How dorodango gave me a lesson in meditation and patience
Dorodango literally means MUD DUMPLING. A japanese art of combining dirt and water and polishing to create a delicate sphere. It takes a lot of time and patience and if you rush it, you’ll end up with a lump of dirt worthy of a garden, not a gallery.
It demands all your attention a you caress it with a damp cloth or hand.
It is very sile to start. Just a lump of clean dirt, some clay or fine dirt powder and water. Carefully, making a sphere with hands,.
There is only you, dorodango and nothing else..
The luster gradually formed on the top removing fine grains. With a glass color bottle and little touches with water, it became shiny and formed a unique texture on the surface.
The week long exercise was also a time of reflection. I would concentrate on tiny specs of hole that sand left left and carefully closed them with dabs of water and clay.
Though very repetitive, it was therapeutic and i admired myself taking care of my shiny dorodango like a baby.