The following Haiku poems are by the Japanese poet Basho. Mutsuo Munefusa (1644-94) was born into a noble Samurai family. He rejected the world's ways by choosing to living as a poor wander.

 

In the first Haiku we are told that a flower blooms in poverty. We usually think of a flower as rich and beautiful but here the truth is revealed that the flower depends of a greater reality, God.

The second Haiku tells us that ultimately everything earthly will be taken from us but that there is a greater reality who cares for us symbolized by the moon.

The third Haiku tells us that all dreams of glory come to nothing but the grass growing over our graves of soldiers. So why work for the glory that perishes?

This poetry opens the door to reality so we can see a truth more clearly. It does this by creating a silent space that can be filled instantly by the source of all silence, God. True poetry momentarily halts our rational stream of consciousness so that truth can be intuitively perceived not only intellectually but also emotionally.

7. Silence in Music