The Satori Generation

[Guest Guest]

https://www.adbusters.org/magazine/113/satori-generation.html

They don’t want cars or brand name handbags or luxury boots. To many of them, travel beyond the known and local is expensive and potentially dangerous. They work part-time jobs—because that is what they’ve been offered—and live at home long after they graduate. They’re not getting married or having kids. They’re not even sure if they want to be in romantic relationships. Why? Too much hassle. Oh, and too expensive.

In Japan, they’ve come to be known as satori sedai—the “enlightened generation.” In Buddhist terms: free from material desires, focused on self-awareness, finding essential truths. But another translation is grimmer: “generation resignation,” or those without ideals, ambition or hope.

They were born in the late 1980s on up, when their nation’s economic juggernaut, with its promises of lifetime employment and conspicuous celebrations of consumption, was already a spent historical force. They don’t believe the future will get better—so they make do with what they have. In one respect, they’re arch-realists. And they’re freaking their elders out.

“Don’t you want to get a nice German car one day?”—asked one flustered 50-something guest of his 20-something counterpart on a nationally broadcasted talk show. The show aired on the eve of Coming of Age Day, a national holiday in Japan that celebrates the latest crop of youth turning 20, the threshold of adulthood. An animated graphic of a smiling man wearing sunglasses driving a blonde around in a convertible flashed across the screen, the man’s scarf fluttering in the wind. “Don’t you want a pretty young woman to take on a Sunday drive?”

There was some polite giggling from the guests. After a pause, the younger man said, “I’m really not interested, no.”

Critics of the satori youths level the kinds of intergenerational accusations time-honored worldwide: they’re lazy, lacking in willpower, potency and drive.

Having lectured to a number of them at several universities in Tokyo, I was able to query students directly. “We’re risk-averse,” was the most common response. We were raised in relative comfort. We’re just trying to keep it that way.

Is this enlightened, or resigned? Or both?

Novelist Genichiro Takahashi, 63, addressed the matter in an essay 10 years ago. He called the new wave of youth a “generation of loss,” but he defined them as “the world’s most advanced phenomenon”—in his view, a generation whose only desires are those that are actually achievable.

The satori generation are known for keeping things small, preferring an evening at home with a small gathering of friends, for example, to an upscale restaurant. They create ensemble outfits from so-called “fast fashion” discount stores like Uniqlo or H&M, instead of purchasing top-shelf at Louis Vuitton or Prada. They don’t even booze.

“They drink much less alcohol than the kids of my generation, for sure,” says social critic and researcher Mariko Fujiwara of Hakuhodo. “And even when they go to places where they are free to drink, drinking too much was never ‘cool’ for them the way it was for us.”

Fujiwara’s research leads her to define a global trend—youth who have the technological tools to avoid being duped by phony needs. There is a new breed of young people, she says, who have outdone the tricksters of advertising.

“They are prudent and careful about what they buy. They have been informed about the expensive top brands of all sorts of consumer goods but were never so impressed by them like those from the bubble generation. We have identified them as those who are far more levelheaded than the generations preceding them as a result of the new reality they came to face.”

The new reality is affecting a new generation around the world. Young Americans and Europeans are increasingly living at home, saving money, and living prudently. Technology, as it did in Japan, abets their shrinking circles. If you have internet access, you can accomplish a lot in a little room. And revolution in the 21st century, as most young people know, is not about consumption—it’s about sustainability.

Waseda University professor, Norihiro Kato, points to broader global phenomena that have radically transformed younger generations’ sense of possibility, calling it a shift from “the infinite to the finite.” Kato cites the Chernobyl meltdown and the fall of communism in the late 1980s and early 90s; the September 11 terrorist attacks in the early 2000s; and closer to home, the triple earthquake, tsunami and ongoing nuclear disasters in Japan. These events reshaped our sense of wisdom and self-worth. The satori generation, he says, marks the emergence of a new “‘qualified power,’ the power to do and the power to undo, and the ability to enjoy doing and not doing equally. Imagine a robot with the sophistication and strength to clutch an egg without crushing it. The key concept is outgrowing growth toward degrowth. That’s the wisdom of this new generation.”

In America and Europe, the new generation is teaching us how to live with less—but also how to live with one another. Mainstream media decry the number of young people living at home—a record 26.1 million in the US, according to recent statistics—yet living at home and caring for one’s elders has long been a mainstay of Japanese culture.

In the context of shrinking resources and global crises, satori “enlightenment” might mean what the young everywhere are telling us: shrink your goals to the realistic, help your family and community and resign yourself to peace.

What Takahashi called “the world’s most advanced phenomenon” may well be coming our way from Japan. But this time it’s not automotive or robotic or electronic. It’s human enlightenment.

[Guest Guest]

I brand it as the 'Lazy generation ' and unfit generation , always on sick leave !

[Slynn]

wow it's a nice article to read.

 

While most parents and seniors obsess over material wealth, children are being neglected in the household. Maybe the satori generation has truly seen what is more important in life: relations and human contact. Even children nowadays developed a different wisdom and outlook than children decades ago. 

 

The younger generation has been told again and again of the emphasis in their education. Doors also closed on them should they not achieve satisfying results. Gone were the days where people can fight on without certs to reach high positions.  Yet they do not remain resilient enough to break through the mold. 

 

Worrisome thing though, the world's economy and development will change with the generation. And it's not a good thing that people has no drive and ambition, but it will probably take another generation or so for the thing to reverse

[navyblue]

If the Satori generation can lead a self sustainable life without adding extra pressure to their family and grow up to be responsible adults, I think this is nothing to worry about.

The world is made up of different types of people, when there is a group of Satori people, there will also be a group of unSatori people, just like introverts vs extroverts, so that the world will be in a balanced state.

[darkflame]

I wonder if MUJI's minimalist concept influence this satori generation.

Honestly, I feel my 2 room apartment is too small.

I kind of missed my small one room apartment.

[Guest Daiso]

If MUJi is minimalist, how about the cheaper Daiso?

[HotIce]

minimalist is not equal to cheap

 

I must say that i am impressed with this Satori generation. It takes courage to admit to others that you have no ambition in life

[bonekaz]

Hmm... The article is interesting, and I feel like I resonate a lot with the values of this "satori generation". For one, I do not believe that materialism and how much alcohol you drink should be the measure of your adulthood. But that's just me. The only problem I have with this satori generation is the very essence of a lack of ambition. I don't think I'd like to identify with that. My understanding though is that these people do not LACK ambition, but rather have ambitions that are not aligned with mainstream popular culture; getting rich, and living the high life sort of thing.

 

just my 2 cents.

[HendryTan]

My understanding though is that these people do not LACK ambition, but rather have ambitions that are not aligned with mainstream popular culture;

Can share what is the Ambition of you and your generation. Trying to understand what makes the younger man ticks.

[navyblue]

My understanding though is that these people do not LACK ambition, but rather have ambitions that are not aligned with mainstream popular culture; getting rich, and living the high life sort of thing.

Yes, you are right.

[Flexibtm]

The word "ambition" is a heavy word and I guess the "Satori generation " do have thier own definition of ambition.

[Guest Guest]

It is like the definition of 前途 has been twisted as 钱途

[Guest Guest]

I guess most young teen from the mid 90s (1991-1999) even in Sg are more or less part of this Sat. Gen.

[Sibelius]

I think I kinda identify with the satori generation. I have always thought theres more to life than just work, money, cars, houses, girlfriends or boyfriends etc.

[Guest Guest]

It is a challenge though for those who favor a less hectic lifestyle in Singapore. In other countries, what u can do is to move to the countryside where the cost of living is lower. But here everywhere is the same.

[Guest Guest]

It is a challenge though for those who favor a less hectic lifestyle in Singapore. In other countries, what u can do is to move to the countryside where the cost of living is lower. But here everywhere is the same.

No one is stopping you to live somewhere else if you cannot rise to the challenges ! Here , Hong Kong , New York are meant for the tough and fittest !

[Guest Raiden Alpha]

No one is stopping you to live somewhere else if you cannot rise to the challenges ! Here , Hong Kong , New York are meant for the tough and fittest !

You want to remain a fighter and on a banshee mode for life?

Other than work and consumerism culture what do you know about life in general?

[keyboard]

I didn't know there was a definition of such a generation. Was quite surprised that it is termed to be the lazy generation just because one doesn't have an ambition of material success. How far can ambitions go really, when I see that most people have a dead end job (whether you like it or not). For example, if your ambition is to be a pilot, you work through the ranks and you become a captain, aren't you stuck in a plane most of your life. In not so nice terms, what difference are you compared to a bus driver?

 

Does it really matter if you have an interesting job if your life is not defined by what you do at work, rather the emphasis is on how you appreciate life in it's simplicity.

[Guest Guest]

You want to remain a fighter and on a banshee mode for life?

Other than work and consumerism culture what do you know about life in general?

I do know money is important in life , even a farmer knows that ! How else would the young ones want to leave the farm and work in the cities ?!

[Guest Guest]

I didn't know there was a definition of such a generation. Was quite surprised that it is termed to be the lazy generation just because one doesn't have an ambition of material success. How far can ambitions go really, when I see that most people have a dead end job (whether you like it or not). For example, if your ambition is to be a pilot, you work through the ranks and you become a captain, aren't you stuck in a plane most of your life. In not so nice terms, what difference are you compared to a bus driver?

Does it really matter if you have an interesting job if your life is not defined by what you do at work, rather the emphasis is on how you appreciate life in it's simplicity.

No want ask you to be a pilot for the rest of your life ! Most of these cannot accept other jobs and have no where else and no guts to land in another job , just a bunch of flying losers there for the girls and money ....

[Guest Guest]

No one is stopping you to live somewhere else if you cannot rise to the challenges ! Here , Hong Kong , New York are meant for the tough and fittest !

Not everyone sees life as a competition.

It is this kind of self centered ness that has created so much problem in the world. The fear of not having enough, always wanting more that causes war, destruction of the planet earth along with other societal problems due to inequality.

You want to remain a fighter and on a banshee mode for life?

Other than work and consumerism culture what do you know about life in general?

When one's life focus has been on material possession, will only discover the true meaning of life when confronting setbacks or impending death

[Guest Guest]

Not everyone sees life as a competition.

It is this kind of self centered ness that has created so much problem in the world. The fear of not having enough, always wanting more that causes war, destruction of the planet earth along with other societal problems due to inequality.

Let's be honest that everyone competes in one way or another ! You seems to forget you are the fastest swimming sperm to become a human being ,......

[Guest Guest]

Let's be honest that everyone competes in one way or another ! You seems to forget you are the fastest swimming sperm to become a human being ,......

U can see it another way though.. u can see that particular sperm happens to be the fastest without any sense of competition.

It is like u hv a group of friends, some might die earlier than others..but it is never a competition to see who die first right?

Let's be honest that everyone competes in one way or another ! You seems to forget you are the fastest swimming sperm to become a human being ,......

U can see it another way though.. u can see that particular sperm happens to be the fastest without any sense of competition.

It is like u hv a group of friends, some might die earlier than others..but it is never a competition to see who die first right?

[Guest Guest]

U can see it another way though.. u can see that particular sperm happens to be the fastest without any sense of competition.

It is like u hv a group of friends, some might die earlier than others..but it is never a competition to see who die first right?

Everyone seems to like to find excuses to make them feel better these days , but there is really no other way to see this ,science has proven it that sperm does compete .....

[Guest Guest]

How Competition Made Me Less Successful

....

I have, unfortunately, viewed most of my life through the lens of competition.

I could blame it on growing up with a twin brother who is 6 inches taller and 40 pounds heavier with much broader shoulders. I could blame it on my love for sports or board games. I could blame it on countless plot lines and movies that stacked one side versus the other and glamorized the victor. But most likely, competition is just the default position of my heart.

And to be fair, it’s not all bad. Viewing life as competition has motivated me to work harder at school, work, and personal growth. It has prompted discipline and perseverance. After all, it can be really tough to win if someone else is working harder than you.

But I am beginning to see there may be a better way to live

—one that focuses less on competition and more on encouragement.

It all started with my decision to run a marathon. Finishing a marathon had always been a life dream. And the Vermont City Marathon with its beautiful scenery, quaint New England atmosphere, and community-wide appreciation proved to be a motivating opportunity.

Turning that dream into a reality proved to be far more life-transforming than I thought. While I assumed the accomplishment would be about physical fitness and mental toughness, it eventually became something greater. And in the end, it taught me countless lessons about people, life, and teamwork.

Also, it taught me the importance of competing less and encouraging more.

Marathon runners understand an important race principle: There is room at the finish line for every runner.

The 26.2 mile race is difficult for everyone (well, at least the runners I run with). Because the journey is so difficult, the race quickly becomes something greater than winning and losing. It becomes about the challenge, the experience, the unity of a common goal, and the opportunity to help someone else cross the finish line with you.

As a result, the entire route is filled with encouragement from bystanders and competitors completely committed to running well and helping other racers finish strong.

I have come to realize the mindset of competition is often based on a faulty premise.

It assumes there is a finite sized pie for success—that success in another’s life equals one less opportunity for success in mine. But quite frankly, often times, this thinking is incorrect. Whether we are discussing athletic goals, business pursuits, personal growth, or spiritual life change, the size of the pie is not finite.

In reality, the pie keeps growing. Another person’s success does not mean I have one less shot at it. In fact, another person’s success can actually become my success if I had opportunity to encourage and promote them along the way!

Viewing life only as competition has terrible drawbacks.

It pursues success for only the self. It breeds jealousy and envy. It withholds encouragement. It mistreats others on its way to the finish line. A world divided into winners and losers is one that misses opportunity to show grace.

And when the race is a spiritual one, these negative effects can be even more dangerous—especially in a world that already bends itself away from spiritual pursuits.

Our world needs people who compete less and encourage more. It desires us to be liberal with our encouragement and quick to celebrate the accomplishments of others. Look for talented people and invest into their success. Avoid speaking negatively of others.

Love, cheer, share ideas, and redirect praise.

There is room at the finish line for all of us. (tweet this)

I just wish it hadn’t taken a 4½ hour run for me to figure that out.

http://storylineblog.com/2014/01/21/less-competition-more-encouragement/

[Guest Guest]

How Competition Made Me Less Successful

....

http://storylineblog.com/2014/01/21/less-competition-more-encouragement/

But in the gay society , you still need to compete with younger gays to be wanted....

[Guest Guest]

The only person you need to compete with is yourself - be a better self, a better person, a better lover

[Guest Guest]

[navyblue]

Good video! Thanks!

And guys, just to add on, it is never too late to start your own journey.

[Guest Guest]

The only person you need to compete with is yourself - be a better self, a better person, a better lover

You meant talking to yourself and with yourself ?

Most straights love to compete and take satisfaction from it ....maybe that's the difference between gays and straights ....

[Guest Guest]

You meant talking to yourself and with yourself ?

Most straights love to compete and take satisfaction from it ....maybe that's the difference between gays and straights ....

http://youtu.be/1DgPaoObetE