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A Zen Wave: Basho's Haiku and Zen
Zen Buddhism distinguishes itself by brilliant flashes of insight and its terseness of expression. The haiku verse form is a superb means of studying Zen modes of thought and expression, for its seventeen syllables impose a rigorous limitation that confines the poet to vital experience. Here haiku by Bash? are translated by Robert Aitken, with commentary that provides a new and far deeper understanding of Bash?¡¯s work than ever before.
In presenting themes from the haiku and from Zen literature that open the doors both to the poems and to Zen itself, Aitken has produced the first book about the relationship between Zen and haiku. His readers are certain to find it invaluable for the remarkable revelations it offers.
In presenting themes from the haiku and from Zen literature that open the doors both to the poems and to Zen itself, Aitken has produced the first book about the relationship between Zen and haiku. His readers are certain to find it invaluable for the remarkable revelations it offers.
178 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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About the author
Matsuo Bash¨
269?books556?followersKnown Japanese poet Matsuo Basho composed haiku, infused with the spirit of Zen.
The renowned Matsuo Bash¨ (ËÉβ °Å½¶) during his lifetime of the period of Edo worked in the collaborative haikai no renga form; people today recognize this most famous brief and clear master.
The renowned Matsuo Bash¨ (ËÉβ °Å½¶) during his lifetime of the period of Edo worked in the collaborative haikai no renga form; people today recognize this most famous brief and clear master.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 23, 2008
there is too much written about both haiku and zen by people who haven't the foggiest of either. no one is more competent to talk about both topics, in the same breath if you will, than aitken roshi. a zen master who also studied under the formidable rh blyth who introduced english audiences to beautifully translated haiku, this book discusses 20 odd haiku of Basho- some famous and some obscure. each haiku is handled very much like how classical koans are- with a capping verse, a commentary and a closing verse. there is a lot of discussions, mostly vacuous, in the haiku community of how much influence zen has had on haiku and does one need to "know" zen to write haiku. if one can accept the premise that haiku captures the moment as it is, without judgment, without subjectivity, without comparison, it is no different from zazen and it is clear from reading the haiku themselves and aitken roshi's commentaries. this book should be mandatory reading for all haiku poets, wannabe haiku poets and zen students.
January 12, 2016
The subject matter of this book is Zen, the human mind, and the haiku of Matsuo Basho, the greatest Japanese haiku poet.
Robert Aitken takes the reader to the heart of Basho's haiku, he shares insights with the reader, and illuminates the twists and turns of what it means to be human, to be alone, to be with friends.
This is a wonderful book written with true insight and appreciation of Basho's mastery of the haiku form, as well as his deep understanding of Zen. Please read and enjoy, only good can come of it...
Robert Aitken takes the reader to the heart of Basho's haiku, he shares insights with the reader, and illuminates the twists and turns of what it means to be human, to be alone, to be with friends.
This is a wonderful book written with true insight and appreciation of Basho's mastery of the haiku form, as well as his deep understanding of Zen. Please read and enjoy, only good can come of it...
July 16, 2016
This book was excellent. It is an exposition of numerous of Basho's haiku, with great sensitivity to the Japanese language and its use by Basho in expressing his Zen poetry. One learns on many fronts with this.
January 29, 2024
Much more of a book for students of Zen than fans of poetry IMO. Some of the terms will likely lead to a lot of Google searches and references to The Heart Sutra will similarly sail overhead. But this book does an excellent job of placing Basho¡¯s work in the Zen tradition and goes into greater exploration of the language and spiritual purposes beyond just creating a nice poem about a frog jump in a pond.
August 15, 2020
Really enjoyed the Aitken book, although I'm not convinced Bash¨ had necessarily Zen in his mind when writing his poems. Nevertheless, this is a great book both to introduce Bash¨ and examine some of his most well-known poems under the Zen light.
August 8, 2017
There is a lot of work in every word.
Not your regular literature analysis.
Zen-orientation might scare some off.
Not your regular literature analysis.
Zen-orientation might scare some off.
April 13, 2023
Aitken plumbs the depths of twenty-six of Basho's haiku, with particular focus on how Basho's poems touch on Zen Buddhist ideas. Each chapter begins with an English translation, a romanization of the Japanese original, and a literal English translation (which differs from the previous translation as it reads clunkily in comparison to the more functional translation because it follows Japanese grammar.) The chapter then examines any ideas that are hard for a present-day Western world reader to grasp about Basho's 17th century life of vagabondage across Japan. The book also compares and contrasts said poem with others (both by Basho or by other haiku poets -- past and present-day.) Aitken also tries to disabuse the reader of some of the common misconceptions that have grown up around Basho's work.
The book includes artworks, notes, a glossary, and other helpful features.
I'd highly recommend this for haiku readers who want to understand Matsuo Basho's poetry at a deeper level.
The book includes artworks, notes, a glossary, and other helpful features.
I'd highly recommend this for haiku readers who want to understand Matsuo Basho's poetry at a deeper level.
June 8, 2011
I love the patience he takes with each poem, especially the attention to form and comparison to other translations.
His take on the famous Fuji poem stays with me--
A day when Fuji
is obscured by misty rain!
That's interesting.
I think most versions of this I've seen translate the word as "weird" or "strange." In this translation, the focus is not on the object that's obscured as interesting but on the day itself, somewhat (or completely) independent of Fuji--literally: "This very day, this Fuji-obscured day, is itself interesting" (45).
It's possible that some readers might be turned off by his quite detailed discussion of postpositions/prepositions & other parts of speech. I know nothing about the language, so I appreciated it.
His take on the famous Fuji poem stays with me--
A day when Fuji
is obscured by misty rain!
That's interesting.
I think most versions of this I've seen translate the word as "weird" or "strange." In this translation, the focus is not on the object that's obscured as interesting but on the day itself, somewhat (or completely) independent of Fuji--literally: "This very day, this Fuji-obscured day, is itself interesting" (45).
It's possible that some readers might be turned off by his quite detailed discussion of postpositions/prepositions & other parts of speech. I know nothing about the language, so I appreciated it.
September 2, 2016
I¡¯ve read Aitken¡¯s book three or four times and I¡¯ll read it again as slowly as I can, one short chapter a morning. He is insightful about haiku, Zen and Japanese culture, but more than that he creates the kind of silence that surrounds good haiku.
June 9, 2017
Essential for every Zen practicioner.
November 26, 2017
An erudite exploration of Bash¨'s haiku through the lens of Zen priest Robert Aitken - flashes of lightning!
May 19, 2024
4 & 1/2 stars
Read
June 30, 2009Beauty comes undenieably in the moment
August 21, 2012
Lovely ... two masters, eyeball to eyeball.
Gasho-ho-ho in the noosphere, Aitken Roshi.
Gasho-ho-ho in the noosphere, Aitken Roshi.
December 24, 2020
the taste of zen
December 9, 2012
This is one book whose beauty you want to revisit again and again...
November 2, 2018
How noble -
The one who is not enlightened
At a flash of lightning.
The one who is not enlightened
At a flash of lightning.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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