"Zen masters have a long history of giving teisho–formal, playful Dharma talks–in which poetry is invoked. The works of the Chinese poets Su Shih and Han Shan are almost within the Zen canon. In the tradition of teisho on Han Shan given by earlier masters, Robert Aitken has given talks on the haiku of Basho that go straight to the center of Basho's work. This book shares those talks with all of us: it illuminates the angles and corners of lone-ness and community, plainness and beauty, in the homey, homeless way of Zen. It's a superb book on Basho real life, and poetry all at once. I'm grateful."
