A Journey with Semi-Haiku for the Road
Visit of the old Zen Master is nonsense in that there is no Zen master that I know. So I can’t visit one, so no one can visit me. And yet he is around me when I can’t perceive him.
Today we want to limit ourselves to exploring him as a teacher.
(So this article offers just a few grains of wisdom rather than extensive theory. Look out for a detailed article coming in early September. It will explore essential parallels between Zen Buddhism, Daoism, quantum physics, and the wisdom of Nikola Tesla.)
Some of my previous attempts to put Zen into visual form can be found at: Zen Paintings
Since I have done it before and it obviously didn’t bother anyone, I’m trying again to build a bridge with semi-haiku [1].
The Old Zen Master
What might our old Zen master look like? That is an exciting question because the result is clear: the more precisely we wanted to portray him, the further he would be removed from his very essence. This presents a challenging task: finding the line where the concrete and the abstract meet. Where the inexpressible can be guessed at, rather than seen. Ideally.
Old stick in his hand,
Master walks with silent grace,
Mind rich, untold gold.
Searching in the Eternal Mountains
Nature, especially the landscape, serves as a humble teacher. It doesn’t demand lessons, only our attention and amazement. Sadly, we give it rubbish in return, now piling up on the highest mountain peaks and in the deepest seas.
Silvered hair, young heart,
Mountain path, a seeker’s quest,
Wisdom’s ancient call.
Between Mountains and Clouds, where the Cranes fly
Paul Watzlawick [2] became famous for one particular sentence: “We cannot not communicate.” It’s up to us to recognize communication in everything.
Where the cranes sing low,
Master dwells in misty cliffs,
Clouds his only home.
The Joy of Old
We’ve had countless arguments in our lives, often defending our points of view doggedly and sometimes hurtfully. As we grow older, we realize we’ve confused opinion with knowledge, and in that realization, we find peace.
Old Gray now knows naught,
Scribble sees no art was made,
Cheerful tales they share.
The Fullness of Emptiness, the Content of Nothingness
The author frequently explores emptiness and nothingness. [3] Yet, nothingness continues to expand, revealing more secrets as emptiness unfolds.
Void holds all within,
Thoughts fade where wisdom begins,
In nothing, all flows.
Conversation in the Zen Garden
Many of us have preconceived notions about Zen gardens and may have even experienced their beauty firsthand. However, if Buddhism teaches us to let go of attachments [4], can a beautiful garden hinder this process?
With petals of grey,
A lone flower finds new light,
Nature shapes its soul.
The Final Journey of the Zen Master
As we approach the end of our life’s journey, it becomes a time of deep reflection and introspection. This final passage is not just about reaching a destination but about understanding the path we’ve traveled. Each moment, each decision, and each relationship forms the tapestry of our existence. Reflecting on these experiences allows us to find meaning and closure, celebrating the highs and learning from the lows. This journey is a testament to our resilience, growth, and the legacy we leave behind. We should embrace this reflective period with gratitude and peace, knowing that every step has shaped who we are today.
Master grows old,
Flesh yields to the final path,
Spirit journeys on.
footnotes:
[1] Most of these semi-haiku have the image first and then the text. They are therefore not “painted haiku”
[2] Paul Watzlawick (1921 – 2007) was an Austrian-American family therapist, psychologist, communication theorist, and philosopher.
[3] Some related articles are: Daoist Talks, Gaining by Letting Go, and others.
[4] Upādāna is the Sanskrit and Pāli word for “clinging”, “attachment” or “grasping”, although the literal meaning is “fuel”. Upādāna and taṇhā (Skt. tṛṣṇā) are seen as the two primary causes of dukkha (‘suffering’, unease, “standing unstable”).
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Original works are available on FriedrichZettl.com or Saatchi Art.
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