Is ‘Ikigai’ the Key to Buddhist Happiness? My Learnings from Visiting Okinawa’s Blue Zone Elders

Is ‘Ikigai’ the Key to Buddhist Happiness? My Learnings from Visiting Okinawa’s Blue Zone Elders

TLDR: A journey to uncover longevity secrets unearths profound Buddhist truths. Explore how Okinawan elders exemplify the Middle Way.

A drone shot I took in Okinawa – the island of blue seas and longevity 

When I first set foot on Ogimi, Okinawa’s famed “Island of Longevity”, I was driven by the allure of uncovering the secret to a long life. Inspired by the book “Ikigai” by Hector Garcia and Francesc Mralles, I hoped to learn the recipe for extending my years on this earth. 

Is 'Ikigai' the Key to Buddhist Happiness? My learnings from visiting Okinawa’s Blue Zone Elders

Little did I know that my journey would lead me to a profound realisation – one that aligns beautifully with core Buddhist teachings.

The Active Elders

Photo of me with the 97-year-old grandfather (left) and another photo of him casually showing us the plaster on his head, explaining how it is not affecting his daily routine (right)

One of the first things that struck me was the vibrant energy of the elderly population. I met a 97-year-old grandfather who still worked daily, not out of necessity, but to keep himself active and engaged. 

Even after a minor injury on his head, he was quick to apply first aid and get on with his day. During local ceremonies and special occasions, I witnessed elders participating in traditional dances with a vigour that belied their age.

Photo of my host family dancing the traditional Okinawan dance during their grandma’s birthday gathering.

The elders of Ogimi embody the idea of maintaining a balanced, consistent effort in life—neither overexerting nor becoming idle. 

This idea of balance is very closely related to the Buddhist idea of ‘Holding but not grasping’. To hold certain activities of your routines but not be overly attached to them or overworking on them

Similarly, the approach of Okinawan elders to daily activities reflects promoting both physical and mental well-being by avoiding overindulgence in rest or extreme work.

Moai: The Power of Community

In Ogimi, I witnessed a strong sense of community, with neighbours intimately knowing and supporting each other. I learned about “Moai,” a traditional Okinawan social support system. 

Originally formed for financial assistance, Moai have evolved into social groups fostering belonging and mutual support. 

While I didn’t see a Moai group firsthand, hearing about these enduring social connections highlighted their significance in the well-being and longevity of Ogimi’s residents.

This reminded me of my spiritual community back home in Singapore. It is in such communities that we grow and support one another.

One of the prominent Buddhist practitioners Chade-Meng Tan (who is also the spiritual advisor for HOL) also emphasises the value of spiritual friendship, stating, “That is why good friends are the whole of the holy life. Of course, part of the practice is to be a good friend to others. Happily, good friendship is something you can receive and give at the same time.”

His insights, illustrated in this comic below, underscore the importance of being both a good friend and receiving good friendship and having a community is imperative in cultivating a fulfilling life.

Source: Artwork by Collin Ng on buddhism.net 

A Positive Outlook on Life

Photo of my host family’s grandmother proudly showing us the bag of vegetables she harvested that day.

Perhaps the most impactful aspect of life in Ogimi was the residents’ positive outlook. They found joy and meaning in simple pleasures – tending to farms, practising traditional arts, or sharing wisdom with younger generations. 

This attitude reflects the Buddhist concept of contentment (santuṭṭhi) and the practice of finding joy in the present moment.

Ajahn Brahm, a renowned Buddhist monk, often speaks about the importance of contentment and mindfulness in everyday life. He emphasises finding happiness within and appreciating the present moment, which resonates with the lifestyle in Ogimi. 

In his talks and writings, Ajahn Brahm highlights the practice of “letting go” and the importance of kindness and compassion towards oneself and others.  In my personal practice, letting go of unhappy past events or hurtful remarks and focusing on the present moment helps me concentrate on what I can control now and also be grateful for what I already have.

This makes me feel less flustered and more calm and contented with what I have. This approach reduces stress and fosters inner peace and joy, much like the Ogimi residents’ approach to life. 

The residents’ ability to find joy in everyday activities mirrors Ajahn Brahm’s teachings on mindfulness and contentment. By appreciating the present moment and practising kindness and compassion, one can lead a more meaningful life

The Dhamma of Longevity

As my time in Ogimi drew to a close, I realised that my quest for the secret to longevity had led me to a deeper truth. The residents of Ogimi weren’t focused on extending their lives; they were living each day fully and joyfully. Their secret wasn’t about reaching a certain age but about embracing life with contentment, purpose, and community.

In parallel, the goal of Buddhist practice isn’t to extend life indefinitely but to live with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. The Four Noble Truths remind us that attachment – even to the idea of a long life – can lead to suffering. 

Instead, the path to true happiness lies in understanding the nature of existence and cultivating a mind free from greed, hatred, and delusion. 

Conclusion

 One for the memories! A group drone shot was taken at their rooftop

My journey to Ogimi taught me that the pursuit of longevity when approached mindfully, can lead us to the very essence of what makes life worth living. 

It’s not about the number of years we accumulate, but about how we live each day – with purpose, in harmony with others, and with a grateful heart.

The elders of Ogimi, in their simple yet profound way of life, embody many of the qualities that the Buddha encouraged his followers to cultivate. They remind us that a truly “long” life is one that is rich in meaning, connection, and contentment – qualities that are available to us all, regardless of our age or circumstances.

As we reflect on the lessons from Ogimi, we’re invited to consider: How can we infuse our own lives with more purpose, community, and joy? How can we cultivate contentment with what we have, while maintaining a zest for life? These are the questions that can guide us towards not just a long life, but a truly fulfilling one – a path that aligns perfectly with the timeless wisdom of the Dhamma.


Wise Steps: 

  1. Start a ‘Kopi Club: Create your own version of Okinawa’s Moai. Have regular meetups fostering deep community connections or join a Dhamma practice group such as DAYWA.
  2. Redefine your ‘bucket list’: Focus on meaningful experiences, not just longevity.
  3. Find the right balance: Put in appropriate levels of effort in various life endeavours such as career, keeping fit, and managing finances. It should be a consistent effort—not too much and not too slack.
If The Last Time You Felt At Peace Was Ages Ago. Read & Try This

If The Last Time You Felt At Peace Was Ages Ago. Read & Try This

TLDR: Is Metta Meditation really beneficial? Jin Young shares his own personal practice and his relationship with loving kindness meditation. A 30-min guided meditation is included. You’re invited to test it out for yourself.   


When you don’t know what to do, try out metta or loving kindness meditation.

Encountering Metta MeditationMy first encounter with metta was listening to Imee Ooi’s “Chant of Metta ”. Imee’s voice was angel-like, saccharine and soothing. I especially enjoyed her chanting of the Metta Sutta in Pali language, albeit not knowing much about the actual meaning behind those words back then. 

My mom would sometimes play the CD around bedtime, and I guess it must have had some sort of sleep-inducing effect, much like lullabies for babies.

Lighting My Fire Of Metta

When I was fifteen, I sat through my first metta meditation under the guidance of Ajahn Brahm. Ajahn explained that the cultivation of metta is analogous to starting a fire. You can’t start a fire by lighting up a huge log. 

Rather, you need kindling, easily combustible materials for starting a fire such as papers or small little twigs. Once the fire is started, one then adds on larger and larger twigs before moving on to solid pieces of wood. 

When the fire is well maintained, you can further grow it until the passion of loving kindness is strong enough to embrace the whole universe and even your worst enemies.

But first, we need to start with kindling. Ajahn told us to visualize someone whom we can readily feel and send loving kindness to. For me, it was my late grandmother who had taken care of me when I was young. She showered me with unconditional love.

“Dear Ahma”

“The door of my heart is open to you”

“I will take care of you”

“May you be safe, well and happy”.

With these words, I felt my chest and heart glowing with love and warmth. We then proceed to send similar thoughts and wishes to our other family members, friends, acquaintances, animals, and all sentient beings. 

It was an empowering experience to meditate on metta with Ajahn Brahm. The flame of “metta” was passed on from Ajahn to us, and from us to our loved ones and on and on.

Keeping the Metta Flame Glowing

Since then, I’ve tried my best to keep this flame alive wherever I go. In Selangor, I joined the Buddhist Gem Fellowship and attended a weekly guided metta meditation by Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee, another lay-teacher and compassionate mentor. 

Dr. Wee’s cues were slightly different from Ajahn Brahm’s, but the spirit of loving kindness was the same.

I brought the practice of metta meditation with me to Japan and China, where I studied abroad for four years. Whenever I missed my family, encountered negative events, or felt like I was stuck in an uncertain and helpless situation, I turned to metta meditation for help. 

I like to believe that by sending my thoughts of loving-kindness to my family and friends, they are protected by my wishes, and become well and happy. 

By sending metta to a professor or a superior, he or she would give me an A+ or a pay raise (I’m only half-kidding). By sending it to someone with whom I’ve had a negative encounter, relationships will slowly turn for the better, enmity and ill will shall be transformed into love and light.

No, Metta doesn’t Solve Everything

Of course, there’s no guarantee that metta will always convert “negativity” into “positivity”, nor is it a panacea for everything in life.

However, I believe that it can help transform the state of one’s mind – To face life’s suffering and problems with a heart of loving-kindness and gentleness.

Over time, as I became a yoga teacher and started leading mindfulness retreat expeditions to the Himalayas, I’ve developed and come up with my practice and cues for leading metta meditation.

These cues are of course consolidated from the various teachers mentioned above. During this pandemic lockdown, I decided to record a 30-min long guided metta meditation. I share it with anyone keen to explore and integrate this practice into their lives.

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” This quote is often attributed to Laotzu.

Can we make metta “loving-kindness” the character and destiny of our life?


Wise Steps:

  • If you find it hard to send loving thoughts in your mind, find a safe space and utter them out in words. 
  • Make it a habit to randomly wish someone to be well and happy each day, whether it’s mentally towards someone you love or to random strangers on the streets.
  • Meditate at least once a week to reset yourself energetically and spiritually.