A Sense of Something Bigger

[AlanSummers]

Thank you asa-gao, that is very kind; sometimes I feel a little invisible in the 'haiku world' but perhaps that is no bad thing. :-)

I totally agree that God may be too big for any one religion (or system) and perhaps too big for any number of systems. Perhaps we should gladly give up any ownership claims and just be students?

Alan

Alan .. i am becoming big fan of you  :)

As to the religious component that may be found in haiku.  I think, as God is too big for any one religion (imoo)  ... that what we ultimately find is, spirituality; something unique to each author.  Certainly this is often reflected in the writings of both masters past and present.  Without direct reference to the source, it becomes - something in the air, and something too that everyone may intuitively sense.  I find that the spirituality of haiku is almost always present in writings, and that this spirituality has to do with yes, something bigger than mortal man - who is part of, and not separate from the surrounding nature.  A thing one can feel when standing in a large forest alone, or seen in a poem which issues of its own accord, upon contemplation until is seen - a glimmering.  My thoughts anyway, after much listening to Basho ... 

[Asa-gao]

You're welcome Alan, and i agree (for the most part).  Not that we should give up our spirituality, or never mention our faith - for these are things that inspire much beautiful poetry - life in and of itself is quite spiritual.  This is not necessarily however, imo, something that needs to be over advertised - better to create an illusion, and thus allow both student and appreciator a more participatory experience, each from their own unique perspectives.  Like Don's ku upthread.  Certainly there is nothing wrong with reference to one's faith ... we see masters past do this - but we do not typically see it done to the exclusion of all else.  But if someone desires to do this .. then who am i to judge?  If this makes any sense ... and this is only my personal opinion, among near 8 billion on the planet currently ;-)  

Was reading all that you have done (in your profile) ... your invisibility is obviously a super power  :)

Lucky is the student who discovers you ....

Thank you asa-gao, that is very kind; sometimes I feel a little invisible in the 'haiku world' but perhaps that is no bad thing. :-)

I totally agree that God may be too big for any one religion (or system) and perhaps too big for any number of systems. Perhaps we should gladly give up any ownership claims and just be students?

Alan

Alan .. i am becoming big fan of you  :)

As to the religious component that may be found in haiku.  I think, as God is too big for any one religion (imoo)  ... that what we ultimately find is, spirituality; something unique to each author.  Certainly this is often reflected in the writings of both masters past and present.  Without direct reference to the source, it becomes - something in the air, and something too that everyone may intuitively sense.  I find that the spirituality of haiku is almost always present in writings, and that this spirituality has to do with yes, something bigger than mortal man - who is part of, and not separate from the surrounding nature.  A thing one can feel when standing in a large forest alone, or seen in a poem which issues of its own accord, upon contemplation until is seen - a glimmering.  My thoughts anyway, after much listening to Basho ...  

[Mishima]

For myself:

there was a moment
a blade at my wrist
He came unto me

Insha Allah

[Asa-gao]

Love it .. resonates deep ...

Asa

For myself:

there was a moment
a blade at my wrist
He came unto me

Insha Allah

[nobodhi]

Colin, and all who've responded ——— I think it's the great 'open secret' of, say, the past 15–20 years now, that people have been lifting religion up from the Saturday or sunday pews & finding in their daily lives ways of making it real for themselves : altar, prayer, meditation, haiku, etc.    People often call themselves 'spiritual but not religious'; a recent name is Contemplative Practices movement.*  In poetry, that somehow coincided with the most popular poet in America for nearly a decade being a sufi mystic named Rumi. We can mark the popularity of haiku anthologies by Cor Van den Heuvel and Robert Hass as being rather parallel.  And Mary Oliver.

Buddhism fits in, here, as a religion of no religion.

As for Christian spirituality & haiku, UU minister  Margaret McGee recently published The Sacred Art: A Spiritual Practice in Three Lines.**  Haiku by catholic priest  Raymond Roseliep certainly comes to mind, as well. ***

¿ yes ?


* http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Future-of-Contemplative-Practice-in-America-Buddhism-in-the-West.html
** http://www.margaretdmcgee.com
*** http://terebess.hu/english/usa/roseliep.html

[DavidGrayson]

Mishima,

Love the poem. There is an almost Sufi feeling to it.

Best,
David