The kanji:
迷 being lost, confused, considering
悟 enlightenment
一 one
如 same
So… “being confused and being enlightened are one and the same”
In traditional Japanese culture, it is considered ethical to take a long time to reach a decision and come to a conclusion. Quick decisions are seen as rash and may lead to mistakes. Carefully considering a problem from all angles is seen as the wiser course.
So if you think you know all the answers… you’re probably lost!
If you’re confused…. congratulations, you’re on the first step to enlightenment!
This is a special kind of Japaneses idiom known as a 四字熟語 (よじじゅくご、yo-ji-juku-go), or 4-character idiom. As the name suggests, these are idiomatic phrases made of 4 kanji characters.
They often contain a small life lesson or moral message, similar to English sayings such as “you reap what you sow” and “the early bird gets the worm”.
Calligraphy by Vicky 