The River of Heaven : The Haiku of Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki - Robert Aitken

The River of Heaven

The Haiku of Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki

By: Robert Aitken

Paperback | 10 May 2011

At a Glance

Paperback


RRP $35.00

$34.90

or 4 interest-free payments of $8.72 with

 or 

Aims to ship in 10 to 15 business days

Known to many as the study of quiet stillness and introspection, Zen Buddhism distinguishes itself through brilliant flashes of insight and its terseness of expression. In River of Heaven these concepts and pillars lend themselves to an exploration of Haiku, one of the most delicate and interpretive poetic forms in the world. The haiku verse form, with its rigid structure and organic description is a superb means of studying Zen modes of thought because its seventeen syllables impose a limitation that confines the poet to vital experience. In Haiku as in Buddhism, the silences are as expressive as the words.

In this volume, American Senior Zen Roshi Robert Aitken gives new insight into Haiku by poetic masters Basho, Issa, Buson, and Shiki. In presenting themes from Haiku and from Zen literature, Aitken illuminates the relationship between the two. Readers are certain to find this an invaluable and enjoyable experience for the remarkable revelation it offers.
Industry Reviews
Praise for Miniatures of a Zen Master "In this sprightly collection of 188 short texts, [Aitken] offers brief stories, observations, memories, and commentaries. Those familiar with his book Encouraging Words will appreciate the further evidence of this Zen Master's wisdom." --Spirituality & Practice "Like some of the finest Zen literature, they read like the contents of one's own mind and also like a mirror held up to show the mind's quotidian chatter to be somehow pure." --BuddhaDharma

More in Anthologies with Various Poets

The Epic of Gilgamesh : Penguin Classics - Andrew George

RRP $22.99

$17.75

23%
OFF
Love is Strong as Death : Poems chosen by Paul Kelly - Paul Kelly
Survival Takes a Wild Imagination : Poems - Fariha Róisín

RRP $34.99

$29.75

15%
OFF
Fishing for Lightning : The Spark of Poetry - Sarah Holland-Batt
The Poetry Reader : An Anthology - Mark Yakich
The Poetry Reader : An Anthology - Mark Yakich

RRP $120.00

$90.50

25%
OFF
The Gawain Poet : Complete Works - Marie Borroff

RRP $56.50

$51.50

BIRTH OF CHINA SEEN THROUGH POETRY, THE - HONG-MO CHAN

BLACK FRIDAY

RRP $39.99

$9.95

75%
OFF
Poems on Nature - Ed. Gaby Morgan

$31.25

Poems for Travellers - Ed. Gaby Morgan

$33.25

Environmental Futures : An International Literary Anthology - Caren Irr