minimalism

Minimalism is intentionally living with only the things that you absolutely need. It's having and being surrounded by fewer material items, so you can do more with your time and life. … Minimalist living allows you the freedom to spend less time and money on stuff, and spend more energy on actually living.

Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.

• read our minimalism elevator pitch

• Leo Babauta’s Description of Minimalism
• Joshua Becker’s Benefits of Minimalism
• Courtney Carver’s 25 Reasons You Might Be a Minimalist
• Colin Wright’s Minimalism Explained

minimalism and zen

from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimalism#Influences_from_Japanese_tradition

The idea of simplicity appears in many cultures, especially the Japanese traditional culture of Zen Philosophy. Japanese manipulate the Zen culture into aesthetic and design elements for their buildings.[38] This idea of architecture has influenced Western Society, especially in America since the mid 18th century.[39] Moreover, it inspired the minimalist architecture in the 19th century.[32]

Zen concepts of simplicity transmit the ideas of freedom and essence of living.[32] Simplicity is not only aesthetic value, it has a moral perception that looks into the nature of truth and reveals the inner qualities and essence of materials and objects.[40] For example, the sand garden in Ryoanji temple demonstrates the concepts of simplicity and the essentiality from the considered setting of a few stones and a huge empty space.[41]

The Japanese aesthetic principle of Ma refers to empty or open space. It removes all the unnecessary internal walls and opens up the space. The emptiness of spatial arrangement reduces everything down to the most essential quality.[42]

The Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-sabi values the quality of simple and plain objects.[43] It appreciates the absence of unnecessary features, treasures a life in quietness and aims to reveal the innate character of materials.[44] For example, the Japanese floral art, also known as Ikebana, has the central principle of letting the flower express itself. People cut off the branches, leaves and blossoms from the plants and only retain the essential part of the plant. This conveys the idea of essential quality and innate character in nature.[45]

However, far from being just a spatial concept, Ma is present in all aspects of Japanese daily life, as