Carpe Diem #1119 Miracles

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

"I believe in miracles". Every day again it is a miracle that the sun rises again, that birds start to sing. Every day I experience the beauty of unconditional love through my work as an oncology nurse, that's a miracle too. Miracles are the joy of our life and we just have to see them in the tiniest things around us. That small flower, or, as in that nice haiku by Basho, the "shepherd' s purse" under the hedge:

looking closely:

a shepherd's purse blossoming
beneath the hedge

© Basho (tr. Barnhill)

In every little thing I can see the miracles performed by God, the Creator, Great Spirit, Allah or what every other high power we know. To see those little tiny miracles we need knowledge and not a sacred or secret knowledge ... we only need the knowledge of our souls, our hearts, our minds ... the knowledge of the common people.

Everywhere on our planet there are religions, philosophies and beliefs in the power of nature, for example: Shinto, druidism, wicca and shamanism. All wonderful ways, or maybe I have to say paths of wisdom were we can learn the knowledge of common people. This is the knowledge of the Road to Santiago.

In "The Pilgrimage" Paulo's guide, Petrus, says "the path to knowledge is a path that’s open to everyone, to the common people." This is what the Road to Santiago is ... a path for everyone, just common people can go this path and learn from each other the wisdom of common man.

Daisies

We all have the power to use that common knowledge just to be there for each other without anger, jealousy, hate, but with unconditional love, friendship, respect and happiness. We are on our way to discover the sacred and secret knowledge of common people while we are walking the Road to Santiago.

her miracles

make me a little child again
colorful leaves
in praise of Mother Earth
I gather them

miracles happen
in the tiniest things
daisies blooming

miracles happen

every day again flowers bloom
birds sing their song

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until January 11th at noon (CET). Have fun!

Carpe Diem #1058 wisdom

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

First ... I am becoming better the flu has gone, but it will take a few days to recover fully. Thank you all for your kind words.
Second ... As I published the results of our "prayer" kukai I also invited you to submit for our new kukai in tribute for Jane Reichhold. The submitting time is over (it ended September 15th), but I have to less submissions to start the judging. So I love to prolong this kukai in tribute for Jane with two weeks ... so if you want to submit haiku for this tribute for Jane kukai you can email your submissions to our email address carpediemhaikukai@gmail.com until September 30th 10.00 PM (CET). You can find the tribute to Jane kukai information HERE.
Third ... today I planned to create a post on wisdom (our prompt for today), and I will do that, but I will not use haiku by Jane Reichhold, but I love to honor her wisdom in this episode. So here we go ...

As you all know Jane was one of the pillars on which CDHK is built and I was honored that I got the opportunity to get exclusive rights to publish three of her "bare bones school of ..." series here at CDHK.

wisdom
caught in a few words
fireworks

© Chèvrefeuille

fireworks

And "fireworks" it was and is. Jane published three wonderful books on our beautiful Japanese poetry forms we honor here. First there was "the bare bones school of haiku". Than "wind-five folded school of tanka" and last but certainly not least there was "bare bones school of renga". All three books are a pleasure to read and a joy to use. Jane had not only the talent for writing haiku, tanka and renga, but she also had the talent to teach ... She always found the right words to explain things, as we all have seen in her CD-special feature "Ask Jane ...".
As I look at myself than I only can say that not only Matsuo Basho was my master, but Jane Reichhold also. She learned me to place the classic haiku in modern times and that all those rules haiku has are not that strict ... what I learned from her was this "In haiku you can share all your feelings your emotions your ideas without using the rules". "Look at Basho he said "now you know the rules, forget them immediately ... enjoy writing haiku". I think that is the most important rule, the most important thing I have learned from Jane's passion for haiku and tanka ... enjoy it.

enjoy the little things
see the shepherd's purse
beneath the hedge

© Chèvrefeuille

Jane was not only a close friend and co-host, but also my sensei ... I bow for you Jane ... thank you for your knowledge and wisdom ... my sensei

You can find the above mentioned e-books in Jane's Library here at CDHK.

For this episode I love to ask you to write about what you have learned from Jane Reichhold. Was she your sensei too? And try to catch that in a haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until September 24rd at noon (CET). I will try to publish our next episode, Harvest moon, later on.

PS.: I had planned to publish the 3rd CD-Special by Dolores also today, but I have decided to publish that 3rd CD-Special tomorrow, I hope you don't mind. It gives me more time to dive into Dolores' work.

Carpe Diem #1011 happiness

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at the first episode of a new month of Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. This month I love to challenge your inspiration through fanmous (and not that famous) quotes by known and unknown people, but to start this month with I have chosen a wonderful quote by one of my heroes, Mahatma Gandhi (1882-1948).

Gandhi was murdered in 1948 because he fought against the British oppressor in India without violence only through his deeds and words. Gandhi was a very strong personality and also a very spiritual leader.

Mahatma Gandhi (1882-1948)

Here is the quote for your inspiration:

[...] "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." [...] Mahatma Gandhi

A very strong quote I think with a great spiritual layer and I think it will be "easy" to create a haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form inspired on this quote.

Here is my attempt:

gurgling stream
birds praising their Creator
symphony of nature

© Chèvrefeuille

Hmm ... not as strong as I had hoped, but well for starters ... I think it's okay. I hope you did like this episode. I don't have the prompt-list ready, so I can't tell you or next prompt. For now ... have fun!

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until August 5th at noon (CET).

Carpe Diem Tokubetsudesu #51 classical way of writing haiku

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

It's Wednesday again ... time for a new episode of Tokubetsudesu (former Ghost Writer feature). This week I love to take you back to the classical way of writing haiku as described in our Carpe Diem Lecture 1 in the menu above.
And i love to use for that purpose one of our 'old' features, maybe you can remember our special feature 'Carpe Diem Imagination' in which I used an image (painting or photo) to inspire you all. I love to challenge you to write a classical haiku (following the classical rules) inspired on this photo:

The smell of books

Here is my attempt inspired on the photo:

old library

the sweet smell of books
and all that wisdom

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode of Tokubetsudesu is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until July 10th at noon (CET). Have fun!

PS. I have another episode of CDHK for you ... the second CD-Special of our featured haiku poet from Ghana, Adjei Agyei Baah.

PPS. The judging of our 2nd kukai 'summertime' is running to it's end. If you have participated in this kukai and you haven't yet emailed me your votes than please send me them to our Haiku Kai's emailaddress:

carpediemhaikukai@gmail.com

You can find the submitted haiku for the 'summertime' kukai above in the menu. Be on time!

Carpe Diem #711, Harmony

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Today our prompt is harmony and it is based on the following verse from the 6^th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita:

18. When the perfectly controlled mind rests in the Self only, free from longing for the objects of desire, then it is said: “He is united”.

Without union with the Self neither harmony nor balance nor Samadhi is possible. This is quit the same as the Emptiness idea in Buddhism, but also in the idea of living as a hermit in a lot of other religions or life philosophies. Let us step outside the Bhagavad Gita for a moment and look at the Hermit (IX), one of the cards of the Major Arcana of Tarot. What do we see?

We see an old man, cloaked and hooded, who holds a lantern in his right hand in which a light shines in the shape of The Star of David, two superimposed triangles. In his left hand he has a staff. He stands in the snow somewhere in the mountains as we can see in the background.

He looks like The Fool (0), but is older than The Fool. He is similar with The Fool, but there is a big difference. The Fool gathered his knowledge and wisdom by walking / travelling through the world and to look around him. He saw the beauty of nature, the beauty of God's Creation. The Fool's knowledge is of a low, but lived, level, which I call external knowledge.. The Hermit (IX) gathered his knowledge and wisdom through meditation and contemplation on his own, maybe he used secret scriptures when he sat down to meditate and contemplate or he had spiritual revelations, because he was just alone with God's Spirit. His knowledge and wisdom I use to call internal knowledge on a high level.

Anchorite
contemplates on love
seeking knowledge

seeking knowledge
insight the Inner Self
the hermit's choice

© Chèvrefeuille

The Hermit (IX) closes the third trinity of the Major Arcanum and stands for the Holy Spirit. As The Hierophant represents God the Son, the Redeemer who walked among us, The Hermit represents God the Holy Spirit. It's through the Power of the Holy Spirit that we are in touch with our emotions to grow spiritually and physically.

The Light of the World, depicted in this card by the lantern in the right hand, is one of the names of Jesus Christ (Krishna?). His Light shines upon us and He said of that Light: [...] "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so taht those who come in may see the light"[...] (Luke 11: 33)

There is a similar verse in the Bhagavad Gita 6^th chapter verse 19:

“As a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker—to such is compared the Yogi of controlled mind, practicing Yoga in the Self (or absorbed in the Yoga of the Self)"

let shine the light
don't hide it under a bowl -
share the Light of the World

© Chèvrefeuille

So The Hermit fulfills this task. He lets the light shine and through that light we can see the ancient knowledge and wisdom in the Tarot, the divine Tarot.

A Hermit lives alone in his cave, home, hut or something else. He lives in absolute isolation of mankind. All his days and nights are for becoming wiser through meditation and contemplation. Through his perseverance he comes in contact with his Inner Self, with the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Spirit.

As we place The Hermit on the Tree of Life we will find him in Chochmah, the second sephira, right after Kether and before Binah. So he is placed in the same spot as Adam. Chochmah is the sephira of wisdom and it's also similar with the 'Third-Eye'. The Hermit is internal knowledge and wisdom and he knows all the ancient mystical secrets and as we all know so did Jesus.

I told earlier that The Hermit lives in complete isolation of the worldly things and manners. As I was preparing this episode through research, the first thought which came in mind was the Temptation of Christ (Matthew 4: 1-11). In which the devil tempted Him, but He succeeded and withstood the temptation.

Also The Hermit (IX) is tempted to leave his cave, but he didn't because he would learn all and everything about knowledge and wisdom.

Credits: Harmony (one with nature)

Another thing which came in mind as I was reading these verses in the Bhagavad Gita is the Prayer of Christ on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22: 39-46). He beseeches His Father to take the cup away. On that moment He was more human than ever, but He knew that He had to drink the cup.
This can point to open the Inner Self as is meant in the above verses of the Gita. Only when the heart, mind and soul are united than you become in harmony. Is this again part of our hypothetical idea that all religions are deriving from Hinduism?
Harmony in my opinion can reach through all boundaries and maybe we will once say “finally the World is united and in Peace”.

finding peace of mind
the soothing sound of rippling water
the rustling of leaves

the rustling of leaves
strengthens my tired mind
that's fortitude

that's fortitude

deep inner peace, the beating of my heart,
the music of life

the music of life
caught in the rippling stream -
finding peace of mind

© Chèvrefeuille

It wasn't really easy to create this episode on harmony, because it has so much different meanings and ideas ...

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until April 25th at noon (CET). I will (try to) publish our new episode, Lotus, later on. For now .... have fun, be inspired and share your haiku with us all.

Carpe Diem #708, Wisdom

While Kristjaan takes the rest of the warrior, I shall vainly strive for something close to his flow and humanity, though am already confident in my failing…so bear with me, from my forest, and continue to flower! 

The prompt today is Wisdom. For those of us who live in the Western world, wisdom is seen as elitist, found in the works of Greek scholars or the Bible, and at a pinch some inaccessible classical literature. The past is seen as something better glossed over, to be improved on, riddled with mistakes that we eliminate through technology. This is not the case with societies such as India and China, where the past is very much alive and constantly present, seen in India in customs and tradition, with the Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata appearing at least 1,000 years before the birth of Christ now still very much part of children’s culture in the playground and on television.

Wisdom is the topic of the pertinent question Arjuna asks Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita:

Arjuna: Tell me of the man who lives in wisdom, Ever aware of the Self, O Krishna; How does he talk, how sit, how move about? 

Sri Krishna: He lives in wisdom Who sees himself in all and all in him …

…He lives free from lust and fear and anger Fettered no more by selfish attachments, He is not elated by good fortune Nor depressed by bad. Such is the seer...

…The disunited mind is far from wise; How can it meditate? How be at peace? When you know no peace, how can you know joy? 

Wisdom, as a haiku prompt, can be a controversial one, as it can push towards grandiose statement, leaning towards telling, rather than showing. Another contentious issue is a potential conflict with the prompt and the notion of Wabi in a haiku — symbolising aesthetic simplicity without ego, intellect, expectations or judgement, which has more than a few echoes of Krishna’s instruction in the Bhagavad Gita. 

However, there is a world of difference between intellect and wisdom: intellect is personal, and wisdom is universal. In the discussion before the battle, Krishna also stresses action for action’s sake without reward to Arjun. Action first, then thought, is also a Confucian dictum; the action(s) of nature, without ‘instruction’

The wisdom of Confucius, who lived around 500 years before Christ, defines Chinese thought. It is not feasible to imagine he had no influence on Basho. Confucius espoused the well-known “Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself,” perhaps eminently suited to haiku-writing!

Surely, Basho must have thought about some the following wisdom sayings by Confucius as he strolled down the narrow road to the great north, that will serve as inspiration, I hope, for your haiku:

Confucius

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated.

Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.

When nature exceeds culture, we have the rustic. When culture exceeds nature then we have the pedant.

I found a haiku by Scottish writer George Bruce, on Widom, that I quite like:

Books — thousands — on shelves — 

Wisdom of ages.
Folly if not in me

Followed by the closest I can get to Wisdom at this time:

never forget

that the camel never forgets
and all will be well

Good luck with your haiku on Wisdom! In time-honoured fashion the link is open at 7.00 pm.

Carpe Diem #125, Wisdom

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Today not a big post to share, because of lack of time. I only give you all the new prompt on which we share haiku today. Today we have 'wisdom' for prompt and I am looking forward to your haiku for today.


wise man share
their knowledge with the world -
hoping to get a prize


Have fun, be creative and share your haiku with Carpe Diem.

This prompt will stay on 'till February 20th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new episode, 'Hope', later on today around 10.00 PM (CET).