Hello!
To help usher in spring, I'm excited to organize a sangha "mini event" for those interested :)
What: Please join me for a Contemplative Haiku Hike through Rock Creek Park! Participants will learn how haiku poetry relates to mindfulness and Zen Buddhism and receive brief instructions on how to write haiku. We will then take a mindful 2-mile hike, taking breaks to write our own haiku about the nature we observe. (Haiku are short, accessible poems that typically evoke nature and contemplation of the present moment. Find examples of famous haiku here.)
When: Sunday, March 17, Noon-4pm - Join us for an alternative Saint Patrick's Day! (Rain date is April 14, and I will inform RSVP'd participants at least 24 hours in advance if the event will be rescheduled due to inclement weather.)
Where: We will meet at Noon at Saku Saku Flakerie in Cleveland Park for a ~30-minute introduction. Then, we will hike approximately 2.3 miles on Reservation 630 Trail to a cafe in Mount Pleasant. See the tentative route at the bottom of this email.
Who: The event is capped at 12 participants. Please RSVP at this sign-up sheet. Other than the cap, all are welcome--so feel free to sign up a friend! While our pace will be slow and steady, this event is best suited for people who feel comfortable hiking more than 2 miles on park trails that are uneven and have some steep inclines and declines.
How: No experience necessary! We will go over simple instructions on how to write haiku. Pens, paper, and a handout on haiku will be provided. Please bring $$ for drinks or snacks at Saku Saku Flakerie and Dos Gringos Cafe.
Why: While haiku is not a strictly Buddhist form of poetry, haiku and Zen are closely linked historically and thematically. Haiku relies on the senses and contemplation of the present moment, so both new and experienced meditators may enjoy practicing haiku as a way to engage with mindfulness. See additional resources at the bottom of this email for more info.
Questions? Please reply to this email to reach me at lavelle@bu.edu.
<3 Judy
Hike Route:
Further Resources on Contemplative Haiku:
These are completely optional! No need to explore them before you attend.
Article: Haiku: A Whole Lot More than 5-7-5
This comprehensive article covers a linguistic perspective on the differences between Japanese and English haiku, as well as some principles ("rules") of haiku and the traditional haiku masters.
Article: Why Haiku Holds the Flavor of Zen
This brief article explores the Zen nature of haiku and connects the form to some principles from Western writing, if folks are more familiar with that.
Podcast: Writing and Haiku as Spiritual Practice (Tara Brach Interviews Natalie Goldberg)
Discussion on haiku, its relationship to spirituality, and Goldberg's book Three Simple Lines begins in earnest at 10:35.
Site: The Monthly Tricycle Haiku Challenge
This site is a hub for Buddhists interested in writing and sharing haiku, including submitting to a regular contest.
https://www.downtowndharmadc.org/
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