Gita chanting —
as each stanza ends
the bell

Published by

Kala Ramesh

Kala Ramesh co-edited the award winning Naad Anunaad: an Anthology of Contemporary World Haiku (Vishwakarma Publication 2016) and co-authored an e-book with Marlene Mountain one-line twos (Bones 2016). She is the author of two books: haiku (Katha Books 2010, reprint 2017) and beyond the horizon beyond (Vishwakarma Publication 2017) and a tanka e-chapbook unseen arc (Snapshot Press 2017). Kala's initiatives culminated in founding IN haiku in 2013. She teaches haiku and allied genres at Symbiosis International University Pune. To bring haiku into everyday spaces, Kala initiated HaikuWALL, haikuTRAIL, haikuTALK, haikuWORKSHOP, haikuYOUTH, haikuUTSAV, haikuDHYANA and haikuSAATSANGATH, the last being a stage performance with dancers and actors.

24 thoughts on “”

  2. It is the 'bell' that captures me in this haiku — as its tone goes on and on to continue the chanting.
    Lovely.

    Reply

  5. What I really love in your poem, Kala, is that here is a haiku expressing a hindu spiritual experience!

    Contrary to Blyth and many influential (English-speaking) commentators, haiku is not a zen instrument, or even a spiritual art, but a poetic form which, because it focuses on human encounters with the lived world, has enormous flexibility and potency. It can be made to respond to whatever moves the poet – including mirth, sorrow, boredom, ecstasy, insult or contemplation. Or many of these complex feelings all at once.

    Kala, thanks a "tone" for submitting this. It is a resounding work!

    Strider

    Reply

    2. Strider, all said and done, I do firmly believe that creativity in any art form to a great extent is spiritual.
      Isn't it so?
      _kala

      Reply

      1. mmm, Kala, I know what you are saying but I don't think it is any disservice to art to say while art can be spiritual, and much of the best and most enduring art definitely is spiritual, making art is not the same as spirituality and definitely much art is not spiritual in creative intent. But perhaps you have a different understanding of spiritual to me. I would limit the word to referring to an experience which transcends the patterns of everyday life or relates to a manner of living which is removed from or beyond the normal needs and imperatives of fleshy creatures like us. Portrait painting, dancing, jazz and architecture are all examples that come to mind which are usually not undertaken with spiritual intent. As i see it, art is about exploring and capturing the complete range of human experiences including the basic, the mundane, and even the ugly. Haiku poets can definitely do many of those non-spiritual explorations, and capture/create portraits of all aspects of human nature and experience. We as haiku readers of course can choose to apply a spiritual filter in reading and recreating the experience conveyed in the work. But we need to remember that spiritual focus might not be the artist's intent and we should not insist that the only valid experience of an art work is a spiritual one.

        A poem I composed today:

        drying off
        first inkling
        of autumn

        Love to hear more of your thoughts, though.

        Strider

        Reply

  14. Dear Kala,

    This is is one of the most beautiful haiku I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing. I could actually hear the bell.

    Yes, I, too, agree that any art form is spiritual, and a conduit to Him.

    I wish to present a poem that attempts to depict my feelings on reading/chanting the Gita.

    Gita
    next stanza
    distorted by tears

    May I also add that I am a big fan of your poems. One day, I hope to come to Pune and learn something from you. Do you have a website giving your email address?

    Warm regards

    Reply

      1. Dear Kala,
        Thank you very much for your reply.

        My email address is phkodial [at rate of) gmail [dot) com

        Looking forward to your reply. :)

        Warm regards,

        Pranav

        Reply

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