I ought to ask myself then: what is my motivation for exploring experimental writing? The clearest response and alignment is that I’m also a meditator. I do seiza, which is still connected with Zen. But how does jiyū shūkyō and Jōdo Shinshū align here?
- By removing the self in the page, I allow tariki to take over—bahala na. I let go of the tyranny of coherence, logic, beauty, and linearity. A tariki-inspired writing puts less emphasis on craft (or at least the kind of effortful craft that overly relies on a writer’s talent).
- Language poetry also is tightly connected with issues of power and economy. This is where jiyū shūkyō enters with its strong emphasis on the larger whole.
The challenge for myself is to still create scripture, a balm to myself and others even if I choose to produce experimental writing.