Ikkyu
One Relaxation
Chinese: Yixiu
| born: 1394 died: 1481 87 years place: Japan |
aka: Shuken (dharma name in childhood)
Ikkyu was a well known Japanese Zen adept and
poet, writing haikus and other types of verses.
He was basically a solitary man, some say the son
of the royal family, a traveling poet whose writings
are highly influenced by the Japanese Zen culture
of his time.
Ikkyu was a well known Japanese Zen adept and
poet, writing haikus and other types of verses.
He was basically a solitary man, some say the son
of the royal family, a traveling poet whose writings
are highly influenced by the Japanese Zen culture
of his time.
| stories: Osho Take It Easy, Vol. 1 Take It Easy, Vol. 2 (entire books use Ikkyu's poems) No Water, No Moon, ch. 10 The Grass Grows by Itself, ch. 8 |
| oshobob The Living Workshop |
| Zen Masters |
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| Zen masters: Botetsu, Seiso, Keno, Kaso Zen disciples: none recorded |
| These small poems of the Zen master, Ikkyu, are of immense importance. They are not great poetry, remember, because that is not the concern. The poetry has been used as a device, so that your heart can be stirred. The poetry is not the goal. Ikkyu is not concerned with creating great poetry; he is not really a poet, he is a mystic. But rather than speaking prose, he speaks in poetry – for a certain reason... --Osho Take it Easy, Vol. 1, ch. 1 |