its purpose leads to health of the universe. He(God) would not bring this on anyone, if it did not also bring advantage to the Whole: no more than any natural principle brings anything appropriate to what it governs.

Meditation Book: 5 Passage: 8.3, 8.4

If the choice is yours, why do the thing? But if it is another's choice, why do you blame - atoms or gods? Either is madness. There is no blame. If you can, put him right: if you can't, at the least put the matter itself right. If that too is impossible, what further purpose does blame serve? Nothing should be done without purpose.

Meditation Book: 8 Passage: 17

Is someone afraid of change? Well, what can ever come to be without change? Or what is dearer or closer to the nature of the Whole than change? Can you yourself take a bath, if the wood that heats it is not changed? Can you be fed, unless what you eat changes? Can any other of the benefits of the life be achieved without change? Do yo not see then that for you to be changed is equal, and equally necessary to the nature of the Whole?

Meditation Book: 7 Passage: 18 

There is no work quite like the Meditations in Greek or Roman philosophical literarture. Readers who come to this book expecting the hardness and austerity of a Stoic will not be disappointed, but they will be surprised by prose that often read like modern peotry and startled by the vivid illustrations that reveals Marcus' deep appreciation of the beauty and purposefulness of the Nature. Perhaps the sustained analogy to be encountered is, it made possible by discovery of the intimate and indissouble connection between macrocosm and microcosm, between the providence, rationality of the Whole.

How could reader of the meditations tell he was a Stoic?

So there are two reasons why you should be content with your experiences: One is that this has happened to you, was prescribed to you, a thread of destiny spun for you by most anicent cause. Second is that what comes to each individual is determining part of the welfare, perfection, and indeed the very coherence of that which governs the Whole.Because the complete Whole is maimed if you sever even the tinniest fraction of its connection and connectivity: this is true of its constituents parts, and true likewise of its cause.

Meditation Book: 5 Passage: 8.5

Marcus Aurelius' writing known as the Meditations, are unique in classical literature - the personal and the philosophical diary written in Greek by an intellectual Roman Emperor without any thought or intention of publication, and remain of unique interest and relevance to the modern world. To Himself is the better title given in the manuscript used for the first printed edition in 1559.There are long reflection on duty, virtue, the place of human rationality in univerese, the god within and god without, purposefulness & cohesiveness of the universe, nature of anger, death and regret.

Meditations

Marcus was born in AD 121, in the reign of the emperor Hadrian. At first he was Marcus Annius Verus, but his well-born father died young and he was adopted by his grandfather, who had him educated by number of excellent tutors. When he was sixteen, he was adopted by his uncle by marriage Aurelius Antoninus as Hadrain's heir. Aurelius Antoninus changed Marcus' name to his own and betrothed him to his daughter, Faustina.  She bore fourteen children, but none of them survived Marcus except the worthless Commodus, who eventually succedded Marcus as Emperor.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Observe what your physical nature requires, as one subject to the condition of mere life. Then do it and welcome it, as long as nature as an animate being will not be impaired. Next, you should observe what your nature as an animate being requires: again, adopt all of this, as long as your nature as rational being will not be impaired. And rational directly implies social. Follow these rules, and no further fuss.

Meditation Book: 10 Passage: 2

Just as those who try to block your progress along the straight path of the reason will not be able to divert you from principled action, so you must not let them knock you out of your good will towards them. Rather you shold watch yourself equally on both fronts, keepind only a stablity of judgement and action, but also a mild response to those who try to stop you or are otherwise disaffected.to be angry with them is no less a weaknessthan to abandon yoir course of action and capitulate in panic.

Meditation Book: 11 Passage: 9

Do not waste the remaining part of your life in thoughts about other people, when you are not thinking with reference to some common good. Why deprive yourself of the time for some other task? Thinking about what so-and-so is doing and why, what he is saying or plotting, and all that line of thought, makes you stray from the close watch on your own directing mind.Train yourself to think only th﻿oughts such that 'What is in your mind?' you could say that with immediate frankness, and so your answer give direct evidence that your thoughts are straightforward and kindly.

Meditation Book: 3 Passage: 4

Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy

philosophy

Philosophy

meditation

Meditation

Universe was spontaneously created out of nothing, according to the laws of science. The basic assumption of science is scientific determinism. We need three ingredeints to make universe<ul><li>Matter(stuff that has mass)</li><li>Energy</li><li>Space</li></ul>As we know the equation by remarkeable scientist Albert Einstien i.e. E=mc². Which says mass can be consider same as energy and vice versa.Ultimately we just need energy and space which was spontaneously invented in the event we call Big Bang.

How universe was created?

Not to leave planet Earth would be like castaways on the desert Island not trying to escape. We need to explore the solar system to find out where you humans could live.It won't solve any of our immediate problems on the planet Earth but it will give us new perspective on them and causes to look out words rather than inwards. The technology is almost within our grasp. It is time to explore other solar systems.Hopefully, it will unite to face the common challenge

Should we colonize space? 

The future will depend more on science & technology than any previous generation's has done. People need to know about science more than any before them because it is a part of their daily lives in an unprecedented way.We have to make sure this generation have not just the opportunity but the wish to engage fully with the study of science at an early level so that they can go on to fulfil their potential and create a better world.

How do we shape the future? 

The last asteroid collision with us was about 66 million years ago and that is thought to have killed the dinosaurs, and it will happen again. It is guaranteed by the laws of physics and probability.There are other problems like rising temperature, reduction of polar ice caps,deforestation overpopulation disease war human lack of water and decimation of animal species. If these problems keep growing human life would be unsustainable. The earth is becoming too small for us.

Will we survive on Earth? 

A black hole is a region where gravity is so strong that light cannot escape itself.A black hole has a boundary called the event horizon. It is where gravity is just strong enough to track light back and prevent it from escaping. Because nothing can travel faster than light, everything else will get dragged back also. It is much more likely to emit radiation. A mountain sized black hole would give of X-rays and gamma rays, at about 10 million megawatts, enough for world's electricity supply.

What is inside black hole?

At the moment of Big Bang, an entire universe came into existence. So where did all this energy and space come from? For some, this is where God comes back into the picture.Postive side of things are energy & mass we see today. The negative side is spread throughout space. If the universe adds up to nothing, then you don't need a God to create it. If you like, you can say the laws are work of God, but that is more a definition of God than a proof of his existence.

Is there a God?

When you are faced with possibility of an early death, it makes you realise that there are lots of things you want to do before your life is over.

Stephen Hawking was recognized as one of the greatest minds of our time and a figure of inspiration after defying his ALS diagnosis at age twenty-one. He is known for both his breakthroughs in theoretical physics as well as his ability to make complex concepts accessible for all, and was beloved for his mischievous sense of humor. At the time of his death, Hawking was working on a final project: a book compiling his answers to the "big" questions that he was so often posed--questions that ranged beyond his academic field. Within these pages, he provides his personal views on our biggest challenges as a human race, and where we, as a planet, are heading next. Each section will be introduced by a leading thinker offering his or her own insight into Professor Hawking's contribution to our understanding. The book will also feature a foreword from Academy Award winning actor Eddie Redmayne, who portrayed Hawking in the film The Theory of Everything, and an afterword by Hawking's daughter, Lucy Hawking, as well as personal photographs and additional archival material.

communication

Communication

space

Space

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The world-famous cosmologist and author of A Brief History of Time leaves us with his final thoughts on the biggest questions facing humankind. “Hawking’s parting gift to humanity . . . a book every thinking person worried about humanity’s future should read.”—NPR NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Forbes • The Guardian • Wired Stephen Hawking was the most renowned scientist since Einstein, known both for his groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology and for his mischievous sense of humor. He educated millions of readers about the origins of the universe and the nature of black holes, and inspired millions more by defying a terrifying early prognosis of ALS, which originally gave him only two years to live. In later life he could communicate only by using a few facial muscles, but he continued to advance his field and serve as a revered voice on social and humanitarian issues. Hawking not only unraveled some of the universe’s greatest mysteries but also believed science plays a critical role in fixing problems here on Earth. Now, as we face immense challenges on our planet—including climate change, the threat of nuclear war, and the development of artificial intelligence—he turns his attention to the most urgent issues facing us. Will humanity survive? Should we colonize space? Does God exist? ​​These are just a few of the questions Hawking addresses in this wide-ranging, passionately argued final book from one of the greatest minds in history. Featuring a foreword by Eddie Redmayne, who won an Oscar playing Stephen Hawking, an introduction by Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne, and an afterword from Hawking’s daughter, Lucy, Brief Answers to the Big Questions is a brilliant last message to the world. Praise for Brief Answers to the Big Questions “[Hawking is] a symbol of the soaring power of the human mind.”—The Washington Post “Hawking’s final message to readers . . . is a hopeful one.”—CNN “Brisk, lucid peeks into the future of science and of humanity.”—The Wall Street Journal “Hawking pulls no punches on subjects like machines taking over, the biggest threat to Earth, and the possibilities of intelligent life in space.”—Quartz “Effortlessly instructive, absorbing, up to the minute and—where it matters—witty.”—The Guardian “This beautiful little book is a fitting last twinkle from a new star in the firmament above.”—The Telegraph

Stephen Hawking is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Stephen Hawking has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Stephen Hawking's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Ikigai

Meditations

Brief Answers to the Big Questions

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

CURATED BY

Ikigai

Meditations

Brief Answers to the Big Questions

It's time to Read like a Pro.

CURATED BY

It's time to
Read like a Pro.