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The concept of "mono no aware" turns the concept of an afterlife to its head.

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Jan 3, 2018 8:45 AM
#1

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Jan 2016
4316
First, let's define what "mono no aware" is first. As this definition beautifully defined, mono no aware is:
Often considered to be untranslatable, mono no aware refers to the bittersweet realization of the ephemeral nature of all things. It is the awareness that everything in existence is temporary. The fleetingness of youth, the fading of romance, and the changing of seasons are not to be mourned, but cherished and appreciated in their impermanence, for that is where their beauty comes from.


The idea that the beauty of life comes from the fact that it ends, that it is impermanent makes the ned for an afterlife void. I think this is ultimately a better outlook in life too rather than hoping that there's still a life after death. Don't you think so?
Jan 3, 2018 8:56 AM
#2

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May 2014
720
makes sense..... makes sense, until u consider the state of ur being after ur passing away tho... what about that state? will it be ephemeral and fleeting too?... in other words would ur state of being 'dead' also change?... in other words, u are directly implying that there is something after the state of death too?... isnt that what afterlife / reincarnation is? ... kek...well loopholes are there in all forms of outlook on life...just gotta deal with it and believe in whatever makes u feel better about the imminent death itself.

Just my opinion tho, Hope that added something useful.
Jan 3, 2018 9:02 AM
#3

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Sep 2016
222
So basically "mono no aware" means having a decent outlook on life without caring too much about useless things?

Nice!
Jan 3, 2018 9:09 AM
#4

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Feb 2015
13871
I think everyone do their own thing, even outside of MAL, I dunno but I think I quite enjoy things that I've had because of how it means to me rather than because I know that I'll have to keep going forward without it...
Jan 3, 2018 9:15 AM
#5

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Nov 2014
1148
"First, let's define what "mono no aware" is first. As this definition beautifully defined, mono no aware is"

Bruh those sentences are horrible. You said "first" twice in one sentence, used variations of "define" 3 times and repeated "mono no aware" twice all in the span of 18 words.
Jan 3, 2018 11:09 AM
#6

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May 2013
13435
Well actually, Buddhism talks a lot about the impermanence of all things. Technically the afterlife, heavenly realms, Gods, and all beings are considered impermanent objects.

I definitely think that's interesting, I mean the goal of Buddhism is to end the cycle of reincarnation. So I'm not sure what 'mono no aware' is but you'll find the same ideas in a lot of actually spiritual systems.

I CELEBRATE myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
Jan 3, 2018 12:24 PM
#7

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Jan 2016
256
Shoegum said:
I don't think being aware of the temporary nature of our existence is beautiful. It's because everything is temporary, we know that everything is ultimately meaningless. If even love does not last forever, trying to work towards anything that you love is pointless. However, it also means that our suffering is meaningless too, so it all balances out.

wait. why something temporary = meaningless?
"The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply." - Unknown
Jan 3, 2018 12:31 PM
#8

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Dec 2016
7175
Is this that thing about cherry blossoms an stuff? Like, a candle that burns brightest, burns out twice as fast or something... maybe.

Eh the closest thing we have to this round here y'all is the Dogwood legend.

http://southernhistory.blogspot.com/2010/04/legend-of-dogwood-tree-is-southern.html

Jan 3, 2018 2:21 PM
#9

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Jan 2009
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So it's like carpe diem, mememento mori and vanitas in European Cultures?
Jan 3, 2018 3:51 PM
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Jul 2018
561864
Shoegum said:
Qui_Via said:

wait. why something temporary = meaningless?


After we die, our consciousnesses stop existing, so will our memories, emotions etc. If all people end up non-existent, and the actions of our lives have no other effect except on our lives themselves, then whatever happened during our lives become meaningless to ourselves (who don't exist). There is nothing to be gained from living a good, happy life, because it will all be lost in the end anyway. *insert Linkin Park song*


Eh, just enjoy your life. What more do you want?
If you have a good time and you are happy, that's a meaning in itself.
Jan 4, 2018 12:20 AM

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Jan 2016
256
@Paradigmatic OP, mono no aware is not the awareness that something will perish completely, but rather that it changed. Things changed through the passage of time, and the effect of seeing this changes is so devastating that it leaves a "what a life!" kind of feeling, and you think such a thing is so bittersweet yet so beautiful. That is mono no aware.
I'm sorry to say this, but it has nothing to do with the meaning of life.

@Shoegum Ok, I understand what you mean. It's true that in the grand scheme of things, we are meaningless. But isn't that ironic if we think our happiness and people's happiness are meaningless just because it all will disappear anyway? As @DejWhoa said, experiencing the happiness is meaningful in itself. Having unhappy life still feels suck. As we are the ones who feel and experience our life the most, I still don't think that living a good happy life is meaningless or that there's nothing to be gained from it, even if at the same time, it's true that we're ultimately meaningless. It's just that the meaning changes when we still exist and after we don't exist anymore.
"The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply." - Unknown
Jan 4, 2018 1:40 AM

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Mar 2008
53425
I hate the concept. It's an easy way to make excuses to not improve anything. If people took it to heart we wouldn't even have any medicine except pain releivers for end of days.
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Jan 4, 2018 2:29 AM

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Aug 2016
244
That's the profound difference between western and japanese aesthetics. Our is mainly based on greek's with his apollonian and dyonisian perspectives. Our is based on the research and rapresentation of perfection, like a fight against the unavoidable decadence and transience of things. The dream which exceeds the reality and usurps its place becoming the more real reality.

The former being the force of plastic arts, order and bounds and the latter being the force of passions, insticts and nature (but not chaos). Our arts have always tried to create the Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) which strives to combine all arts in one to create the perfect one.

The japanese follow the concepts of 侘 (Wabi,soft and austere beauty) and 寂(Sabi, rustic patina). Their is based on the acceptance of the becoming of nature and inherent imperfection of it.

Differently from greeks, japanese don't fear the transience of reality and don't see the "horror of nature" from which they must hid with the force of passion which makes again the man one with nature tamed with order and bounds. They embrace it and even seek imperfection and assimetry seeing it as a true beauty because simple and modest and intimate.

This might explain why japanese digs chicks with crooked teeth lol
TrasimacoJan 4, 2018 2:35 AM
Ἄκουε δή, ἦ δ᾽ ὅς. φημὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ εἶναι τὸ δίκαιον οὐκ ἄλλο τι ἢ τὸ τοῦ κρείττονος συμφέρον.
Listen—I say that justice is nothing other than the advantage of the stronger.


Jan 4, 2018 2:39 AM

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Jul 2012
8011
Sandgem said:
So this is basically optimistic nihilism.


Probably!

Well the seasons on MAL change too...
Jan 4, 2018 4:01 AM

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Aug 2013
2365
You're better off operating scientifically. Remain agnostic on what you can't know and when you gather sensible evidence from your exposure to the wider reality of possibilities you can let that shape your worldview.
Jan 4, 2018 4:21 AM
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Jul 2018
561864
I agree for some parts, like everything in the world doesn't exist forever. There will be a time when everyhting comes to the end. That means, we should cherish every seconds, every moments that we have. However, don't let you drown too deep with that thoughts. Dealing with the easy-going thougt that lingers too long will be problematic, and makes your every move becomes stagnant, like you only want to say in safe zone and don't want to get out from there because the moment you get out, you can't extravagantly spend your time to cherish your moments.

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It’s time to ditch the text file.
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