A Zen Wave: Basho's Haiku & Zen
by Robert Aitken
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Description
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 Bashõ are translated by Robert Aitken, with commentary that provides a new and far deeper understanding of Bashõ's work than ever before. In presenting themes from the haiku and from Zen show more 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. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The poetry was great, the translations interesting, the commentary was somewhat self-centered but okay. What drove me crazy was the zen lecture related to each poem, especially Aitken's comparing of Basho's wanderings to Aitken's students sitting around in a dojo. There are reasons zen practice makes me want to scream, "Wake Up!"
Matsuo, Bash¯o, 1644-1694 > Criticism and/interpretation/Zen Buddhism in literature/Matsuo, Bash¯o, 1644-1694 > Religion
May 31, 2008German
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Japanese Literature
230 works; 40 members
Author Information
22+ Works 1,973 Members
Robert Aitken was the author of more than a dozen books about Buddhism, including A Zen Wave, Encouraging Words, and Taking the Path of Zen. A dedicated Buddhist for most of his life, he was an abbot and roshi of the Honolulu Diamond Sangha in Hawaii, which he co-founded with his late wife Anne Hopkins Aitken in 1959. He died in 2010.
Some Editions
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Basho
- Important places
- Japan
- Epigraph
- The old pond; A frog jumps in--The sound of water.
Furu ike ya Old pond!
kawazu tobikomu frog jumps in
mizu no oto water of sound - Dedication
- for Anne
- First words
- The Form Ya is a cutting word that seperates and yet joins the expressions before and after.
- Blurbers
- Snyder, Gary
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Poetry, Literature Studies and Criticism
- DDC/MDS
- 895.6 — Literature & rhetoric Literatures of other languages Literatures of East and Southeast Asia Japanese
- LCC
- PL794.4 .Z5 .A78 — Language and Literature Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania Languages of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania Japanese language and literature Japanese literature Individual authors and works
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 181
- Popularity
- 180,789
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.96)
- Languages
- Czech, English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 2
