Jan 27 2008
About
About the Poetry Chaikhana Website
The Poetry Chaikhana joyfully shares the sacred poetry of cultures, religions, and spiritual traditions from around the world.
There is, however, a definite Middle Eastern theme to the Poetry Chaikhana. This is partly to honor of the centuries of vibrant, ecstatic, devotional, irreverant, and truly profound sacred poetry the region has given to the world. But another important reason for the Middle Eastern flavor of the site is in order to counter the miserably limited portrayal of Middle Eastern cultures and religion we are given in the West.
Although I am not a Muslim or Sufi, it is desperately important to remind the Western world of the rich spirituality the Middle East has given to the world. Perhaps even more important is that we in the West must remember how strongly European Christian traditions, particularly Christian mysticism, has been influenced by the sacred (and poetic!) traditions of the Middle East through centuries of cultural interaction.
As you explore the Poetry Chaikhana, notice the similarity of experience and unity of heart described by Christian saints, Sufi shaikhs, and Hindu mahatmas. While we must cherish the differences within each tradition, those who believe that there is something fundamentally irreconcilable between the spiritual traditions of the world are trapped in misunderstanding and have not yet touched the heart of their own tradition.
It is my sincere hope that the Poetry Chaikhana will open your heart, inspire your mind, and elevate your spirit. May we all fall into the embrace of the Eternal One with ecstatic songs upon our lips!
Ivan M. Granger
About Me
I grew up in Oregon and Southern California. I have also lived on the island of Maui. I now live in Colorado with my wife, Michele.
I wrote this about why poetry means so much to me: “Poetry has an immediate effect on the mind. The simple act of reading poetry alters thought patterns and the shuttle of the breath. Poetry induces trance. Its words are chant. Its rhythms are drum beats. Its images become the icons of the inner eye. Poetry is more than a description of the sacred experience; it carries the experience itself.”
You can read some of my poetry here.
🙂 Thank you for sharing your daily thoughts and poems gathered around the world here. They are very much appreciated and loved.
Dear Ivan,
Reading your last paragraph in “About” explains exactly what it is that I am experiencing. I did not know how to tell you or even myself, and here it is: “it carries the experience itself” each time I reread the thoughts. And being a drummer, I love the metaphor. I enter the space shared and feel for myself.
Oh, as a former weaver (and potter spinning clay) the meditative “shuttle” back and forth created the “patterns” and brought my breath to silence and awe in the weaving of the textures, dimensions, colors, pictures, excitement and joy. I guess my weavings were my poems. Now I use a pen. ‘Still’ it is my fingers tapping keys, forming creation of experience and love and gratitude.
“Poetry has an immediate effect on the mind. The simple act of reading poetry alters thought patterns and the shuttle of the breath. Poetry induces trance. Its words are chant. Its rhythms are drum beats. Its images become the icons of the inner eye. Poetry is more than a description of the sacred experience; it carries the experience itself.”
Thank you for you.
BlesSings of joy and love and reception,
Joy
Dear Ivan,thanks a lot for maintaining this poetry blog.I invite readers and writers to visit this site.
Hello Ivan,
I just found your site and am warmed by your personnal touch. It’s the mother load. We have an interest in exactly the same kind of poetry. I was looking for audio performances preferably with some kind of musical accompaniment on CD’s or that can be downloaded.
Do you offer any performance work like this? I have a few CD’s. One by Daniel Ladinsky and a few by Coleman Barks. I like Robert Bly too. I’ll probably be visiting you site a lot. Thanks for any information you might have.
Kind Regards,
Bill Jackson
Good Morning! Happy New Year!
I signed on again to see if your emails will start coming again.
Have you heard of Thirukkural from Hinduism http://acharya.iitm.ac.in/tamil/kural/kural_browse.php is an interesting web site I am beginning to look at today.
Say, can you help? I am beginning a research project that might end up as a long essay or some prose poetry someday, never know what the muses have in store for you, right? The project is to look at the teachings of the Buddhist movement in the 4-6 century, and its influence on what happened with that radical Jewish Palestine man named Jesus cam on the scene. I cannot read in the real texts but want to see about this. I also wonder, after meeting people who work on lost religions at the last Parliament of worldm Religions about the influence of Hinduism, I call the mother of all spiritual paths on Xianity and its beginnings, or how it took practices of other spiritual paths as its own. Just a thought.
My wife and I just registered for the next PWR in Australia in Dec. 2009. It’s a place and event you might want to think about.
http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/
peace ko shin
Hi Ivan
I came across your website by chance or maybe it was meant to be!
Anyway many thanks for the wonderful peorty it always illuminates my day with joy, gratitude and hope.
I’ve left a donation.
Graeme Mclean
Hey Ivan,
Fantastic poetry blog!
I’m writing to inform you Poetry Chaikhana is in my company’s 30 Best Poetry Blogs of 2009. I manage Online Colleges and Universities, an education database, and we have the entire write up hosted over at http://www.onlinecollegesanduniversities.com/2009/12/31/30-awesome-poetry-blogs-you-arent-reading-yet/
Keep up the good work Ivan!
I love your website and blog! Awesome! 🙂
Dear Ivan,
Muslim, Sufi, Christian, Jew, Hindu, or VISA cardholder, who cares? Or more importantly, who knows?
My name is Taufiq. I write what I guess some people would call poems. I like the poetic process because to me, its the shortest medium to convey a lot of information.
I am trawling across cyberverse looking for kindred spirits. I humbly invite your attention to visit my blog. It is super new, and i would love your opinion…
I am planning to blog 1 poem a day, and i have recorded enough to last about 7 years. Hehehe.
We come from different shores, you and I. But the further we swim, the more we realise it is but just one ocean. I hope you will visit my beach.
Thank you for inhabiting one small corner of the internet with your poetry and thoughts.
Hi Ivan,
Your site is lovely. Is there any way can contribute here.
Keep up the great venture.
Best,
Shail
Shail,
Donations are always welcome. The easiest way to donate online is through PayPal. Just click on one of the “Donate” buttons on the Poetry Chaikhana homepage http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com That will take you to the PayPal donations page. Whatever amount you want to contribute is appreciated — thank you!
Ivan
Hi Ivan,
I’m impressed by your blog
I would like to stay in touch with you and ask recommendations every now and then on what to read. Would that be ok?
Omar, you’re welcome to contact me any time… -Ivan
No, why not one of your meandering commentaries?? You have no clue how much this poem makes sense to me today…. You don’t have any idea how much i need to understand this today….. Please…..please keep writing your meandering commentaries….You don’t know what weeds in the by-lanes a meandering river may water.
Love and light Ivan.
Dear Ivan,
I am so pleased to have come across your website!
I am writing a thesis on D. H. Lawrence’s works. I was so lucky to find his poem “I am like a rose” here. Thank you!
Here in Russia we are really short of DHL’s original writings. I’ve been looking for his poems “Eloi! Eloi! Lama Sbachthani?” and “Resurrection”. Could you possibly help me?
Thanks in advance!
Dear Marina,
I’ve been looking around to see if I could find those poems for you. I don’t have a copy of the Complete Poems of D. H. Lawrence immediately available, though both are listed in the contents (according to Amazon.com). I’ve checked elsewhere on the web, but without luck. I’m sorry. I would have thought it would be easier to find them out there. Perhaps someone else out there reading this can post them for you…? Otherwise, it may require getting a copy of the Complete Poems. Good luck! -Ivan
Thank you, Ivan! I’ll see what they have on Amazon.com. Still there are many interesting things here, thank you!
Hi Ivan –
Thought maybe some folks would like to know that your poetry-chaikhana forum has reincarnated :
http://www.delightedteahouse.com/
Myself – I love the new format. Hope to see you there and that you are feeling better.
Monica
Thanks Ivan, this is really interesting!
If I may, I would like to share a very special poetry book that I just got as a gift over the holidays called ‘Lovesong’, its by a poet and artist called Zurayk. I have yet to see a book like it. It has such an intimate feel because it not only feels like its hand made, its printed on cotton based paper, I think.
I highly recommend it, it was a true find. At first I could not find it easily online, but then I decided to visit the publisher’s website and there I found quite a bit of information and some beautiful photos of the book. Its very much worth checking out: the site is http://www.rimalbooks.com Thanks again and good luck!
Hi Ivan,
This is a lovely site. Poetry is so often the heart’s language. In gratitude to my teacher, here’s one of mine for you.
With love…
“The fish is thirsty in the water, and every time I hear this, it makes me laugh.” Kabir
The fish breathes, drinks, dances
Her being all
In your boundless ocean of mercy,
Knowing
The fish drinks, drinks and drinks
Is so fulfilled
In quenching; so grateful is for thirst,
Feeling
Knowing the nature of water,
Her Master gives;
Feeling the nature of thirst,
This is true kindness;
Knowing the nature of quenching,
Purest compassion;
Feeling the nature of fish,
Her Master gives
The fish languishes in Heaven
For want of how to thank him,
Finding no words
And he says:
‘Breathe; drink; dance!
Enjoy! Just enjoy…’
Hello Ivan,
Do you accept submissions of poetry? Below is an example of my work; Happy Easter / Resurrection Sunday to you and yours! -Joe
Poem: Passover Lamb
Give praise to the Passover Lamb,
the only begotten Son of the Great I Am.
For He willingly humbled Himself
and served as the propitiation for our sins;
His Truth will be revealed at Earth’s end,
from having laid down His life as our Friend.
Give praise to the Passover Lamb,
the holy begotten Son of the Great I Am.
Our Lord made the ultimate sacrifice,
donating Himself as the World’s sin offering.
Although temporarily buried in death’s tomb,
He exited triumphantly from that cryptal womb.
Give praise to the Passover Lamb,
the eternal begotten Son of the Great I Am.
Today He sits at the right hand of the Father,
humbly interceding on our behalf daily!
Now is still the acceptable day of Salvation,
for He paid the cost for our soul’s preservation.
Give praise to the Passover Lamb,
the blessed begotten Son of the Great I Am.
Entertaining thoughts of a spiritual breakthrough?
Know that it is not too late to save your soul.
For those who dare, Victory is available to everyone
that receives the sacred gift of the firstborn Son.
Give praise to the Passover Lamb,
the divine begotten Son of the Great I Am.
Author Notes:
Loosely based on:
Heb 1:1-3, 12:2; Phil 2:8-9; Rom 3:19-26, 6:4; 2 Cor 6:2;
Eph 3:9; John 1:18, 3:16; Jam 2:14-26; 1 Cor 15
Learn more about me and my poetry at:
http://www.squidoo.com/book-isbn-1419650513
By Joseph J. Breunig 3rd, © 2012, All rights reserved.
Hi Ivan, Thanks for this lovely site. I love the image on top (a monastery?)
Where is it? I am deeply attracted to it.
[…] posts such gems with his own analysis that anyone can subscribe to for free at Poetry Chaikhana. Soul food is underestimated. I feel my sinuses clearing […]
Lovely site and wonderful words of light and inspiration.
Third eye to the ground
Heart lifted towards the heavens
Yoga is my Church
~c~
Namaste
Cheryl
Dear Ivan,
How lovely and
how true.
This was sent to me from mt
Sufi teacher Taj.
Hello Ivan! I’ve just now discovered your page and now follow you on FB. I’d like to follow you through wordpress, too, but , alas, I am new, and can’t figure out how!
If you’d like, please let me know.
Respectfully,
Jane Weiss, LCSW
Hi Jane,
There are two good ways to follow my blog posts on the Poetry Chaikhana: You can follow the blog’s RSS feed directly, but to someone who is new to it, the steps to do that can feel unnecessarily technical. The other option is to sign up for the Poetry Chaikhana emails, which are usually identical to the blog posts. Why don’t I add your email address to the mailing list? You should start receiving poem emails with the next post.
I hope that helps.
Ivan
Ivan,
Profound thanks for gifting me with your blog and sacred sharing. I am enjoying spending time sipping tea, while reading your blog.
Ivan,
Amongst many others of your posts I really enjoyed this one: “Keeping Quiet” and all the links you provided.
I feel I have something to add in the spirit of that article that you might enjoy:
Still I: https://vimeo.com/102515278
Still II: https://vimeo.com/123302955
“Pictures create words and words create pictures.”
As a visual artist I am always questioning the power and the accuracy of the word versus the picture. Beyond their independent presence I believe there is a natural synergy. This notion has become part of my ongoing explorations as an artist and led to several collaborations with scientists, poets, historians, and fellow visual artists.
The following video project is also directly connected to that thought:
http://berndhaussmann.com/items.php?project=2&series=5&parent=0&desc=0&page=1
You might argue that, focusing more on the word – naturally, since this is your medium of communication, which I so much enjoy. I admire the richness, layers, and focus of your work, which in my book are all ingredients for a stimulating piece of art.
Best regards,
Bernd Haussmann
The Echo of Jerusalem
the sea of brightness
in every touch of the past
the heavenly echo
Jerusalem Haiku
streets as sacred books
the air full of prophecy
the flight of the soul
Anna Banasiak
Hello! I just stumbled accross your site this morning in search of the exact lines of my favorite Wendell Berry poem ‘Go Dark’… I’m happy it led me to your site!
Is there a way I can subscribe to your blog so your updates will get sent to my email? Please add me to your list if so…
Thank you!
Hi Ivan
I just found your website when looking for Rilke’s Silent Friend of Many Distances, Feel.
It seems to me that your insights that the potential for deep connection arises within poetry is so timely and valuable. Thank you and can you add me to your email circulation.
Miriam
Thank you for such a kind note, Miriam. And, yes, I am happy to add you to the poem email list. You should receive your first email next week. ~Ivan
dear Ivan
your website is the next best thing to Silence.
thank you from all my heart
Riaz
“May we all fall into the embrace of the Eternal One with ecstatic songs upon our lips!”
May it be so. Amin! 🙂 Thank you for all your soul work in the Lord’s vineyard, brother. Your blog is a house of light.
Toward the One,
the Perfection of Love, Harmony, and Beauty,
the Only Being,
United with all the Illuminated Souls,
Who form the Embodiment of the Master,
the Spirit of Guidance.
So much richness and beauty in one site! I stumbled across you quite by luck!
But I am saddened that there are so few recent posting! Please say the site is not moribund…
Phil
What a wonderful and beautiful virtual space!!!