Done watching.. Reads comments laughs outloud

I am here because I just read the best quote I have ever read and it belonged to this man. "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

What to write Oh no I am already on the last line

Wise video sitting with tea very happy

In my garage, Lamborghini here, knowledge.

When reading Basho, knowing nothing about Japanese poetry at the time, I felt a as though the man didn`t want so ``say`` anything. More like he wanted to perfectly capture an instant of pure experience. When you read the guy`s poetry you sort of get back into the mindset of a child which is still just perceiving the world and is just getting around to connecting empirical input with abstract concepts. Having seen this video I can tell you, it really does its job...

If only he had twitter account!

Must leave A Witty Comment I Failed

This video was very enjoyable, as well as enlightening. These kinds of truths need constant reminding - that's why these videos are so very important and dear to me. Thank you, The School of Life.

Wow. I really enjoyed this. I love Basho's idea of simplicity and being able to escape the "tyranny of being ourselves".

A silent sigh On my lips--- Lost in wilderness

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At first I didn't get the poetry. Then I closed my eyes and imagined and I really liked the glimpses that I saw. I get it now.

I think Robert Frost has the same approach to poetry. His poems are simple and homely but extraordinarily beautiful

Basho is one of my favorite Eastern poets. His haikus are beautiful.

My personal take on this video -- although this is a nice introduction to the deeper meanings of haiku, it's strongly colored by the speaker's modern-day existentialism. 17th century Japanese would not have considered the immediacy of haiku as an "escape" from personally imposed "tyranny," because they did not have that specific conception of the individual's use of his mind and his place in the universe. What Basho was aiming for is similar in effect, but conceptually different: like most Buddhist thinkers, he would have imagined the mind as a perfect mirror covered in dust, and poetry as a way to clean off the dust of ideology and biases and see what's in front of your own eyes. This is also how haiku came into being as its own genre of poetry -- despite what this video says, it was yet not known as "haiku" when Basho wrote his poems. Also, it's important to know that Basho's poetry was not confined to the seriousness of Zen, although Zen and Confucianism were well known as serious pursuits in his day. In fact, he was extremely playful and it seems he felt that humor was as effective a weapon to disarm the ego as striking imagery. The famous "old frog" poem that this video opens up with is not only aesthetically pleasing but also has a twist on the way Japanese poetry had traditionally employed frogs which would have been found amusing at the time. Instead of going "ribbit ribbit", the frog maintains a solemn silence and lets the water speak instead. If people really want to get into haiku I recommend reading ancient Japanese poetry and literature (like the Tale of Genji) in order to get a feel for how it developed a certain aesthetic to its height.

you didn't even include his death poem? On a journey, ill; my dreams go wandering over withered fields

Wabi.Sabi. Green tea ice-cream Shit it's wasabi!

I love this channel, and I want to give a shout out to the editor's which make these videos even more fun. Thank you school of life for letting me feel as a part of the people who would like to learn more and find knowledge intersting.

"Basho has tremendous respect in my heart. He is not only a mystic, a master, he is also a poet, a painter, a sculptor; he is a creative phenomenon. Nobody can compare with him as far as his multidimensional personality is concerned. He has the fragrance which only a flower can have. That fragrance is manifested in his poetry, in his small statements, in his every gesture. Even in his ordinary talks with people he cannot be other than Basho. Basho is far more refined, perhaps the most refined Zen master up to now. His refinement is in his cultured, meditative spaciousness. Out of that spaciousness many flowers have showered on the world. It does not matter wherever he is and whatever is going on, Basho is going to make it a Zen state of affairs. That uniqueness will not be found again. Basho is one of the greatest poets of the world, but he has written only haikus - very symbolic but very miraculous, very simple but very mysterious. They are all to be understood through visualization, because Zen does not believe in words. Visualize and perhaps you may have some understanding. A meditator, according to Basho, will go on searching deep within himself, but that does not mean that he should lose contact with the outside world. Once in a while he should open his eyes. With all his emptiness he should mirror the outside world. Those reflections are collected in these haikus. They don’t mean anything, they simply depict a picture. Basho is the greatest haiku poet of Japan, the Master haiku poet. But he was not just a poet. Before becoming a poet he was a mystic; before he starting pouring out with beautiful poetry, he poured deep into his own center. He was a meditator. It happened when Basho’s master died - Basho is a buddha, a buddha who writes poetry, a buddha who paints beautiful pictures, a very aesthetic buddha. His master died, thousands of people gathered. His master was very famous; more famous because of Basho, because Basho was a famous poet and painter and he was Basho’s master. Thousands of people gathered and they were very much surprised when they saw Basho crying, big tears rolling down his cheeks. A few close disciples of his master came to Basho and said, “It does not look right. Thousands of people are coming and they are getting confused. They don’t think a buddha should be crying and weeping, and you are the man who has been saying to them again and again: There is no death and the innermost core lives forever. Then why are you weeping? Your master is not dead, he has only moved from the small body to the universal body of God. So why are you weeping?” Basho wiped his tears and he said, “Listen! This is nobody’s business. I live according to my inner feelings, I cannot pretend. When my innermost core has disappeared into the universal. don’t care whether people think it right or not. If they don’t think that I am enlightened it’s okay, but I cannot pretend. I cannot do something which is not really there. And yes, I have said that the soul is immortal and my master has not died, he has disappeared into the universal. That’s why I am crying, not crying that he is dead but crying that now I will never be able to see his form. Now he has become formless - and his body was beautiful. I will never be able to look again into those deep eyes, I will never be able to hold his hand and touch his feet. I have lost his form - I am crying for his body, for his form; I am not crying for the formless soul. And I am not concerned whether people think me enlightened or unenlightened, that is their business. Who cares?”

He once wrote that "a flute with no holes is not a flute. A doughnut with no hole is a danish."

I feel relieved, I really needed this commentary right now. I am once again at peace :3

This channel is simply excellent. If you're planning on covering more eastern philosophy, might I suggest Zhuangzi? One of my favs. Either way, well done.

Growing up in Japan, I knew some of Basho's haiku. But I did not know that there were drawings to go with haiku. Simplicity reminds us not to take things of granted, as I often are indifferent about things around me. I thought that being able to accept who we are and be ourselves is important and the only way to happiness. To forget and escape from our individualities, we can reach the state of 無我 and appreciate what we have. Thank you for your video, which nurtures my spirituality.

This channel is pure gold!

The Japanese Poet Basho once wrote that "A flute with no holes isn't a flute, and a doughnut with no hole is a danish." Funny Guy.

It's ironic how the narrator speeds away in his talk while he talks about the appreciation of the little things in life :)

I feel a real intensity and belief in your voice whilst speaking about this man and his thoughts. That meant a lot to me.

Amazing! Nothing else compares on KZfaq to the quality of these videos

gurgling crystal stream sky of blue and clouds of white scene of perfect bliss

How cruel A grasshopper trapped Under a warrior's helmet -Matsuo Basho This is one of my favourite pieces of poetry. Thank you for teaching me more about Basho and his legacy.

Finally! Don't know why this was taken down two hours ago

I can’t express how much I can relate to this philosophy, I need to go to the library!

I love how this video relates to the one that precedes it.

I lived in Ogaki. It was Basho’s final stop of his journey, yet not one could explain to me anything about him. Thanks to you I will be explaining things to them. I am infinitely more aware, thanks to you. I give thanks!!! Bravo!!!!

Jin, Mugen & Fuu, Three Traveling Companions, Ah, What a wonderful journey!

I love all of your videos so much. Thank you for bringing them to us in a such beautiful and fun way!

Amazing, I learn so much from you guys everyday. Thank you so much

Really good/interesting - it does what it's describing it's self doing. 'Out of ourselves' is a lovely phrase.

I am completely obsessed with this channel!!!

he gazed intensely at a small mote in her eye as she beamed at him

is it old meat, or new cheese, i smell my sock.

I hope the next one is Sun Tzu

school of life, bringing sense to our lives thank you

Brilliant channel. I've just watched a number of your vids and they're simply fabulous. Thank you very much indeed.

Amen to this! Great visuals, simple but compelling and evocative. Fascinating to learn about these Eastern philosophical concepts. Basho now speaks to our modern world in ways he couldn't possibly have foreseen but hoped for!

I really liked this video. Thanks for exposing me to eastern philosophy. I have not read much beyond Alan Watts.

To want not to want. Circle up, circle down. Desire unending.

An excellent overview of Basho and his Haiku.

Nishida Kitaro next please

The Zen monk Ryokan composed some beautiful poetry of a different style, if you don't find Basho endearing.

I really want to thank you for this kind of videos.

best episode

Very beautiful analysis! “The tyranny of being ourselves” ❤️👍

Ah, I love this kind of poetry, i love wabi-sabi, need more muga in my life, definitely checking this guy out. I'm still hoping you guys will cover Bodhidharma, i think he's great at teaching detachment and how to live happily, and he practically led to the creation of Shaolin Kung Fu, how great is that?

Needed this

wonderful......thanks.

Shocking simplicity shoked.

I have a book on Bashō and never got round to reading it; I made a bad decision, clearly. Thank you, TSoL, it'll be the next. Right after Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Basho is Basho.Unique....thanks...

the ending is magical

Content stomach, Life School channel, peaceful night alone.

such a channel full of richness and vibrance

yay new vid!

Thank you. I have used this for my haiku workshops.

So much interesting.

You have a fantastic voice and a brilliant channel, thank you for what you do.

Blue sky, cotton cloud, sea breeze, eagle on wind

i love it

fantastic video.thanks 4 sharing

These videos are awesome

my favorite philosopher

excellent, thx

Thanks for making this video 🙂

Couch I breathe in… My Television Shows.

This was so beautiful ❤️

Awesome.

A perfect combination of subtlety and Basho ;)

THANK YOU SO MUCH

Very nice video on Basho.

really enjoyed this one.

"The tyranny of being ourselves." I loved that line.

Excellent!

wow just wow!!!

Beautiful video. I'm inspired to look into some more Japanese culture and art now. Also, I've just started to work on the poetry of Virgil at school and I see some similarities between him and Basho. Virgil doesn't write in haikus and his poems are a bit broader in scope, but in their quaintness they remind me of Basho at points. ‘On green leaves pillowed: apples ripe have I, Soft chestnuts, and of curdled milk enow. And, see, the farm-roof chimneys smoke afar, And from the hills the shadows lengthening fall.’

Will you do a video on Rumi?

I love your videos, they keep me company at lunch.

Great

that was really beautiful

music in the air people talking cold weather

Soooooooo good. Because sooooooo real.

oh wow you guys reuploaded with a slower voice? thank u very much :)

This is great!

I'm a big fan of your videos. I'd love to see more on poetry.

Very well put together.

I know this may sound besides the point, but that small comment made about death was pretty profound for me, I honestly do not know why I had not came to this idea yet. "This transience of life may sometimes be heartbreaking, but it's also what makes every moment valuable." I don't know why I suffer from this idea that death nullifies or somehow mitigates the value of life, when it is the very scarcity caused by death that gives life value. If we had unlimited time, our lives would be cheaper than dirt, literally, since it is scarcity and demand that gives things value. After a million years of what I could only imagine as boredom, we would neither experience scarcity of nor desire for life.

nice. I like this

Enjoyed your analysis of this classic haiku poem. Herewith is my haiku tribute to Bashō,s frog with commentary by the late Jane Reichold who also considered my poem among her top 10 haiku of all time. I was humbled and honored. Bashō,s frog four hundred years of ripples Commentary: “At first the idea of picking only 10 of my favorite haiku seemed a rather daunting task. How could I review all the haiku I have read in my life and decide that there were only 10 that were outstanding? Then realized I was already getting a steady stream of excellent haiku day by day through the AHA forum. The puns and write-offs based on Basho's most famous haiku are so numerous I would have said that nothing new could be said with this method, but here Al Fogel proved me wrong. Perhaps part of my delight in this haiku lies in the fact that I agree with him. Here he is saying one thing about realism-ripples are on a pond after a frog jumps in, but because it refers back to Basho and his famous haiku, he is also saying something about the haiku and authors who have followed him. We, and our work, are just ripples while Basho holds the honor of inventing the idea of "the sound of a frog leaping is the sound of water". As haiku spreads around the world, making ripples in more and larger ponds, its ripples are wider-including us all. But his last word reminds us all that we are only ripples and our lives are that ephemeral. It will be the frogs that will remain”. All love in isolation from Miami Beach, Florida -Al

why is De Botton talking so fast in this one...

Though perhaps shy of a glaring omission, I am now utterly bewildered as to how such a misanthropic could be so well documented; beyond surviving poetry. ?