Zen Haikus (creation)

[zenzero]

Friends,
Zen haikus are not ordinary poetries.
They are about conciousness.
They are written as seen through a meditators eye.
Meditation is again a stage when the mind is at rest and the individual is no more [as the mind is inactive] and he is a part of the whole.
The haikus depicts the different stges of enlightenment of the poet too.
Basho 's famous haiku which most would be familiar with is:

The ancient pond
a frog jumps
PLOP

Here it is a scene where the pond is ancinet akin to creation/mind which has been there [nothing to know or dicuss about] a frog jumps akin to a though and the result is a sound of the frog jumping which meaning to say that when the mind is still and a single thought creates a big sound. A small wave of thought is clearly visible in a calm mind.

Basho wrote another haiku after 6 years of this own which again shows his having achieved total conciousness which we all know when again the rivers and rivers and mountains become mountains again.
The old pond has no walls;
a frog just jumps in;
do you say there is an echo?

Meaning that now in the calm mind the thoughts now are back as needed but they no more create ripples/echo. Thoughts now are entertained when needed but otrherwise it is quite/still/calm.

Here is another one by ISSA another ZEN poet:
A giant firefly:
that way, this way, that way, this -
and it passes by.

akin to a thought in a still mind appears giant like and if one is aware of the thought, it will move from one place to another and if the watchfullness prevails it leaves after sometime.

Those who are unable to understand the above mentioned may put across their queiries and the same will be attempted to be clarified.
Love & rgds

[Little Joe Gould]

I do understand where you're coming from, but I'm not sure if I entirely agree. I think that haikus that stem from a Zen understanding are basically observations of nature, because to the enlightened eye, everything is pure awareness. A Zen poem is an observation from a non-egoic state of consciousness, therefore, in my opinion trying to delve into them for "deeper meaning" is missing the point entirely. However, I might be missing your point entirely, so I openly accept any criticism to my ideas.

[zenzero]

Friend Little Joe Gould,
Yes, like evrything we all come from the same source.
Agree with you in totality as you have spoken from the non-egostic point where life is a simple flow with full awareness/conciousness.
For those who look from the MIND's eyes has to look deeper.
Otherwise they are just plain observation of nature.
Love & rgds

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by zenzero

Otherwise they are just plain observation of nature.

Hi zenzero,
I was thinking about Zen and the mind during the weekend. Just plain observation of nature is enough isn't it?
I was sitting on top of a cliff watching gannets dive, the sea was calm with a continuous Atlantic swell pulsing through it. For some reason that calm, pulsing sea reminded me of the way people who follow Zen conceive of the mind.
Gannets too fascinate me with the ease they move between worlds. One moment soaring on an up-draught and the next undherwater, plunging the depths.
There was meaning, for me, in that scene on Sunday morning. But I was thinking of you Zen guys because when I tried to grasp it - the meaning escaped me.

[zenzero]

Friend stephenw,
You are there but still missing it simply because you are trying to decipher a meaning from it and the reason for it is the same MIND. When you are observing be so absorbed with the object of observation that there exists no gap between you the observer and the observed, then when you mind comes back you will know the difference.
Next time be the gannet yourself and you too will have that Zen experience of HERE-NOW.
Love & rgds