About WBFF
WBFF is dedicated to the promotion of world peace through the cultural outreach
and exchange possible with the art and practice of bonsai.
Please Contact us if you can assist us or if we can assist you in this endeavor
Our Founder
Mr. Saburo Kato
The Path of Bonsai No Kokoro
by Felix Laughlin
Following the shock of September 11, the mission of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation has become more important and relevant than ever before. Saburo Kato's vision - and a principal purpose of the WBFF that he organized in 1989 - is to bring peace to the world through bonsai. Throughout his life, Saburo Kato has been walking the path of peace and friendship through bonsai, and WBFF wishes to encourage others to join this path.
Practitioners of bonsai all over the world have discovered that bonsai is more than a hobby. The Buddhist monks who centuries ago spread the art of bonsai from China to Japan and other countries realized that bonsai fosters compassion and brings about a deep respect for life. This connection between bonsai and the contemplative traditions of many religions continues to this day.
The first-time observer of a bonsai is often fascinated in seeing what could be a large tree in a miniature size. If one takes the next step of acquiring a bonsai, the young tree in a pot can lead the imagination on endless journeys to mystical places - old-growth forests, windswept cliffs or lush green valleys. Along the way, the enthusiast learns technique and horticultural science, but is eventually captivated and challenged by the process of experiencing nature through the rhythm of another living thing whose life span can exceed our own.
As the months and years of nurturing bonsai go by, the mind becomes more deeply centered on the beauty of nature. Spring is a time to sense the green freshness of new life, summer a time to smell the sweetness of an afternoon shower, fall a time to enjoy the reds and golds and prepare for winter, and winter a time to rest and dream of renewal. Over the years, the bonsai hobbyist becomes a practitioner whose very being is grounded in seeing nature through bonsai.
Saburo Kato has often spoken about the spirit and philosophy of bonsai (in Japanese, "bonsai no kokoro"). By nurturing bonsai, we learn the essence and dignity of life, and life becomes more meaningful. If we are diligent in our care, one day we will understand when a bonsai is asking for water or fertilizer. As we assume responsibility for the care of the bonsai, a close bond develops between the caregiver and the bonsai. In return for the caregiver's love, the bonsai portrays the utmost beauty of nature. The love one has for bonsai then expands to encompass nature in all its many forms.
This is the power of bonsai. As one's appreciation of nature grows, so will one's enlightenment. As a result, Mr. Kato has called it the duty of all those who love bonsai to keep "torch of peace" burning throughout the world.
Those who carry the torch of peace - those such as Saburo Kato and John Naka who selflessly lead humble lives and spread the word of bonsai - walk the path of "bonsai no kokoro." It is not a difficult path to follow - it only requires that you share the gift you have been given and pass it on to others. If you help only one other person to enjoy the art of bonsai or develop one friendship with another based on your mutual love of bonsai, the world will be a more peaceful place.
WBFF is calling on bonsai lovers throughout the world to join the path of "bonsai no kokoro." This website will facilitate communications between and among people around the world -- providing concrete ways to bring peace to the world through bonsai, seeking new ideas on how this can be accomplished, and reporting progress in all of the WBFF's nine regions.
With your support and commitment to action, Saburo Kato's vision can become a reality.
