a single syllable

[konch]

what then surrounds it
if not emptiness and the
complete universe



* title not original

[Jim]

This made me think of Eric Clapton and his lifelong search for that one perfect note
does it exist?
I don't know if that one perfect syllable existS
But I am darn sure going to try and find it
and that will explain the universe to everyone
well everyone except me of course cause I'm just some guy

[NLCE]

This makes me think of
IMAGINATION
This one had me thinking
for a bit
Thank you for sharing it

Christian L.

[RogueInk]

This speaks to the power of words and in this particular case I thought of an interjection like 'Shh', which is empty by itself, but carries negative weight if it's used to silence someone who desperately needs approval. This is just one interpretation. I'm sure I'm over thinking things. You have a knack for cerebral haiku. Well done.

[jainrohit]

is it om ??

its the single syllable believed to be the echo of life or the universe....

Deep philosophy and spirituality in this ! excellent k.

[entwife]

lovely, konch, a magical thought.

[konch]

Close Rohit! OM is a seed syllable too and I use it in another visualization but in this case it was HUM (pronounced "Hung"). It means "it is established". But it could have been any syllable. It seems the effort and concentration required to get a good visualization of a syllable brings out a part of one's being that sees reality in a very different light.

The title is from a Brian Eno song, "On Some Faraway Beach".

Thanks all for kind comments. Always very appreciated.

[Jim]

I would love to be able to visualize reality in a different light
you may just convert me

[konch]

In three years I should have a decision on whether it's really worth doing. I remain unconvinced despite everything. If it makes me better able to fight climate change and/or help those fresh to the terror of seeing its full scope, then yes. I'm just shooting for the kind of continuous awareness one needs to be effective in this wold. So far, limited results.

Meanwhile it's more a form of medicine than a religion, or it should be. The Buddha even said people should not abandon their old religions when taking up Buddhist practice, and here in America there are plenty of very accomplished zen people who are also Christian clergy... and of course then there's Leonard Cohen, a religious Jew who was a zen monk for years... let alone it being a refuge for all those who can't abide metaphysics but still have a deep need to clarify their compassion...

These days I'm haltingly familiarizing myself with a more religious Tibetan form but even that is just provisional -- a shaman's sand painting to be erased as soon as the patient reacts ...

Again, ask me in three years when my current course of study is supposed to end. :-)

[Jim]

I am A whatever gets you through the night kind of guy
when it comes to others beliefs but what piqued my interest
single syllable+ reality . Pretty neat.
Wow I think you just inspired a haibun.
Gotta go

[aoeclald]

what then surrounds it
if not emptiness and the
complete universe



* title not original

I have contemplated this haiku for some minutes. I shall contemplate it for many more minutes. I would love to say what this haiku means to me, but it floods me with so many thoughts. Such power in such few lines.

Thank you for sharing,
Luke

[robema1]

You surround me as a universe perhaps.

Cheers Rob

[konch]

There are no verbs, Subhuti might say ;-)

[jsol]

this is incredible!

[interyeti]

I really liked the choice of making the last line those two words. It explodes the magnitude of overall interpretable meaning while encapsulating that meaning leanly and elegantly.

[oursummertrees]

konch, this is fantastic and I enjoyed reading all the commentary and discussion it provoked as well. And I will read it all again, I'm sure. Thank you for sharing this.

-trees

[The ghost]

There's always that one syllable or note that changes everything.
Well played!

[S(OU)LAR]

There's always that one syllable or note that changes everything.

I can't agree more with what the ghost says above.
Thanks for sharing.

[ObsidianMule]

I missed this twice, but not a third time.