Haiku is not a Zen souvenir. It is Japanese art and literature. To compose a haiku, you need to work out on Japanese aesthetics previously. — javi2541997
Javi is Spanish
But his soul is Japanese
He is passionate — T Clark
Plato
Shadows are all things
to those chained in the dark cave.
Sunlight waits outside. — NedWalters
Haiku is not a Zen souvenir. It is Japanese art and literature. To compose a haiku, you need to work out on Japanese aesthetics previously. — javi2541997
Great active learning exercise if you teach students. Baronett's Zen and Western Philosophy has 100+ similar haikus. Get your students to write their own! — NedWalters
A Note from the Author...
Zen and Western Philosophy takes a novel approach to philosophy. The goal was to try capturing the body of thought called “Western philosophy” with an Eastern net—Zen as embodied in haiku. The book offers profiles of 139 Western philosophers by using a traditional three-line haiku format of 5-7-5 syllables in order to capture each philosopher’s ideas in a manner that is both concise and playful.
When I started writing it, I accepted that it is nearly impossible to capture any interesting philosopher's ideas in a mere 17 syllables; nevertheless, I accepted the challenge. The result is simply an exercise by someone schooled in Western philosophy to see things from a different perspective.
Simply put, the book’s purpose, design, and structure is
A parallax view
of Western philosophy
through an Eastern lens.
Stan Baronett
April 20, 2023 — Zen and Western Philosophy
What Are Haiku?
Haiku poems originate in Japan and are typically three lines long, with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line and five syllables in the third line.
All British Haiku on this website and in the related book (The Book) follow that format strictly. Quite often, however, they do not follow the Japanese tradition of including a reference to seasonal weather.
As will be seen from the Haiku on the website and in The Book, much of British life takes place out of the prevailing weather, in homes, offices, schools, sports halls, places of worship, and elsewhere. — British haiku
Haiku in the United Kingdom: England
Lafcadio Hearn and Basil Hall Chamberlain are thought to be the first to have introduced readers in the British Isles to Japanese haiku in the early years of the 20th century. In 1990 the British Haiku Society (BHS) was set up, and its quarterly membership journal, Blithe Spirit, was launched. Since the beginning an increasingly active community of poets in print as well as online have taken part in the international haiku scene.
Haiku in the United Kingdom: Wales
Possessing one of the oldest living literatures in Europe, Welsh poetry’s first brushes with haiku occurred in the 1960s through the small press scene. Though developments were relatively slow in the following decades, the turn of the century saw a much wider and more meaningful engagement in the form in Wales, owing particularly to the nurturing of haiku appreciation in the country’s educational institutions. The creation of a national haiku journal, along with an ever-growing international awareness of haiku by Welsh poets, are serving to ensure that engagement in the form continues to thrive in Wales.
In the traditional sense, correct.
Sometimes, people (even philosophers) love a poetic idea, like 'haiku' and run with it. Across the globe.
The book mentioned in the OP is one such enterprise. Creativity flows. — Amity
javi2541997 - how is haiku progressing where you're at? — Amity
The following thread is very awesome, but it is only available in Spanish (sorry): :pray: — javi2541997
I think one of the usual mistakes I made writing haikus is precisely trying to be creative. The key of the haiku is letting ourselves be embraced by nature — javi2541997
Philosophical Reflections
Philosophical musings are a cornerstone in haibun. The prose seeks to convey an epiphany or an acute awareness of the human condition. Philosophical reflections encourage readers to contemplate existence, often culminating in a haiku that serves as a crystallized form of the writer’s insight.
This synthesis captures fleeting moments of realization, providing depth and resonance to the overall narrative.
Notable Haibun Examples
Haibun, a Japanese literary form, masterfully blends prose with haiku. Matsuo Bashō, a pioneer of the form, has left an indelible mark with his travel diaries, where each diary entry is followed by a haiku. One of the most celebrated examples is The Narrow Road to the Interior where Bashō merges evocative prose with the succinctness of haiku to capture the essence of his journey through the Edo period Japan. Another exemplary haibun is The Records of a Travel-worn Satchel, where Basho’s reflective prose sets the scene for the haiku, offering deep insights into the human experience and the natural world. — Art in Context: Haibun - Journeying through Prose and Poetry
But never attempted it. Have you? — Amity
I wonder if that could be incorporated into TPF 'philosophy writings' or 'short stories'?
What do you think? — Amity
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