Wild Ways: Zen Poems of Ikkyu (Companions for the Journey)
by Ikkyu
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Book Summary Information
Author: IkkyuTranslator: John Stevens
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-11-01
ISBN: 1893996654
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: White Pine Press
Book Reviews of Wild Ways: Zen Poems of Ikkyu (Companions for the Journey)
Book Review: if it rains, let it rain / if it storms let it storm
Summary: 5 Stars
The title of the book "Wild Ways" is apt for the legendary Japanese Zen Monk Ikkyu (1394 - 1481)who wrote poetry, drank frequently, found truth in brothels, and was deadly serious about Zen meditation. He was disgusted with the hypocrisy of fame-and-fortune Zen and frequently ridiculed them. He shunned temple life and mingled with all manner of people. But at age 80 he was asked to become the head abbot of the most important Zen Temple of Japan Daitoku-ji which he succeeded in rebuilding after it had been destroyed in a war. He died at age 87 while sitting in a lotus pose.
His Rinzai Zen master Kaso gave him the name "Ikkyu" which roughly means "one pause" after he penetrated and understood a koan at age 24. He achieved enlightenment at age 26. But Ikkyu preferred to call himself "crazy cloud" and his master Kaso concurred when he said " Ikkyu is my true heir, but his ways are wild".
A Crazy Cloud, out in the open
Blown about madly, as wild as they come!
Who knows where this cloud will go, where
the will will still?
The sun rises from the eastern sea, and shines
over the land.
"Wild Ways" is a selection of more than a thousand poems he wrote. He writes freely about sex which comes across as raw and in your face, his beloved Mori, and struggles of hermit life. In the end, it contains the famous "Skeleton" poem in its entirety with pencil sketches which adds a beautiful touch. Skeleton is the haunting expression of the classical Buddhist theme No beginning, no end, emptiness of emptiness.
Memories
Flee and
And are no more:
All are empty dreams
Devoid of meaning
If you enjoy this translation by John Stevens, you will enjoy my other favorite Japanese poet Ryokan, also translated by John Stevens.
If Ryokan was a gentle curling fog on the mountain side, Ikkyu was the lashing storm.
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