45th Regular Conference
When: 18:00 PM ~ 19:00 PM (Melbourne, Australia Time), Sunday 15 March 2026
Where: Online Event
Fee: Free (see details below)
Donation: We welcome 500 yen donation. See below.
How to Join
１. Send Application Form.
２. Receive a Zoom link to join the conference.
Welcome: Dr Osamu Inoue - President of ISIR, Professor - Kyoto Saga Art College
MC: Shoan Lo - Secretary of International Society of Ikebana Research, Associate Director of Ikebana Gallery Award & Ikebana Dojo. Director of Melbourne Ikebana Festival
Presenter: Florentina Vinica Barbu
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest
The president of the Ikebana International Bucharest chapter
Abstract:
Mushin (無心), translated as "no-mind" or "empty mind," is a foundational Zen Buddhist concept describing a state of consciousness of pure awareness, free from fear, ego, distracting thoughts and overthinking, allowing for spontaneous, fluid action. It is a heightened, "empty" mind that acts as a mirror—open, present, and responding spontaneously without conscious, premeditated thought. It represents a state of mental clarity and calm, where the practitioner is fully immersed in the present moment.
In Japanese arts like Ikebana (Kado), Mushin allows the practitioner to move beyond technical rules, allowing the arrangement to flow from the subconscious.
The Japanese art of flower arrangement, Ikebana (or Kadō—the Way of Flowers), serves as a profound meditative practice to cultivate this state, transforming it from a philosophical concept into a lived experience. By examining the "aesthetics of subtraction," where the artist removes excess to reveal the inner essence of nature, we can demonstrate how Ikebana trains the mind to let go of judgmental, premeditated, and ego-driven, artistic, and life choices. Through the disciplined practice of Ikebana, one achieves a "moving meditation" that balances the mind and body, this practice becoming a form of spiritual discipline.
The principles of Mushin developed in Ikebana—such as presence, spontaneity, and harmony—are directly applicable to daily life, offering a pathway to reduce anxiety, increase focus, and live with greater authenticity and flow.
Keywords: Mushin, No-mind, Ikebana, Kado, Zen Buddhism, Mindfulness, Flow State, Japanese Art, Creativity, Wabi-sabi.
