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Gratefulness
The fourth of an eight-day practice celebrating National Poetry Month and inspired by Br. David's appreciation of and experience with haiku.
Not to feel that you feel, not to know that you know, but just to feel, just to know– how liberating! ~ Br. David Steindl-Rast
Welcome.
In his book A Listening Heart: The Spirituality of Sacred Sensuousness, Br. David guides readers in an exploration of some aspects of a peak experience. He proposes an experiment in which we close our eyes and recall a major or minor peak of our past experience. Maybe it was “a moment on a mountain top…Or sitting on a fence-rail dangling your legs, not in boredom, not at all, but in utter absorption. Absorption into what? Into nothing; for nothing happened.” He goes on to reflect upon the fact that our peak experience is “an altogether unreflective moment,” writing “Only afterwards can I reflect on it and so talk about it. And what I am then inclined to say is something like ‘I was simply swept off my feet,’ or…’I had lost myself,’ This was all. But not quite all. For looking back I will also admit that at that moment of my Peak Experience I was more truly and more fully myself than at any other time.”
Haiku and calligraphy by Br. David Steindl-Rast
Through this exercise, Br. David suggests that “we have gained access to Haiku from within.” He writes, “If you have become aware that you are most truly yourself when you forget yourself; that in truly being alone you are one with all…you have discovered in your own experience the paradox in which Haiku has its roots.”
Today, we invite you to close your eyes and bring to mind a major or minor peak experience, referencing Br. David’s guidance above. Let it be a moment of utter absorption in which you “forgot yourself.”
Once you have relived this moment, notice what words begin to arise in your recall of this peak experience. With this experience fresh in your heart and mind, experiment with writing a haiku.
We invite you to reflect on your experience in a notebook or in the reflection area below. If you’d like, you may also share your haiku.
You may have noticed that Br. David signs his haiku as “Anon.” You might explore doing this for your own haiku. Notice how it impacts the poem. Notice how it feels for you. Imagine how it might land with others.
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Pine Needles Falling Along comes a butterfly Palm branches graceful
Tucked in a truck bed Hear the highway harmony Western sky of stars
Angel voices hover Canopy arches watch careening heads bathed in wonder
This is a reflection on the first time I experienced the enormity and awe of being inside a beautiful cathedral.
Tender green leaves flutter on the vine. They climb and tangle. Sunlight illuminates without and within.
One with the gulls, bright sun warming a cold day. Just sitting, a soft breeze blows. A quiet respite for us all.
Hurricane strength 3 Astonishing silence In thundering noise
We stand quiet Listening my Beloved and I Sky and surf dance as one
came to complete stop water’s edge tiny pebbles keen focus dissolve
Pause. Inhaling without judgement, with curiosity and generosity. Further exploration.
sitting, smoke tendrils, floating prayers to the heavens chickadee on snow
Dawn breaking Though rainy and dark Birds begin song.
Alone with the wind, Caressing my face, inland sea, Ah, the breath of God.
After reflecting on several recent major and minor peak experiences that I had to produce first a poem, then a haiku, related, but not identical in sense.
On the Mountaintop
Swim through ordinary days considering centuries of worn steps. Face oncoming storms with kindness, remembering the poignance of love. Be determined. Be stunning and majestic and infinite as stars’ songs in sacred stone spaces or paintings hung by the wine-dark sea to reflect and amplify the energy of our souls, crafted mirrors of unknown magic.
To the Mountaintop
centuries’ worn steps carry with kindness and love our enchanted souls.
Baby being born Miracles are happening Every second.
~Anon
quiet, listening spend a lot of time thinking An epiphany
Grand Canyon below Helicopter whisking me Joyful tears streaming
become a channel lose desires, expectations creativity flows
Thank you, perfect for us today.
Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal
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