Monday, August 10, 2015

Haiku Mu

(NOTE: The words "Mu" (Japanese) and "Wu" (Chinese) carry the meanings of "No, not, none, not any, nothing" and in this context these words connote with "void, emptiness, no-knowing, not knowable" and with the Sanskrit words "Neti, neti" ("Not that, not that") used for via negativa contemplation. Traditionally, the koan "Joshu's Mu" (or "Joshu's Dog") is the first used in koan training. It goes like this: A monk asked Joshu, "Does a dog have Buddha nature?" Joshu answered "Mu!"


Does a mangy dog
Possess the Buddha nature?
Joshu answered “Mu.”
  
As for Joshu’s “Mu”
I haven't one word to add:
“Mu” means “Mu” means “Mu.”

Mu Mu Mu Mu Mu
Fallen into the answer
What was the question?

Beginning with Mu
Ending with exactly Mu
Call that a journey? 

Okay, I’ve arrived.
I’m at home where I started
All alone with Mu

Mu is not special
Add three bucks and buy coffee
Fragrant steam rises 

Look: Only Buddha!
Sutras are toilet paper
Wipe “Mu” on them all

Freed from ego-pain
Empty Luminosity 
Jealousy... Ouch! “Mu.”

Contemplating Mu
Clouds don’t hinder empty sky
Even at Auschwitz?

THIS identity
O wonderful terrible 
body-mind-world-Mu

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