2 verses of poetry about poetry by the Buddha!

The Watercooler
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2 verses of poetry about poetry by the Buddha!

I write poetry and I just turned 74 last Wednesday, so I siezed upon this while combing the ToC of the SN for interesting topics.

I admit, even reading the note I feel out to sea.

from the Samyutta Nikaya
(the Connected Discourses of the Buddha) Wisdom Publications 2000
translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Part One, the Book of Connected Discourses with Verses
(Sagāthāvaggasamyuttapāļi)

Chapter 1 Connected with verses Devatas
(Devatā-saμyutta)

Section VI Old Age

201

What is the scaffolding of verses?
What constitutes their phrasing?
On what base do verses rest?
What is the abode of verses?

202

Mere is the scaffolding of verses;
Syllables constitute their phrasing;
Verses rest on a base of names;
The poet is the abode of verses.

see note 120 on page 379 and 380 for a breakdown of what these words mean in a Dharma context

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I sometimes hoped/thought that inside of poems, books, writings, or even Suttas one could find a world that is another dimension. Like the dimension of written word, and how it connects to the writer. Yet the Buddha paints a very simple picture, not very flowery like some, just to teach us the downside of Samsara, preaching Nibbana that is an escape from the grip of illusion upon illusion. Namaste.

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Beautiful.

Reminds me a bit of Charles Hallisey’s “the text jumps inside me”

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Here are some more things related to poetry:

poetry

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Thank you. I would never have found all these.

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Click for blue text the audio file.

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I took those from the CIPS: https://index.readingfaithfully.org/#poetry

There is also the incident when a song is composed for the Buddha in DN21.

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The Comprehensive index of Palī suttas!
Thete must be 100s of “poetry” linked items in the Canon.

What a find.

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Well, comprehensive doesn’t mean exhaustive (at least in my way of thinking). So it’s not going to list every occurrence of poetry. That wouldn’t really be useful since it is so ubiquitous. I’m really just noting things about poetry.

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If you are looking for a list of suttas notably containing poetry, I am keeping a list here

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