Please enjoy my Haiku below and remember – it’s a very personal and cathartic expression. I have explained in a small note after the haiku ends – for those who are interested.

be yourself


The wind blows
beyond will
The River flows
remaining still.

Mumbai
21/02/2010

Read the inspiration, and what I think the haiku means

As you may know, Haiku is a japanese form of meditative poetry.

Given the ability of the Japanese words to express complex scenes ( a single Japanese word may describe what we may use 3-4 english words for), the original Haiku was meant to be written in 17 words and typically in 3 lines (5-7-5). The inspiration of the best Haiku poets was usually Nature. Haiku is commonly found in Osho’s books and essays. Basho is the grand master of Haiku. Read more by googling Haiku.

Haiku is not the poetry you would recite in school and win elocution competitions with.

The few words are pure and distilled contemplation – I believe a 3 line  Haiku poem would take months of ‘meditation’ to complete.

This is my first Haiku that took me almost 18 months to write. Given that I ‘think’ in English, I have taken a poetic license to use 10 words in 4 lines (3-2-3-2).

Quick trivia about my haiku:

The first line  came to me in the shower over a year back.

I though the second part would come if I thought about it, but the more I thought, the tougher it became.

Then, when I contemplated, I understood that it would ‘come’ – maybe immediately, maybe in a few months or years.

Many months passed. One day, Sana – a colleague sent me one of those random messages ‘about life’ that float around – I read it, chuckled and deleted it with that ‘yeah – I know that feeling’. I woke up around 4 am and before I opened my eyes, the second part was in my head.

Explanation:

be yourself

The wind blows
beyond will
The River flows
remaining  still.

Mumbai
21/02/2010

Be Yourself- What I believe it means ( your interpretation could be different!)

I guess in my life, like everyone else, I want to make things ‘happen’ in my time.
Yet things rarely happen when I want them to.
Like the wind that blows  at its own will.
Having said so, events keep happening and life rushes past
Almost like a River that remains where it is, yet always flowing

So it’s just about being yourself.
Things will happen when they ‘have to’.
Don’t pause for them – just keep going.
Be yourself.
Like the wind or river,
your life will be fulfilling.

Large flat stone slabs
Lead the way up
In the thin air
The mind is fuzzy

A small entrance opens into
A beautiful courtyard with embellished walls
Say less do more
Seems to be the lesson here

Many monks in traditional garb
Shuffling their time away
They are neither rushed nor lazy
Just dancing to the beat of their hearts

Have you heard you heart?
Do you know your heart?
The music in your heart
Have you danced to it at all?

The temple is locked – so keys are requested
An entry granted for a few minutes
The Buddha doesn’t mind being locked inside
His mind is freed from imprisonment

Aren’t we free outside and trapped within?
Every day another scratch
On the walls on existence
It’s a life term after all

Coloured bulbs and water saucers
At the feet of the Buddha
Ancient books lie neatly stored
In cupboards against the walls

The stone slabs seem easy
When you climb down
Its fun to conquer heights
There is a story to tell below.

Ladakh – 14/5/2003

So what is a Confucius temple?
A meditation area, a drama school, a history room and of course
The large suspended bell in the courtyard
So that you can ‘call’ Confucius the ancient way!

The bell is fascinating – larger than life – royal – ‘waiting’
For your energy to be released .. in it
By sounding it as hard as u can with the large beam in front
Slammed as hard as you want over and over and over and over again….

I prepare myself and pull the beam as farthest as I can
And then push it the hardest, sending it hurtling towards the bell
With it travels my anger, my hurt, my unspent tears,
The demonic anger of my soul, and the rage of my memory I cannnot stand

The bell surprises me and rings – beautifully – resonating loud – throbbing
With the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard – like a ripple, echoing its voice
Ebbing away so gently that it feels it never stopped sounding
I have tears – how can it make love from hate so beautifully?

I repeat my missiles wanting to empty myself
And the bell sings on every hit
Until I am exhausted – bereft of strength or will
To fight love which has no defeat

Get wise like Confucius
There is someone who will love your hate
If a bell could do it for me
Finding someone could be easier than you think

Nanjing – June 2001

A shimmering palace standing strong
A valiant fortress
White is all I see
To cleanse my mind temporarily

A tall bearded man with a savage sword
Greets me in the courtyard
I fear not – he looks kind – even smiles
The weapons of the heart are the scary ones

The shoe depository is planned well
The helpers there are like you and me
Handling shoes for hours – does it feel nice?
Is it ‘grounding’ the ego silently?

A pool before the steps to wash your feet
Is unclean
I avoid others peoples problems
Like I do this pool

Cover your head before you enter
Show the respect deserved
But can mere apparel
Ever hide the heinous mind?

The entrance is narrow but fast-moving
I long to enter and ‘escape’
Even small moments in our lives
Can buy memories to live long by

The main hall is red carpeted
We all are special it means!
People snaking towards the shrine
Murmuring words unknowingly

The stage is regal
Throbbing peace
A giant book is all I see
Can it set me free?

Men tumbling to the floor
Praying fervently
But do these men lower their heads
For friends, wife and family?

Three priests singing soothing songs
In monotone
Hearing these I think
Why do echo’s live if they have to die so quick?

I am satiated and out
A greasy glob of prasad handed free
It’s genuine spiritual nourishment
And I eat with glee

A pond adjoins the temple
A walk around it seems a must
Some men bathing – babies being dipped
How superstitious can we be?

New Delhi – 22/12/2002

A world within a world
Small courtyard with its pyre and burning incense
If you want a quick religious fix
This is the place to be

The temples are something else
Many Buddha’s living together
Tall, serene, smiling and compassionate
The fat one obviously laughing

Neat cushions to kneel and pray
‘Thank god’ we don’t have to prostrate
Ranjit who came with me prayed but did not kneel
Sometimes its better to listen to your heart than your mind

A noble temple priest in the corner
With a Chinese scroll and ink pen
I wrote my name but not my wish
Suppose he understands what I really want?

A light headed feeling, exultation
What’s the harm in believing?
That God’s pardon
Could just be a sms away?

The exit is quick and easy
Just step out of the temple door
Hey – God’s a great partner
With no strings attached

14/6/2001