“Sitting quietly, doing nothing, Spring comes, and the grass grows, by itself”- Matsuo Basho.
To follow the autumn theme from the last blog, I am doing a study on both haiku poetry and Matsuo Basho, a 15th century Japanese poet. The reason these two links to autumn in my view, is because they each value nature and appreciating the seasons. The quote I have chosen is a beautiful reflective haiku by Basho. It symbolises how just by “Sitting quietly, doing nothing” the seasons will still arrive and depart. It is reassuring that we can watch the world turn and nature go like clockwork, without needing to do anything. It is a peaceful passage that is on a friend’s grave, and could represent the calm of a grave site.
Matsuo Basho was born in 1644 and died on the 28th November 1694 at 50. He lived a life of Zen philosophy, which is the emphasises of the interconnectedness of all things and the value of living in the present moment. Basho perhaps chose to write haiku poetry because it traditionally focuses on the seasons which reflects the zen philosophy. Haiku is a short three-line Japanese poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure. It is very brief so every word carries meaning.
I first discovered haiku while doing English at A-Level. The teacher encouraged reading international texts each month, to broaden cultural knowledge on writing styles. I loved the way Basho can create such brief but meaningful poems. Some do not make immediate sense but each has a message of observing the world around us. Basho had deep insight into the land around him and how to take purpose from it.
I feel haiku has an autumn feel but of course is for all times of year. You can dip into it and there are poems for all weathers, times of day and environments from Japan. The simplicity can hide how much the poems are trying to say and what it means. The beauty of the haiku I have chosen is it portrays the importance of being calm, peaceful and still to truly see the small movements of each season like grass growing.
Another Basho haiku is, “No matter where your interest lies, you will not be able to accomplish anything unless you bring your deepest devotion to it”. This haiku is a timely reminder that without “deepest devotion” we cannot hope to have success in any interests we have. I read this that the zen philosophy requires a “devotion” to appreciating the way everything is connected and how it makes the world a better place for that. Being devoted gives back so much more than not putting your all into your interests.
As autumn ploughs on, try to retain both the ability to sit “quietly” to enjoy the beauty of the season but also make sure you feel deep “devotion” in all you do to get the best out of it. Basho still holds true and wise in his words over 300 years after his death.
Work Cited- Gracious Quotes. “Gracious Quotes”. Gracious Quotes. Date Published: December 2nd 2023. URL: graciousquotes.com/Matsuo-basho/.