ENSŌ
Ensō means circle or circular form and is created in a single continuous brushstroke
The ensō can symbolise both form and emptiness – it contains everything and nothing. Being empty of concept, it’s free to be anything and is a symbol of wholeness where ending and beginning feed one into the other.
Every ensō is different – sometimes a near perfect circle, other times broken or askew – and a reminder that change is the only constant and that the perfect moment is the one we are in.
Its seemingly contradictory qualities may be why many masters say the ensō cannot be explained in the same way that a map is not the terrain it represents. The ensō represents concepts that need to be experienced to fully comprehend.
Painting an ensō is a powerful Buddhist symbol for enlightenment and is used as a meditative practice to assist in developing awareness, focus and mindfulness. Enlightenment can be viewed as quite practical and create awareness of how things are and the causes of dissatisfaction, its impermanence and what leads away from it.
From a martial arts perspective, the ensō is a reminder to be present and mindful of oneself, opponent/s and surroundings and to maintain an open awareness so we can respond and not merely react to them.