Writing journey

 In the last year I wrote about 70 times, nature observations that caught not just my eye but my mind. kyakken shasei. The end result is that the student is depicting his own perception, namely himself, by depicting the flowers and birds in the advanced application of kyakkan shasei

Chatgpt's advice for further steps ---

C. Begin paired or linked haiku (very important)

This is the natural next step for someone like you.

Examples already in your work:

• light ↔ shadow

• cloud ↔ moon

• object ↔ memory

• nature ↔ human artifact

Exercise
Instead of writing one haiku, write two that speak sideways to each other.

Example structure:

• Poem 1: pure observation

• Poem 2: human or cultural echo

This is how haiku grows toward sequences and books.

I have experienced this in few poems, where I go back and add more that connects nature to humans.

3. A realistic, low-time practice (10–15 minutes)

Daily / near-daily

• Write one haiku or 2–3 lines

• No revision

• One image only

Weekly (15 minutes)

• Translate one of your own haiku into:

  • Telugu / Hindi / Japanese roughly

• Notice what won’t translate

That friction will sharpen your English poems.

Monthly (30–45 minutes total)

• Select 5 best poems

• Revise lightly

• Save them in a separate “keepers” file

That’s it.

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4. What this sets you up for (next year)

If you follow this path, you’ll have:

• A tight haiku sequence

• A multilingual / cross-cultural angle

• A clear aesthetic

Which opens doors to:

• haiku journals

• small press contests

• prizes like Pegasus with a sharper packet

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One final, honest note

You don’t need to “work harder.”
You need to trust your seeing and become more selective.

You already have the eye.
Now you’re learning when to stop—and when to keep.

I have doen the below too ----

1. “Living in a haiku city” is not a metaphor — it’s a method

Classic haiku poets did exactly what you describe:

experience → write → check the tradition → listen for resonance

Bashō walked, wrote, then later placed his moments inside literary and cultural memory. You’re doing the same thing—only your city is multilingual, diasporic, modern.

That’s not deviation. That’s evolution.

2. Extending haiku toward people: you’re touching haibun and gendai haiku

3. A crucial craft suggestion (very gentle)

When you extend toward people, protect the haiku core.

Think of it this way:

• Haiku = the door

• Human meaning = the light that enters after the door opens

4. A next step that fits exactly what you’re already doing

Start a “dialogue notebook”

conversation across centuries - One classical reference: Bashō / Buson / Issa / Shiki

5. What this becomes (without forcing it)

If you continue this way, naturally, you’ll arrive at:

• a sequence of haibun

• or a city-as-haiku manuscript

• or a multilingual seasonal cycle

But none of that needs naming yet.

Right now, the work is listening.

You’re letting haiku recognize itself in your streets, languages, and weather.

That’s the moment when a practice becomes a life.

look at one piece and decide: haiku / haibun / sequence

or map your poems into seasonal cycles (saijiki-style)

English to Japanese dictionary

 Love this book especially the colors Rapid reading

kikutan series

kikutan for japanese-learning

Liking this dictionary too

Do you think the order makes a difference? From which language dictionary you start? New to what you know chronological words or the other way? Is it because we are linking to something and its better to have the known key and then attach a value to it? 

Star poems

 Xuanji Tu (璇璣圖) - the "Star Gauge" or "Map of the Armillary Sphere" - it's a 29 by 29 grid of 841 characters that can produce over 4,000 different poems.

Picture heart sutra

 for those who cant read kanji

Hanzi and Kanji

the-heart-sutra-a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-classic-of-mahayana-buddhism in many languages

https://www.fgsitc.org/chanting-texts/

the-heart-sutra-the-zen-universe in circle form.

romaji

theartofcalligraphy.com/heart-sutra-in-japanese 270 kanji

decoder from a book

Columns 1–4: The Introduction

These columns introduce Avalokiteshvara (Kannon) and the initial realization that the Five Skandhas (the components of a person) are empty.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Sanskrit	Kanji	Pinyin	Korean	Meaning
Kan	Metal Basin (Kan)	Avalokita	観	Guān	관	Observe
Ji	Temple (Ji)	-	自	Zì	자	Self
Zai	Mop/Monk	-iśvara	在	Zài	재	Present/Existing
Bo	Tray (Bon)	Bodhi-	菩	Pú	보	(Enlightenment)
Satsu	Scroll/Note	-sattva	薩	Sà	살	(Being)
Gyō	Cooking Pot	caryāṃ	行	Xíng	행	Practice
Jin	Water Well	gambhīrāṃ	深	Shēn	심	Deep
Han-nya	Hannya Mask	prajñā-	般若	Bō-rě	반야	Wisdom
Ha-ra	Leaf + Silk	pāramitā	波羅	Bō-luó	바라	(Perfection)
Mi-ta	3 Lines + Paddy	-	蜜多	mì-duō	밀다	(Perfection)
Ji	Temple	kāle	時	Shí	시	Time
Shō	Ginger/Bell	vyavalokayati	照	Zhào	조	Illumine/See
Ken	Sword (Ken)	-	見	Jiàn	견	Perceive
Go	Number 5	pañca	五	Wǔ	오	Five
On	Man on Back	skandhās	蘊	Yùn	온	Aggregates
Kai	Shellfish	-	皆	Jiē	개	All
Kū	Number 9	śūnyān	空	Kōng	공	Empty
Do	Gate/Door	-	度	Dù	도	Cross over
Is-sai	Chair + Rhino	sarva	一切	Yī-qiè	일체	All
Ku	Hoe (Kuwa)	duḥkha	苦	Kǔ	고	Suffering
Yaku	A Bow	-	厄	È	액	Adversity

Columns 5–7: Form and Emptiness

The Buddha addresses Shariputra and explains the identity of Form and Emptiness.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Sanskrit	Kanji	Pinyin	Korean	Meaning
Sha	Sieve/Ladle	Śāri-	舎	Shè	사	(Name)
Ri	Pear	-putra	利	Lì	리	(Name)
Shi	Deer	-	子	Zǐ	자	(Name)
Shiki	Stone	rūpaṃ	色	Sè	색	Form
Fu	Basket	na	不	Bù	불	Not
I	Boar	pṛthag	異	Yì	이	Different
Kū	Number 9	śūnyatā	空	Kōng	공	Emptiness
Soku	Firewood	eva	即	Jí	즉	Is Exactly
Ze	Human Back	-	是	Shì	시	This is
Ju	Number 10	vedanā	受	Shòu	수	Feeling
Sō	Mop/Brush	saṃjñā	想	Xiǎng	상	Thought
Gyō	Cooking Pot	saṃskāra	行	Xíng	행	Formations
Shiki	Stone	vijñāna	識	Shí	식	Consciousnes

Columns 8–10: The Nature of Reality

Describing that all things are without birth, death, or stain.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Sanskrit	Kanji	Pinyin	Korean	Meaning
Sho	Ginger	sarva	諸	Zhū	제	All
Hō	Cheek	dharmāḥ	法	Fǎ	법	Dharmas/Laws
Kū	Number 9	śūnyatā	空	Kōng	공	Empty
Sō	Mop/Brush	lakṣaṇā	相	Xiàng	상	Marks/Signs
Fu	Basket	na	不	Bù	불	Not
Shō	Ginger/Bell	-jātā	生	Shēng	생	Born
Metsu	Eye + Pipe	-niruddhā	滅	Miè	멸	Extinguished
Ku	Hoe	amalā	垢	Gòu	구	Tainted
Jō	Measuring Cup	vimalā	浄	Jìng	정	Pure
Zō	Elephant	na	増	Zēng	증	Increase
Gen	Fish	-vṛddhi	減	Jiǎn	감	Decrease

Columns 11–13: Negating the Senses

The "Mu" (Six-sided Die) section begins, stripping away the senses and objects of perception.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Sanskrit	Kanji	Pinyin	Korean	Meaning
Mu	Die (Mu)	na	無	Wú	무	No
Gen	Eye	chakṣur	眼	Yǎn	안	Eye
Ni	Ear	śrotra	耳	Ěr	이	Ear
Bi	Nose	ghrāṇa	鼻	Bí	비	Nose
Ze	Tongue	jihvā	舌	Shé	설	Tongue
Shin	Body	kāya	身	Shēn	신	Body
I	Boar	manaḥ	意	Yì	의	Mind
Shiki	Stone	rūpa	色	Sè	색	Sight
Shō	Bell	śabda	声	Shēng	성	Sound
Kō	Incense	gandha	香	Xiāng	향	Smell
Mi	3 Lines	rasa	味	Wèi	미	Taste
Soku	Firewood	spraṣṭavya	触	Chù	촉	Touch
Hō	Cheek	dharma	法	Fǎ	법	Mental Object

Columns 14–18: No Ignorance to No Obstacles

Moving through the cycle of life and the cessation of suffering to the freedom of the Bodhisattva.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Sanskrit	Kanji	Pinyin	Korean	Meaning
Kai	Shellfish	dhātu	界	Jiè	계	Realm
Nai	Knife	yāvan	乃	Nǎi	내	Even
Shi	Deer	-	至	Zhì	지	Unto
Myō	Name Tag	vidyā	明	Míng	명	Ignorance/Light
Jin	Well	-kṣayo	尽	Jìn	진	Exhaustion
Rō	Candle	jarā	老	Lǎo	노	Old Age
Shi	Deer	maraṇa	死	Sǐ	사	Death
Ku	Hoe	duḥkha	苦	Kǔ	고	Suffering
Shū	Nest	samudaya	集	Jí	집	Origin
Dō	Gate	mārga	道	Dào	도	Path
Chi	Breasts	jñāna	智	Zhì	지	Wisdom
Toku	Mortar	prāpti	得	Dé	득	Attainment
Shin	Needle/Heart	citta	心	Xīn	심	Mind/Heart
Ke	Hair	-āvaraṇa	罣	Guà	괘	(Obstacle)
Ge	Roof Tile	-	礙	Ài	애	(Obstacle)

Column 19: Freedom from Fear

This section uses the Rabbit (a zodiac animal) to represent the concept of "having" or "existence."

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Sanskrit	Chinese (Kanji)	Chinese (Pinyin)	Japanese (Hiragana)	Korean (Hangul)	Meaning
Mu	Six-sided Die	na	無	Wú	む	무	No
Ke	Hair (Ke)	-āvaraṇatvād	圭	Guī	け	규	(Part of Obstacle)
Ge	Roof Tile (Ge)	-	礙	Ài	げ	애	Obstacle
Ko	Child (Ko)	-	故	Gù	こ	고	Therefore
Mu	Six-sided Die	na	無	Wú	む	무	No
U	Rabbit (U)	-	有	Yǒu	う	유	Existence / Have
Ku	Number 9 (Ku)	-atrastvam	恐	Kǒng	く	공	Fear
Fu	Basket (Fu)	-	怖	Bù	ふ	포	Terror/Awe
On	Man on Back	vi-	遠	Yuǎn	おん	원	Distant / Leave
Ri	Pear (Ri)	-paryāsa	離	Lí	り	리	Depart from

Column 20: Overcoming Delusion

This column describes the clearing of the mind’s distortions.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Sanskrit	Chinese (Kanji)	Chinese (Pinyin)	Japanese (Hiragana)	Korean (Hangul)	Meaning
Is	Chair (Isu)	-	一	Yī	いっ	일	One / All
Sai	Rhino (Sai)	sarva-	切	Qiè	さい	절	All / Cut
Ten	Hand (Te)	-	顛	Diān	てん	전	Overturn
Dō	Gate (To/Dō)	viparyāsa	倒	Dǎo	どう	도	Upside-down
Mu	Six-sided Die	na	夢	Mèng	む	몽	Dream
Sō	Mop/Brush	-ati-	想	Xiǎng	そう	상	Thought/View
Ku	Number 9	-krānta	究	Jiū	く	구	Ultimate
Kyō	Mirror (Kyō)	-	竟	Jìng	きょう	경	Finally
Ne	Mouse (Ne)	nir-	涅	Niè	ね	열	(Nirvana)
Han	Stamp/Seal	-vāṇaḥ	槃	Pán	はん	반	(Nirvana)

Columns 21–23: The Buddhas and the Result

This section explains that all Buddhas of the past, present, and future attain enlightenment by relying on this Wisdom.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Chinese (Kanji)	Chinese (Pinyin)	Japanese (Hiragana)	Korean (Hangul)	Meaning
San	Number 3	三	Sān	さん	삼	Three
Ze	Back (Se)	世	Shì	ぜ	세	Worlds/Times
Sho	Ginger (Shō)	諸	Zhū	しょ	제	All
Butsu	Whisk/Brush	仏	Fó	ぶつ	불	Buddhas
E	Picture (E)	依	Yī	え	의	Relying on
Han-nya	Hannya Mask	般若	Bō-rě	はんにゃ	반야	Wisdom
Ha-ra...	Leaf/Silk/3/Paddy	波羅蜜多	Bō-luó-mì-duō	はらみた	바라밀다	(Paramita)
Ko	Child (Ko)	故	Gù	こ	고	Therefore
Toku	Mortar (Toku)	得	Dé	とく	득	Attained
A	Foot (Ashi/A)	阿	Ā	あ	아	(Unexcelled)
Noku	Saw (Noko)	耨	Nòu	のく	녹	(Unexcelled)
Ta	Rice Paddy	多	Duō	た	다	(Unexcelled)
Ra	Silk/Spiral	羅	Luó	ら	라	(Unexcelled)
San	Number 3	三	Sān	さん	삼	(Perfect)
Myaku	Pulse/Wrist	藐	Miǎo	みゃく	막	(Perfect)
San	Number 3	三	Sān	さん	삼	(Enlightenment)
Bo	Tray (Bon)	菩	Pú	ぼ	보	(Enlightenment)
Dai	Daikon Radish	提	Tí	だい	제	(Enlightenment)

Columns 24–25: The Great Mantra

Here, the sutra praises the Wisdom as a "Great Mantra" that is unsurpassed and true.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Chinese (Kanji)	Chinese (Pinyin)	Japanese (Hiragana)	Korean (Hangul)	Meaning
Ko	Child	故	Gù	こ	고	Therefore
Chi	Breasts (Chi)	知	Zhī	ち	지	Know that
Han-nya	Hannya Mask	般若	Bō-rě	はんにゃ	반야	Wisdom
Ha-ra...	Leaf/Silk/3/Paddy	波羅蜜多	Bō-luó-mì-duō	はらみた	바라밀다	(Paramita)
Ze	Back	是	Shì	ぜ	시	Is the
Dai	Daikon/Big	大	Dà	だい	대	Great
Jin	Well (Jin)	神	Shén	じん	신	Spiritual
Shu	Nest (Su/Shu)	呪	Zhòu	しゅ	주	Mantra
Ze	Back	是	Shì	ぜ	시	Is the
Dai	Daikon/Big	大	Dà	だい	대	Great
Myō	Name Tag	明	Míng	みょう	명	Bright
Shu	Nest	呪	Zhòu	しゅ	주	Mantra

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Columns 26–27: The Conclusion and the Chant

The sutra concludes by stating this truth is real and not false, then gives the final incantation (Mantra).

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Chinese (Kanji)	Chinese (Pinyin)	Japanese (Hiragana)	Korean (Hangul)	Meaning
Ze	Back	是	Shì	ぜ	시	Is the
Mu	Die	無	Wú	む	무	Un-
Jō	Measuring Cup	上	Shàng	じょう	상	Surpassed
Shu	Nest	呪	Zhòu	しゅ	주	Mantra
Nō	Brain/Head	能	Néng	のう	능	Able to
Jo	Woman (Jo)	除	Chú	じょ	제	Remove
Is-sai	Chair + Rhino	一切	Yī-qiè	いっさい	일체	All
Ku	Hoe (Kuwa)	苦	Kǔ	く	고	Suffering
Shin	Needle/Heart	真	Zhēn	しん	진	True
Jitsu	Chestnut (Kuri/Jitsu)	実	Shí	じつ	실	Real
Fu	Basket	不	Bù	ふ	불	Not
Ko	Child	虚	Xū	こ	허	False

The Final Column: Gate Gate Pāragate

The sutra ends with the Sanskrit mantra written in Chinese characters (transliterated sounds).

• Gya-te (揭諦): Often shown as a Scallop (Ka-te or Gya-te).

• Ha-ra (波羅): The Leaf (Ha) and Silk (Ra).

• Sowaka (薩婆訶): Usually a Monk (practitioner) or a Broom (Sō-ji) for Sowa.

Sound (JP)	Picture (Rebus)	Sanskrit	Kanji	Pinyin	Meaning
Gya-te	Scallop/Shell	Gate	掲諦	Jiē-dì	Gone
Gya-te	Scallop/Shell	Gate	掲諦	Jiē-dì	Gone
Ha-ra	Leaf + Silk	Pāra-	波羅	Bō-luó	Gone beyond
Gya-te	Scallop/Shell	-gate	掲諦	Jiē-dì	Gone beyond
Hara-sō	Leaf + Silk + Monk	Pārasaṃ-	波羅僧	Bō-luó-sēng	Gone altogether beyond
Gya-te	Scallop/Shell	-gate	掲諦	Jiē-dì	(Part of mantra)
Bo-ji	Tray + Temple	Bodhi	菩提	Pú-tí	Enlightenment
Sowaka	Broom/Monk	Svāhā	薩婆訶	Sà-pó-hē	So be it!