What Book!?: Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop First Edition

The project flows on beyond me …

Here are some afterthoughts now that the book is done. I’ve always considered anthologies to be essentially an act of criticism. Initially, in 1993 I took a chance and made space for the chance to take place … … … that the mindful poetry that I’d been seeing ~ in books, newsletters, Buddhist magazines, online, etc. ~ and that the way the Beats’ introduction of Buddhism to America was becoming meaningful for a new generation ~ and that all the other tiles of the mosaic in my mind … would cohere in one big gathering … and could meaningfully inform both Buddhism and poetry … … and, so doing, should yield much pleasure.

Well, from there the book took on a life of its own and I faithfully followed along.

I found work by illustrious authors (Czeslaw Milosz to Yoko Ono) … and lesser-known luminaries (William Kistler, Jim Cohn, Amy Champ) … and complete discoveries (veterans, children, etc). The finished tapestry takes in over 300 texts by over 125 contributors.

The map ranged from Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Tibet, China … to Estonia, Australia, America. A thematic graph of it would include Buddha … war and peace … care of the earth … love … family … modernism … silence … poetry … song … … … and more.

True to zen, I omitted commentaries on these topics, but they’re available at the website, along with now about 80 more texts.

I say “text” but there are also picture poems, visible language, and calligraphy ~ as well as performance art, conceptual art; lyrics, arias, and blues; prose poetry; sonnets; haiku; meditations and sutras; journal entries; bucolics; jeremiads; postmodernism; and other artifacts from the intersection of meditation and art.

I might add that the publisher, Parallax Press, has crafted it all impeccably. Indeed, I can think of no other publisher in American who would have taken on and fostered such a risk ~ of doubly noble merit in today’s polyglomerate v! ertically integrating bottom-line shark-tank arena. They truly practice what they publish!

I’m excited of course that it’s out and hope you’ll see for yourself and agree this book was worth smearing ink by the barrelsful over all those dear, dead trees. (Like they say, “You can’t make catsup without busting up some tomatoes.”)

As an author, I never fail to marvel at the disparity or congruity between an initial conception in my mind and the actual execution and expression of it, out in the world. Here, my wonderment at the result matches my absence of preconceptions starting out. Buddhist aesthetics in action! … …

the leaves are green
the flowers are red

… … … … en-JOY!

p e a c e

END

Editor Gary Gach is a writer and lifelong meditator who has engaged in many roles during his lifetime including: actor, bookshop clerk, dishwasher, hospital administrator, office temp, stevedore, teacher, and typographer. Lay-ordained by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 2008, he has authored eight books. Gary lives in San Francisco, California.