"Haiku and Buddhism" with William Seiyo Sheehan

Hosted by filmmaker Yujiro Seki, Carving the Divine TV is a series of Q&A sessions with Buddhist scholars and practitioners. These Q&A sessions explore the basic concepts of Buddhism, the history of Buddhism and of course Buddhist sculptures/sculptors (bustuzo/busshi) so that when viewers finally watch the documentary Carving the Divine - Buddhist sculptors of Japan, they will get the maximum value of the documentary.

Once again, Buddhism permeates many aspects of Japanese culture both consciously and subconsciously.  Japanese art especially is heavily influenced by Buddhism so it is important to learn something about Buddhism if one seeks to understand Japan on a deeper level (whether you are Buddhist or not).  Today we will explore haiku in relationship with Buddhism.  The poetic language is not my cup of tea so I invited a specialist who can talk about Haiku until the world ends.  He is extremely passionate!  I would like to introduce to you Haiku Master William Seiyo Sheehan!  If you would like to learn something about Haiku, Haiku in relationship with Buddhism, or simply get a hint to inspire your creativity, this episode is especially designed for you!  
 
We will be asking important questions such as:
 
What is haiku? What is the difference between English and Japanese haiku? 
 
What is the brief history of haiku? 
 
How does haiku relate to Buddhism? 
 
What does it mean by opening a haiku eye? 
 
Do you have your personal favorite poet or poets? 
 
Can you show some examples of haiku in the field? 
 
William Seiyo Sheehan is the resident Haiku poet at the Japanese Culture Center and a published poet.  He is also the leader of the Chicago Keikokai of Meifu Shinkage Ryu style of ShurikenJutsu at Japanese Culture Center - 日本文化会館, and lay Buddhist chaplain at the Jesse Brown VA Hospital, dojo Cho 道場長 of Shinbukan and Army combat veteran. 
 
Seiyo Sensei is a religious scholar from Purdue Fort Wayne University, Buddhist Lay Chaplain at the Jesse Brown Veterans Administration Hospital, Board member of Midwest Buddhist association, Lay Priest ordained by Bright Dawn, a Jodo Shinshu organization. Sensei is also involved with Midwest Buddhist Temple of Chicago.