Ritual

[DavidGrayson]

Ritual is ubiquitous in religion. Mention any religion, and a ritual is usually the first image that comes to mind. Rituals are closely tied to family and community; they also mark the seasons and the passing of time. For these reasons, they continue to be important not just to the segment of practicing believers but also the broader public.

Ash Wednesday foreheads
        here and there
in the financial district

Tom Tico (Modern Haiku 41:2)

Christmas Eve
the last wisp of smoke
from the blown-out candle

Michael Ketchek (Modern Haiku 40:3)

When we miss these observances, we feel it.

Tanabata festival
weaving at home
alone

Tatsuki Matsutani (Modern Haiku 41:1)

Festival of Souls
probably no water for them
in the cemetery this year

Yotenchi Agari - Composed in a U.S. internment camp (Modern Haiku 40:2, from Margaret Chula's essay)

From a practical point of view, rituals can seem arbitrary and extraneous: window dressing when compared to the substance of religious ideas. However, ritual performs a key function, helping us manage life transitions. Huston Smith writes: "Death is the glaring example. Stunned by tragic bereavement, we would founder completely if we were thrown on our own and had to think our way through the ordeal. This is why death, with its funerals and memorial services, its wakes and sitting shiva, is the most ritualized rite of passage." (Smith, The World's Religions, pp. 300-301)

bouquet of daisies
       a bee comes to visit
       my mother's grave

Christoper Herold (Mariposa 12)

Of course, rituals are rooted in the past. But rituals are also dynamic, changing over time and adapting to new realities: everything from new technology to more diverse audiences.

Chicago's grotto of Lourdes--
an electric switch
lights a candle for my father

Mary L. Kwas (Modern Haiku 40:2)

late mourners
the rabbi switches
from Hebrew to English

Michael Dylan Welch (Modern Haiku 39:1)

In large and small ways, each of us can turn to our tradition, and be enveloped in its warm embrace.

Chinese New Year
recent immigrants
carrying the dragon

Patrick Gallagher (Mariposa 16)

...........................

Because many of us grew up with at least some religious/cultural rituals, I believe that this topic is fertile ground for haiku poets. Rituals open the door not only to the religious/spiritual, but also to family, relationships, childhood, the seasons, food, and much more.

On July 17, I presented a talk on religion and haiku at HPNC's summer meeting. At the end of the presentation, I asked the audience (about 25 people) to try to write a haiku about a religious topic of their choice. I was impressed with the quality. I was also impressed with the accessibility of the topic -- the group only had 10 minutes to compose their haiku!

Have you composed haiku around rituals, observances, or holidays that you'd like to share?

[AlanSummers]

Although I'm not a religious or spiritual person and can find these terms limiting I have been fortunate enough to have experienced darshan with a living 'master' and they are strangely liberating.

Darshan: a Sanskrit term meaning "sight"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darshana

Darshan is to be in a queue and catch a glimpse of the satguradev aka 'Perfect Master' and have an opportunity to touch his or her feet.

It's to see with reverence and devotion aka hierophany.

Though even the satgurudevs and other 'Teachers' practice spontaneity they will still incorporate 'milenniums old' traditions and rituals which play a part as long as they do not stultify the necessary immediacy of the moment.

darshan
the flash of recognition
on a humid day

darshan
a tingle of humour
along the queue

puja
his small feet
and my large hands

unspoken joke
I want to look back
after the puja

chance meeting
the satgurudev and I
chat about snakes

all my best

Alan

[DavidGrayson]

Thanks for sharing, Alan. I like these poems as a set. As I've thought about them the last few days, the one that has stuck with me the most is "unspoken joke." Your point about teachers practicing spontaneity while at the same time using longstanding rituals is a good one -- sometimes the structure of a ritual can facilitate spontaneity. I think that's an important insight.

Best,
David

[AlanSummers]

Thanks David,

And yes, humor is important while being a student, and of course the teacher aka master aka expert etc... is always a student themselves and will make both mistakes and great strides.

Living teachers are always a challenge to follow. ;-)

Alan

Thanks for sharing, Alan. I like these poems as a set. As I've thought about them the last few days, the one that has stuck with me the most is "unspoken joke." Your point about teachers practicing spontaneity while at the same time using longstanding rituals is a good one -- sometimes the structure of a ritual can facilitate spontaneity. I think that's an important insight.

Best,
David