Paul Reps
Encyclopedia
Paul Reps was an American artist, poet, and author. He is best known for his unorthodox haiku
-inspired poetry
that was published from 1939 onwards. He is considered one of America's first haiku poets.
In association with his writing, Reps was also a well-received artist. Many of his books have artwork influenced by Zen
Buddhism displayed in association with his writings.
Reps was widely travelled and spent a large amount of his time in Asia
. In Japan
, his art was widely accepted and he often went there in association with the displays of his artwork in galleries and to reaffirm his Buddhist understanding.
In the later years of his life, Reps made his home on the island of Maui
in Hawaii
. In the two years before his death, he lived at the Haven Institute
with his friends Jock McKeen
and Bennet Wong
.
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
-inspired poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
that was published from 1939 onwards. He is considered one of America's first haiku poets.
In association with his writing, Reps was also a well-received artist. Many of his books have artwork influenced by Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
Buddhism displayed in association with his writings.
Reps was widely travelled and spent a large amount of his time in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, his art was widely accepted and he often went there in association with the displays of his artwork in galleries and to reaffirm his Buddhist understanding.
In the later years of his life, Reps made his home on the island of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. In the two years before his death, he lived at the Haven Institute
Haven Institute
The Haven Institute is a residential learning centre situated in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. Founded by Jock McKeen and Bennet Wong, the centre offers courses for personal and professional purposes, including a program for students aspiring to achieve a...
with his friends Jock McKeen
Jock McKeen
Jock McKeen , is a Canadian physician,acupuncturist, author and lecturer who co-founded the Haven Institute with Bennet Wong. He has written on East-West medicine, alternative medicine, holistic health, Asian studies and personal growth.-Education:McKeen received his M.D...
and Bennet Wong
Bennet Wong
Bennet Randall Wong , is a Canadian psychiatrist, author and lecturer who co-founded the Haven Institute, a residential experiential learning centre on the west coast of Canada, with Jock McKeen. He has written on mental illness, group psychotherapy, humanistic psychology and personal growth.-...
.
Books
- Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings (ISBN 0-8048-0644-6)
- Zen Telegrams (ISBN 0-8048-2023-6)
- Letters to a friend: Writings & Drawings, 1939 to 1980 (ISBN 0-938286-01-3)
- Gold Fish Signatures (ISBN 0-8048-0210-6)
- Square Sun, Square Moon (ISBN 0-8048-0544-X)
- Sit In: What it is Like
- Let Good Fortune Jump on You (ISBN 0-9620812-7-2)
- Big Bath: Poems
- Unwrinkling Plays (ISBN 0-8048-0607-1)
- Ten Ways to Meditate (ISBN 0-8348-0163-9)
- Be! New Uses for the Human Instrument (ISBN 0-8348-0058-6)
- Juicing: Words and Brushwork (ISBN 0-385-13250-6)