Haju Sunim‘s Dharma Talk (5 of 5) from the Farm Retreat 2026

In the final installment of his dharma talk from the 2026 Farm Retreat, Haju Sunim reflects on the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi—embracing imperfection, aging, and the beauty of natural decay—as a profound metaphor for mindful living and spiritual practice. Drawing from the book *Mending Matters* by Katrina Rodabaugh, he illustrates how worn objects like patched quilts, chipped vases, and weathered spoons carry deep wisdom and beauty through their history and use. He shares a personal story of attending a performance by poet Alan Gainsbourg, whose simple answer—'breath'—initially disappointed him but later transformed his understanding of meditation and interconnectedness. Years later, during a retreat in Ann Arbor, he experienced a deep realization of the breath as a universal force, linking the meditator to the entire cosmos. Haju Sunim urges listeners to integrate breath awareness into their daily practice, especially during personal time and creative acts like calligraphy, to foster a living connection with the universe. The talk concludes with a gentle invitation to engage in scripture copying as a meditative act of presence and reverence.