17 May 2022

‘Boketto’ is a word that refers to the art of ‘non-doing’ and there is a good chance you have done it at some stage in your life without realisation.

What Does ‘Non-Doing’ Involve?

Boketto as it is known (the art of ‘non-doing’), is one of many words that come the Japanese language, but it does not have a precise English translation.

The best definition of what it means is ‘the act of gazing into the distance (or into the sky, or space), without thinking about anything, but just being lost in the vastness of it all.’

Boketto is more like a form of meditation combined with visualisation of vastness but not emptiness where the mind can get lost and remain in a state of tranquilness. It involves not exactly focusing on what you see – it is more like you are looking through it, focusing on something behind the horizon. And you are not thinking about anything or reciting any type of mantra – you just are ‘being,’ doing nothing. In fact, this may be as close as many of us ever get to becoming one with the universe.

Is Boketto the Same as Daydreaming?

If you are thinking that Boketto is just another word for ‘daydreaming,’ then you are partly correct. Boketto involves a little more than that. Daydreaming involves a temporary detachment from your immediate reality which is part of what Boketto is about – but there is more to ‘non-doing’ using Boketto than this.

Daydreaming often involves a degree of usually wishful thinking – of or about things you would like to do, places you wish you were right now, goals, people you want to be with. Daydreaming is often thoughts that are never acted upon and that is not what Boketto is about.

Boketto is not about being bored. Boredom is defined as ‘the frustration you feel when you want to engage in a satisfying activity but cannot.’ Boredom brings on your feelings, thoughts, or the current environment as simply not being stimulating or satisfying enough for you. There are studies that suggest boredom, in small doses can be beneficial, however. 

For example, it can allow the mind to wander and produce innovative ideas, or it can be an early warning sign that your life is not right for you at the moment (e.g., such as you are in the wrong job or the wrong relationship right now).

Boketto also differs to some forms of meditation, such as mindfulness, where in mindfulness you are actively trying to be aware of your own body and what is around you, which is not the case with Boketto and the art of ‘non-doing.’

Why You Should Practice Boketto – the Art of ‘Non-doing’?

Boketto is about quietening the mind down by sitting and staring in space and just ‘being.’ As well as other forms of meditation, Boketto lets you disassociate from the world around you for a while, and just take everything in – no conscious thoughts, no daydreaming, no personal judgement. 

And the good news is that, even if you are not actively thinking about anything, or maybe even because you are practicing the art of ‘non-doing,’ you will find that ideas pop into your head. Those like myself who practice Boketto often find that it helps one to relax and calm down, as you are effectively switching your brain off for a few minutes.

Where Can I Practice Boketto – the Art of ‘Non-doing’?

When you are always busy, you never give your mind time to rest and quiet down – so Boketto is a wonderful way to take yourself out of your current environment for a few minutes.

As to where, the only real stipulation is that you should be able to see into the distance (such as the horizon, the sky, or, at night, the blackness of space, punctuated with stars). Such places could include:

• Looking out of a window at home or in your office, again, provided the view is not of more houses and office buildings but of something more distant.

• Sitting outside (such as on your porch, at the beach, in a field, on a hillside, when out camping).

• While travelling (as a passenger in a car, on the bus, on a train, or even on a plane since you are already up there in the sky).

And when deciding to spend a few minutes practicing this Japanese technique, remember to leave all your distractions out of reach and sight – no phones, no books, no music players, no computers, and ideally with no one who will try to engage you in conversation for a brief time.

Making Boketto a Habit – ‘Non-Doing’ Becomes the Normal

It is great to know that something you did as a child, without thinking about it, can actually be good for you? The problem is that the act of growing up as an adult seems to make us lose the ability to just stare into space mindlessly. Go ahead and try it – you will find it is not as easy as you thought it may be. But, as with most things, practice will help you learn the skill. Either way, Boketto is a unique form of meditation that anybody can do – because we all did it when we were young, we have just forgotten how. Let us all take time to relearn that skill of which we lost and may one’s meditation practice be full of life and love and personal wellbeing!