Wabi-Sabi and The Circle of Life

I've been in a particularly wabi-sabi mood this week. That's probably because I've just re-read by dissertation now that I've completed my doctorate degree in Metaphysical Sciences, with a concentration in Conscious Business Ethics.

Since you're reading this, it probably won't come as much of a surprise that the title of my dissertation is "Wabi-Sabi: A Metaphysical Framework for Conscious Business Ethics." That's a topic for a future post.

I woke up this morning with a strong urge to listen to "The Circle of Life," the iconic song from The Lion King. Over the next hour or so, I watched at least a dozen videos of the song on YouTube. I'm not ashamed to admit that a few brought tears to my eyes.

If you haven't seen the movie, both the original (1994) or the remastered version (2019), they're both readily available online. If you haven't felt the sheer joy of experiencing the play live, either on Broadway or off, I highly recommend it. I've seen it twice and am looking forward to seeing it again.

In The Lion King, Simba’s journey mirrors the wabi-sabi perspective on life. He experiences loss, guilt, and exile, believing that his imperfections and past mistakes make him unworthy of returning to the Pride Lands. However, as he matures, he learns that these very imperfections are what shape him. The scars he carries are not symbols of failure, but instead are marks of resilience.

Between the triumphant opening and final scenes celebrating life in all its majesty lies the mournful scene in the elephant graveyard. The movie reminds us that joy and sadness are inextricably intertwined, and that every ending heralds a new beginning.

Much like a kintsugi-repaired bowl, Simba returns to reclaim his place, not as a flawless hero, but as a leader shaped by hardship. His scars make him whole, and his acceptance of the past allows him to move forward.

In keeping with its African backdrop, many of the lyrics to The Circle of Life are sung in Zulu and others are sometimes difficult to hear, so I've included them here as an example of how the timeless universality of wabi-sabi can even find its way into a classic piece of cinema and musical history. (By the way, the song was written by Elton John and the lyrics were written by Tim Rice. )

From the day we arrive on the planet

and blinkin', step into the sun

There's more to see than can ever be seen

More to do than can ever be done

Some say, "Eat or be eaten"

Some say, "Live and let live"

But all are agreed as they join the stampede

You should never take more than you give [Chorus]

In the circle of life

It's the wheel of fortune

It's the leap of faith

It's the band of hope

Till we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the Circle, The Circle of Life

Some of us fall by the wayside

And some of us soar to the stars

And some of us sail through our troubles

And some have to live with the scars

There's far too much to take in here

More to find than can ever be found

But the sun rolling high

Through the sapphire sky

Keeps the great and small on the endless round

[Chorus repeats]

What struck me this morning while watching various arrangements of the song was how many different ways it's been interpreted and performed around the world. These varying arrangements have allowed audiences worldwide to connect with the film's music and message in their native tongues and their preferred musical genres.

Casts from the play in several countries have delighted unsuspecting bystanders on subways, on planes, in airports, and even at the Australian Open. What's even more heartwarming is to see videos of flash mobs bringing people together from all walks of life to share the beautiful message of this song. My favorite is the incredible flash mob video shared by the Hertfordshire Zoo in the UK.

As I discovered during my magical trip to Morocco and wrote about here, wabi-sabi isn't an abstract philosophical principle, it's a way of life. Keep an open mind and an open heart and you may be surprised at when and where you experience it.