Natsume, Soseki - Zen Haiku (Weatherhill, 1994)

ZEN HAIKU       d  dd 

SU SSU

Frs edition, 1994 Puhlsed y Weaterl Inc. 40 Maison A\ene I St Floor Nw Yok NY 007 roected y cpygt uner erm of e Internatna Cyrit Unon; al rg reerve Exce f far e n k ee no par f  ok may e repce fr any eaon y any mean ncung ny me f poograpc rprcton t permin f te uhlisr ine in te Unte ttes r-:e calgrapy y "k ema Lrar f Cnes Cn n lcatn Daa Ntme ek 8676 !ems Enls. electns Zen au poems n eter f Nme ek / ran� lateJ y k emt m p. IBN 08348-0324-0  Natsme eki 86796Translatons nto  Enl I  ma mats ts   k k 943 943   II Na Nam me e e ek k 8696. Correspndence Enl electon 994 Il Tl L2AA27 994 94849 9S'42c0 C

CONTENTS nedgment ntrdutn ring ummer utumn iner

6 9 17 43 7 11

 I l ik t xt my p gai

t  Pr a McL, h pt mch tim atig m  h arly ag  th tralat t Pr E F, h gav m  my raai (ty pic m W ) a chac  appa i h Talman (N. 6 pg  ); t I Z ROh, h gav m ima  k  M. Bvry Frl a M aa Backr  th ai ac ith Eglh aa, a t Mr Ray  a h h a Wahrhl h ji i h makg  hi bk Thak hl a b gv t h Mm  M Japa Litat  h Mm  Cmpary Art, Tky, r hir ki prmi t rprc xmp  k pag a craphy

Thi bk tm fm h ki rch  hv bn n n nc my rly tntiLkn bck vr th t hirty yr,  i l  mch t Akzk Rymin Rh f h lminn vi nt n ki;  Prf Umh khi f hi imtin bk; n   lt fr, ] k Bnh, h ftn n m ncn t, n Mtn Fmi, my vy fit chr in th t n f th trm (All nm r in th Jn rr, nm fir) My incrt tit  t k himf bc it i h h h m h bt ml f  it h btn h rtn f E n W tht , btn my tin cr   f f Enlih n Amrcn lit n   n rit. N,  ffy,  hv fnih thi bk, bt k t th  h fnih  ftm

OO Nt (fy ) k ( pl  p )    f t t pp  ptt Jp  c t ltt lf f t tt cy,      cl, f  trf t   Jp p  Wtr cvz. k' rp tv vl r   t ly r  Jp ltr Nt Kk (k    )    1867  Tky Aft  y cl    c plx fly ckr  t Tky Uvy  890  y El lt T   f 894  xpc Z fr t rt t   pt t y  Z xc (anz   K tp f t Ekj cplx

Aftr graat fr h ivrty, h ca a  hgh chl achr i Maya a i 96 v t Kat t ach a a high chl I 900, a ag thirtyfr, k t  Egla a a gvrtpr  t, bt h lf  L a  a happy H ff r lli a pvrty, a a  that h ha g a v ach Japa. O fritfl tc  hi happy p hv, a h tablht f hi ccpt f  cr ik hn'i. I Jaary f 903, h rtr  Japa a  Aprl f hat yar rplac Laa Har a a cr i Eglih tar at ky Uvy. Wagahai wa nk de ar (I a a Ca) h ir v f k' itg carr, appa i 90Th flg yar 

 i k  pbi Bchn (Lil Ma) a Kmkr (Ga Pill), a  1907 ki gav p i acg pii a ga mplym   Tky Aai pap Cmpay v ig im  ig O mpra rk af ar ll amg m: Gbjino ( Pppy, 1907) Snhiro (ai, 1908) Srkr (A  1909), a M ( Ga 1910)  Ag f 1910, k vm b a l cci i    zji   a vr gaic lcr. i  l l im  a p rl   pr.  x ya  f  accp  r f a P. a gig  i pycal ailm a impg rv rak  c  p  cciv marpic yarly: Hgn gi m (U af  qix, 192),

Koin (he Wayfae, 193 Kkr (he Hea, 94 Michik (ass n he Waysde, 1915 and his nal nnished nel, Mian (gh an Dakness, 916.

In ems f sial deelmen, Ssek's fe may be ided in hee eds he yeas f dendence n sciey and adiin he yeas   ik hni; and he nal yeas  flwing heaen, eaing se kn kyhi Dung his say n Lndn, Ssek had cnned mden Wesen indiidua sm whch egads he indiida as a basic ndsible and neenden eny He eleced n hs naie cuny whse cizens negeced hei wn adns and lked nly abad f smehing cii lzed" He abhed hei bnd alegance  Wesen czain and hugh ha aanese, ncludng himse, needed  dee a si f indeendence.

Hweve a sn nssence n nd vduay nevably vkes cme venes and  s bu a se fm ue ndvdualsm  seshness  esm Ssek was ceanly keeny awae f hs basc weakness f human nae whe sl benen fm he advanaes asecs f Wesen ndvdualsm nay hweve Ssek sh afe smehn beynd human affas and l maey ealzed he hhe sua sae f skn kysh He efes  hs dea nwhee n hs wns  aked abu  amn hs cce f acuanances and admes and ceaed a few caahc eces feaun . Hs a f selessness  eessness (ga was he cysalan f a keen nees n Zen he had s sessed snce hs yune days. In addn  ben a ea nvels Ssek was a ne calahe ane and

hiku e s we s n excelen cs e f Chinese ey  s knwn h he ey died he cllighy  he fus Zen nk Rykn ( 17 -3  )  whse wks seed s  del nd  is s known h in hs nl yes Sseki esued fiendshs wih w yung Zen nk nd exchnged lees wih he Ahugh he usuly hew he ees wy, fe hs deh his we fund he nks lees cefully nd ney sed inside his desk. Exces  seel e included hee. n his hiku nd Chinese es s well, we cn see Sses sng chen  he Zen hishy nd wy f life Ceful edes will ofen nd in his wks u ins f,  efeences  ou nd essenil Zen syings fo he  kh (A Zen es, whse bidged

ein i inuded in e Weaeil nkling ee)   mal ein, wi aiaey aea n e ne unded annieay f i z a Enkaku aiku f Seki ae een en a ug ge aiu ae f Zen unieaiy indiiduaiy and ialiy Ea aku a een anlaed in a eeline fee fm ee wi a mu emai n e Zen iewin a ie. n e ue f ediing me an a unded em wee mied a wud ae euied exen ie exanain  a ae iman u  Jaanee in exein nluded wi e aiku ae anede au Seki, exe fm i ee addeed  w Zen mnk, and efeene  im made y e man Zen enage, inuding Saku Sen and D Suzuki.

T 

_ £ !fm ·  {

 N N  NJf) A  95 Yeerday I erned he afer a nh away and enjyed eadng yur decn f Zen naey fe  fel ch nere n  becaue   unfalar  e. Chh Oh adnn  ery gd. I hae ered e f a  and Mu' wng, bu I can' e whch  whch.  reebe Chh' e n he ance f brh and deah. I n Zen chlar, bu I hae read oe Dhaa e and eay (eecally he wren n aanee)I egre hweer, ha I can n ene he Zen wrld, eanng a eer a ere ayan .

  MK /      I dt kw w may yeas de I am ta y bt I d wis  cd ive t y becme a eseced Ze maste ad I aed y Ze ece Sd I be dead by tat ime ease cat a sa  ft f my mb Sd y aive  ime f my fea ceemy ease addess  my sit wds f gidace it e e wd. Atg I ave  scc e gi I wd aeciae a sa caed by a be Ze ies w favs me.  am eaty gaef  M. Kima w wte f me eve i site f is gt scede a g dci t eveyday ife at e Ze matey .

Under the lum tree, eeting and assing each other Exchanging no words.

Head tilted u A reed-hatted mans Fowe vieing.

he sh All strggling stream River in sring.

he rain is over oth Montain ffs ot ring clods.

One hose sands n the midst of ring wind and sring water

Plum blossoms far and near M routine these das s strolling under them.

meone ma live Beond the lum bush himmering light

Plum ower temle Voices rise From the foothills.

an of pum b Ssk

Noddng wth drowsness On horseback ourne n srng

he bottom of the tub rng on the hedge rng sunshne.

Wish I coud be eborn as small a man As a violet

Draped with hae he vermilionlacqered bridge Disappears

My one hand thes days, Not clapping bt cluchng A onder at ebb tide.

To ima�ne rhe "soud of one n clng is one f he mo! fmos kons of Ze.

A rutting cat Has grown so thn: lmost nothng but eyes.

ast wnds blowing Clod shadows wrapping The entre mountain.

A sparrow on a plum twg Slhoette of the blossoms on The sliding paper screenshaking.

The sprng wnds must show Why Bodhdharma Visited China

"What is Bodhdhrma's inenton n comng et to Chna  a t pha akn What is t that i sough ad by extenon, What s aoi!

n its fall rapping a worm A cameia blossom

Up the hil of pine trees ushing to worship Sunrise on New ears Day.

alling Down into the heavens A skylark

Paig of pe  Seki

Bamboo woven nto a fence A spring hut

Bodhidharma kite Hising against the wind With dignity

owad a Zen monk he ag apping Spring wind Fom a kon in The Gatele Ga Obseving  g lp ping in the eeze, one monk opined th the g itself ws moing, while nother monk beleed i ws the wnd tha moved The Sxth Ptich onludes: "I's neithe the wind no the g; t is you mind h mos.

Afer he buerly's gone  seles down: A kien.

he moon is up Plum blossom shdows ll on my pllow

Somewhere Someone calls my name: A spring mountain.

Cray buttery lirting with lowers Honoring the dead.

An inch of weght On the nandina Spring snow.

Pantn

 b b k.

Dry grass burning over his hill and ha ed Pheasants cries.

New ear's dream No about nding money Or abou death

A lower shadow Creeps and overlaps A beatys

Warler eating lowers Are its droppngs also ed?

Spring rain ying lat on the mat to see he plum trunk level.

Spring rain Clinging to each other Under one umbrella.

Spring rain ome inside my nightgown ou nightingale too

Pig of to Ze mks b Sseki

Spring creek lowing mbracing the rock.

Huge Mount ui, reected On the balls of my eyes Spring pavilon

ou rude plum, Suddely appearig efore me O the cliff corer

lutterg i twos, Next momet as oe: Butterlies

No rain it seems, et the lowers Are cloaked in dew.

Without a word A white plum trees Blossomed.

A Zn m  Th yn h  N ln n w n t  Pnt tiht t  mn mn  S  nu n m Buh

Gone wth the bells A hundred and eigh illusions: New ears morning

Bubbling Seeping through the sand Spring water.

Over he magnola Dreamy Drizze allin.

L  b

k a a  a

Summer

 sY  s   Zen is not words or hrases bt acual rac tice isnt it? I yo are n he dusty world and bueted at the mercy o t, hen  won der i theres any dierence between the Zen e and the Zenless lie .

T ZE !0K M ( '  l)4  a happy o know ha you heath i geting eter and I hope you wi oon vi Koe again or Zen pactice A or e, everyhing  a uua . .  Are you ying in ed in he idt o hi heat Accordng o Zen eaching, yng in ed i ao Zen, in' it Soete I ecoe aen inded o  ake an atenoon napthi ee good or y ran ...

A red sun Fals nto the sea What summer heat!

Letting the world be I'm a monk having an Afternoon nap

Sticky hot! Cicada sounds join my Afternoon-nap dream.

The dg ges away P U agan daffds

Wraed wthn Yung leaves: The sund f water

Hoseies Oxlies, all welcome Country nn

he sea is nea; a long Walk howeer, within this ellowlow eld

Oops! Umph! Got it Klled  l Housebos room.

Tmidl Sitting on the bnn lef A rin frog

Biting t mosquitoes, Nothing but mouth: A tod.

he moment struck, I expels a noon mosquto A wooden drum

Now gathering, Now scatterng Firelies over the rver

A woo dm (mokuo)

Wtch birth nd deth he lotus hs ledy Opened its ower

How cool is the shdow Of green pine needles On my npping fce

Buzzes encirce A mon in smdhi: Mosquitoes

Sh fm the Sanskit,  a Buddhit trm f physicl d mtl onctti.

Pebbles on the rerbe Waerng: Cea water

Peaks o clou The shp has crosse A wnless sea

Openng alone, Fragrant in the sun A hollyhock

A snail Raisng its horns Edge of the well

My dead mher Frequents my mnd Wardrobechanging season

Hoyh,

we f ue

So much weght os to summe heat Even mosquitoes won't nibbe

Weight-ost, Sun-but What has become of the mons?

Ito the eld of Yellow lowers he red setg su!

Flea, you shall ever escae ut where have you goe? A cuckoos cry

he lea escaed me leavg A blood-saed blaket: Object of se

Te mudd water A scool of cildren Swmming

Its too deep o go across besides I cant swim

The sunset: Fro the seabe Heat rises.

The lap once out Cool stars enter The winow frae

One rey Flitting Through the roo

Blasphemy! Backsie agais the altar ag a clig hmself

rely hutg as le me  fa i he creek.

Eyig he cl bush shae, A bitte by Msuies

Fa ud b  .

Well its time o go to bed but hat summer moon.

Short night's dream No time even to remember he one ve had

hrh lh lee Only  plm-ize iew Of the mntin tempe

Eeyne inclin me Cl l in white enjyin he eenin cl.

A cck cry Hr t et t: n the mit f hiin This haiku ws penneJ on th J� of  rely lette to n n\aion to a paty (th "cuoo's cy) y Pime Ministr Saonj Kimmohi,   tme when SC>i w usy wih ersonal attes.

o AN ovoR G 0 0 Sme ased What is he ruth whe a ma ad wma all  le? " Ssei aswered rllig hs e  he des Ge t the West, ge t dia" A em ges Sg ree Flwg, mraig the 

Someone asked What s he trth when a woman leaves leaves the man she has has love loved? d? " Placing hs pen prght on the desk and pasng, Ssek answered very day s a good day A poem goes: Blossoms fallen Have blown away in Crshed Crs hed shadows shadows 

 ts lee Sse s ly te e mste, e  e dloues (n mnd) wth  m someoe,  the a tem wt hs ow eses Hs esos esos es e well-w set ses o e

Jc' clr�'· a:

hk

TL  rLnwis  :t r ud  ud hrmg.

:

Autumn

T ZE MK T E EEMBE 7 ! My ose is not very goo bt  tink we an arange loging o yo O yo may ry o stay a Saisji  yo ee. Is a goo temle an wol be more omoable tan stayng in or ose However it may not be wise o yo to limit yosel only to yor sa temle e witot eeiening tis selar e o os  

RELATD



C , w

The two oug Ze studets vsted ou house weag moks oes ad woode logs Ou hlde gggled at the lea shave, oud heads. The vstos wee qute goodatued ad oemded, ot a  evous o tale ut ehas a  asemded othe wods, dgedlookg ad qute deet om akl seakg qute ooste om those oug ovelsts o ovelststoe who eque m husads stud .. We had ou uh at a Westestle estauat ad oe o the moks haeed to do hal hs seak o the loo ude the ale The ext momet, howeve, he ooll ked t u ad ate t wthout hes tao Beoe eah meal the alwas ut the alms togethe ad owed  ae

Te ae eeryg o compait ad reall ate lie ore M bad a ery impreed i teir ra ad pretetou attde mxed th good ma er ad gratitude  My hubad a ery cro abo eir ore o aca Ze moaery e, ad e ejoyed oe uc ioce oy: ater e eeday tee pracce drg the r ee o December [rohatsu sesshin), eet ae  ual ered, bt t a imit of oe cup per ude, o eeryoe re o d a bg a bol a pobe    Oe o the o oug mo grmbed I ae o a my coe a b mye; o oe il ep me The oer tatl reored, It oly aura hat eeroe houd etate e ay you pie up or drty derear A o tee orie made my ubad aug but alo eel ome repect or the mo

her rmte Zen le n act mst hae remne m hsan o hs moe tcal acqanances. All the eole  rnng hm ee alente an socal aet .  M hsan constantl ha to ea th sch eole t ther es neer engenee n hm eelngs o eneraton Beses most o hs acqantances ee exctale rrtale an argmentate so oen er clt to ea th e mst hae close comae hese eole th the to sme Zen monks 

  \El)J \l  (;E)JO :0\'!BR

 0 

I(

Consderng  le I cold do or yo drng yo s ee  don' in  desee sc  poe leer o ns  I dmie e e\·erd ide o Zen mons ord  nd eesy ope  yo eep o presenly ed deeinon As o me I e decided o conne my seseeng Zen pcce n my on y nd ccodng o my cpcy mning my diy le I nd  e poor \·eing  I dolng sndng sng yngs bsclly  o lseood m smed o .Wen I ne see yo I s o me  bee mn o mse Yo e enyo yers od nd I m y s  m enyeig yers oder b  egd o sa nsig nd poe o e denely more dnced

High autumn ky Wih  coul rie The white clou

Autumn aleay tate There remain a book Not yet rea through.

Gong auumn unligh Peek through the rater Slantway.

Ba  autum T sous o a stak Driv ito t gou

Autum l I caugt o A lt it 

Autum moutais A ot o clou Calml pass ovr

Cler utumn ky One ne tree Srng n the ridge.

umn wind Hunche f  cw n t Wy t be butchered.

In  lee o Mn yj (o) oOo 8, 1912 Sei ele h he moed hi oem wen h w   hmhid ei

Persimmon eaves On eac Moonig

Morning goy A beauty's carm But a few day's deam

Paintig f esimmn and bamb b Sei

Mornng chill, Eening chill Human warmth.

Morning chll, Eening chill Alone I trael

My renewe life: How ancient Autumn is!

Agn m ve The heght f the ky A e rgny.

One muntn hw Vr utumn Cr f the bmb

 the en f the e A ne  g Atumn ky.

Comg oo my shoulder Are you seekg a fred? ed dragoly

Throw pease everyoe Al he chrysahemums Io he cof

Cmn n m shule   alliah b Sse

igtning ls Ec tme te wtell Revels its riverbed

Under te leves Of  moing glory Cts eyes

My life ecovere. How appy  am Autumn in cryantemum.

Fog clear away Te watefal ow up Bit by bit

Dot of clou coming, Going over te waterfall: e maple leave

A cricet Suddenly sarted singing Suddenly sopped again

Its auumn cricets Weer you may Cr or not.

Wite csanemums My scissors for a wie Stop teir moion

o sae o poem Slence o the moon

Small amount of sae Remans n the botle Ch o the nght.

A drgony Hoverng by te te wo ne wy

Seer l Not  ngle eepng vy o tu red.

One huge rock On the rverbed Autumn wer.

Zen temple No rn of sorrow Flls on the bnn eves

A  o A Zen FOesr o Ri o o sorro  lls  o  l:  h ts ptri  ls hs bol t

A  

In e cill Eac one an i In i own way

Sunny pace Feeling Of a ripe erimmon

"Sunny pe . caUiaph:y Sosek

�

."

Siig i te wid Of te ew atm A pider tread

Dot forget weet perimmo Yor yoger day we Yo were til bitter.

You a Zen priest Looking lke a Scarecrow.

Again to see tings n e original up and down: Te autumn mountain s new.

A ve-tiered waterfall: A maple color On eac tier.

Th whol tuns Yllow Mandarin orang orchard.

Waking undr th moon Sski has forgottn All abou his wif.

Brathing auss in th Monks chant for th dad Grasshopps chir

My life saved By a hairbreadth Sender pampas stalk

Was it a banana leaf hat surrised me with Sudden knoks on the door

Moonlit night ach silhouette Moving.

All waving in the win all an short ampas lowers

Nice to return o my natie town: hryanthemum eaon.

o Buddha Bet to dedicate White chryanthemum.

he Blue li Record, heme of the ermon emple night i long.   C Red,  olltio o o udd ko, v d otri opld i tlft tu Ci i  d i t Riz t o Z

Cowd of pampas grasses Waing Beginning of autumn

Coolness Sounds of the waer afte All gone to bed

Buddh Natue if compaed, Must be his White bell-lower.

In the millet eld All ane Im haveing Evening glw

The mning un P u n A huandmile millet eld.

Afe haveing The uunding millet, Chyanthemum left alne

Just before me The Spirit's moving Tip of my pen

Near and far, verythings under the moon Seas and mountains.

F moon ond is th shadow Of a prists had

Tickling th Skinny horss hanchs: Atmn is

n th sh shad No sh movs: Atmn watr.

T SAITO c; jANUAY

IO,

5

Se last eember  hae bee stag  Kge eme  Kamakura for ersoal dsourse [sanzen] wth Shaku Se Rsh. For about te das  mataed m e bag " bod wth smle re guel  a brokelegged bowl  he Ze moaster The da before esterda,  lmbed dow from the emle ad etued to Toko Mer o me who has faed to eoute m orgal sef out of he fe hudred les of a fo  samsara . . .

Gte  he K- mple  h Ekuj mplx

Now ll Dare enter ths iges cave: his morning of a heavy snowfall

Bowng a greeting From the womans hai A hailstone falls.

Faly and world lft bhind Noindd ylf nvrthl Thi vr bliard

Popl in th cty All buy wih hr own ob End of h ya.

Bowing and hugging My knees h the cold!

My obe died Both font and back Fie of ewood

From tis luewrm ot-spring Hrd to get out: Brr!

Stepping on  wet Wsclot in ded drness How cold!

Emptiness, no oliness, Bodidrms sttue Dffodils n te wter.

T Bue Cff Record ats a Emo Wu of Lag ask Boma, Wat   t n o t o ts1 T  cam, "mts no ons

Yor talk began wth a Fart Well, well

A crow takes off, leavng he wnter tree shakng n the evenng sn

Drzzlng A mddy cat asleep on he holy stra.

My hut: Even the ccles Greet a new year

The ld tablets Sweetpta vnes Cver the tempe gae

Sndng nked n the winte wind Stues f he gurdin gds.

Bite wnte wind N leves le T ll

nr wnd cs Flwng crdly  cd pa

In  wnr wnd  munn pa Sars l a swrd

Scent f ddils By he illw f A ersn wth  cld

Mnk in smdhi Stil ive A wnter mn

The pack hore back Loae wth charcoal Spotte now

Mut be col The tempe n the bamboo grove To whch the monk return

Pret nd ymn St by the herth Fce t ce

Yer ter yer Shrpened by wnter wnd Tht muntn

Pn yer Our ct qt Dwn n my lp

Pa in tig of two mon a calliaphy /y Sseki.

Swping it ff, agan Swping  ff, still Snw n my slvs.

Early wintr Th rad t nlightnmnt s gat clsd yt

A syg r A Ze Foret ss "O y t st A thusd sts c pt it t

One ouse s Bured Silent n te snow.

Te winter wind as Blown e evening sun nto te sea

Wang or sprng ndeed noting appens To a noble person

A ng rom A Zen Fores  To  mn of tor nothing hpn

The adsh dsh: Two shadows of he ound shaved heads.

Good o evl? Eat the adsh dsh And youll know

hi year going by Even the Bddha Once wa a ayman.

What i yo Original Nare, Snowman?

he o Wh is yu e iil tue beoe ou the d othe e b? ws ive t Sseki b is se, Shku Se Rshi

Main hal of th tmpl Coldnss Of on hundrd ft

Connd within doors A prist is warming himslf Brning a Buddha statu

"M Ml f  p . . . "

Wpy by Soski

: t 

Agans my eyes Mouth and eveywhee Blzzad

Sdeways Acoss he Musashno Plan Wnte an.

Autumn maple leaf alls Ruslng

Cuntry fe Enugh wth se ushels f llet

Ths pssng yer: Sund f rushng wte Every ent

While watching he Bddha ven I emain Bddha-minded

ve left the wold behind Even he bsy sees An ancient scene

No nowing why  fee attached to this wold Whee we come only o die

FoM A TALK H DT SuzKI GVN AT OsKs nATH

A eday ratie was t eugh  Mr. Natsume t ahieve sai. It was true, hwever tha he was very muh gited with the siit  Ze

FM

A A sv  HA

I dn knw vey much au Ssek u I el he was man ged wh a naual en s Hs en sudy was nhng much u he seemed  have uched he   Buddhsm and Oena hlshy llwng heaven leavng sel s hugh  have een hs m dung he las days  hs le and s s vusy he vey n  Mahayana Buddhsm

FL P

BY

 SHAK

Once he declined the fame of a doctorate Preserving humiliy enoying Zen spiri in laymans gar Right now hes gone the moment the pleasure ceased; There remains a chilly lantern and the sounds of night rain.