To attain knowledge add something everyday, to attain wisdom remove something everyday.
Lao Tzu
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EM
My name is Erik Mallinson. I draw pictures, make music, and some other stuff. I like playing the ‘ukulele, riding my scooter around Boston, and playing board games.
Follow me on Twitter (@erima) if you’re into that sort of thing.
You might also check out my illustration and music studio (@gravel).
Got a question? Ask.
Posts tagged zen
Jan25
Jan5
Design Zen
Over the past year or so I’ve tried to incorporate some of my (ever so small) knowledge of Zen ideology into my design work.
My friend De posted this nice rundown the other day, and whether you’re familiar with Zen or not, these are just good design principles.
FUKINSEI (imbalanced)
Asymmetry, odd numbers, irregularity, unevenness, imbalance is used as a denial of perfection as perfection and symmetry does not occur in nature.
KANSO (simple)
Elimination of ornate and things of simplicity by nature expresses their truthfulness. Neat, frank and uncomplicated.
KOKOU (austere)
Basic, weathered bare essentials that are aged and unsensuous. Evokes sternness, forbiddance, maturity and weight.
SHIZEN (natural)
Raw, natural and unforced creativity without pretence. True naturalness is to negate the naive and accidental.
YUGEN (subtle profound)
Suggest and not reveal layers of meaning hidden within. Invisible to the casual eye and avoiding the obvious.
DATSUZOKU (unworldly)
Transcendence of conventional and traditional. Free from the bondage of laws and restrictions. True creativity.
SEIJAKU (calm)
Silence and tranquility, blissful solitude. Absence of disturbance and noise from one’s mind, body and surroundings.(via)
Dec17
Kanso (簡素)
Simplicity or elimination of clutter. Things are expressed in a plain, simple, natural manner. Reminds us to think not in terms of decoration but in terms of clarity, a kind of clarity that may be achieved through omission or exclusion of the non-essential.
Oct7
Aug28
Mar3
In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s there are few.
Dec3
Learn to be calm and you will always be happy.
Paramhansa Yogananda
Nov14
Sin and blessing are all empty. The snake swallows the frog. The toad sucks up the worms. The hawk eats the sparrows. The pheasant eats the snake. The cat catches the rat. The big fish devours the smaller one. And everything is all right. The monk who offended against the commandments does not fall into hell.
zen saying
Oct14
Zen places all objects of belief with one single thing: reality itself. We believe only in this universe. We don’t believe in the afterlife. We don’t believe in the sovereignty of nations. We don’t believe in money or power or fame. We don’t believe in our idols. We don’t believe in our positions or our possessions. We don’t believe we can be insulted, or that our honor or the honor of our family, our nation or our faith can be offended. We don’t believe in Buddha.
We just believe in reality. Just this.
Brad Warner
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