I characterize the writing I do as religious writing contending with the idea of jiyū shūkyō.
The primary function of my writing is to support my religious life. Because of this, the primary trajectory of my writing is inward (i.e., the writing I do in private is my most important writing). That said, I also want my writing to connect me with my kapwa (and through that connection to the cosmos). This is the secondary function of my writing life.
Since my thoughts about my writing changes a lot these days as I still am developing my poetics, I’m tracking my current thoughts about my writing on a log of that name.
Why religious writing?
What is the aim?
How am I achieving this aim?
Styles
I’m currently studying and experimenting with the following styles of writing associated with religious writing. I’m thinking about these influences in the context of poetry, but I imagine it will influence my prose as well. My goal is to decide whether to adopt one or all as styles in my religious writing. These three styles are as follows:
- Traditional religious writing exemplified by the works of Denise Levertov and Thomas Merton.
- Down-to-earth writing of the Bagay exemplified by the works of Rofel Brion.
- Flow writing characteristic of the Beat poets exemplified by the works of Allen Ginsberg (and perhaps, Clark Coolidge).
- Language writing exemplified by the works of Norman Fischer and his influences.
- Classical Japanese writing exemplified by the works of Bashō.
Other writers I’m studying:
- Ezra Pound
- Williams Carlos Williams
- Charles Olson
- Denise Levertov
- Thomas Merton
- Allen Ginsberg
- Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
- Madeleine L’Engle
To do
- This note may eventually be unnecessary and could just be integrated into my poetics.