News Summary
Asheville poet Steve Abhaya Brooks has released his latest poetry collection, ‘The Poetry of the Moment of Life Itself,’ which explores mindfulness and love through a unique poetic structure. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy, the collection invites deeper reflection on everyday experiences and profound themes. With hundreds of poems, Brooks aims to showcase poetry as a transformative tool, connecting readers to the present moment and the complexities of human experience.
Asheville – Local poet Steve Abhaya Brooks has recently unveiled his latest poetry collection titled “The Poetry of the Moment of Life Itself”, released in 2024. This extensive work features several hundred poems that delve into the theme of mindfulness and living in the present, drawing inspiration from Buddhist philosophy.
Abhaya Brooks, a seasoned poet and author of biographic prose, has a rich background that includes time spent in India learning from enlightened Buddhist teachers. His experiences deeply influence his poetic voice and thematic focus. In this collection, Brooks employs a unique vertical, single-word line format that not only highlights the significance of each word but also encourages readers to engage in deeper contemplation.
The essence of Brooks’ poetry prioritizes silence and condensed precision, allowing for a clarity that invites personal reflection. Love emerges as the central subject throughout various forms and instances in the poems, illustrating its multifaceted nature. For example, the poem “The Buddha Had Dreams” introduces the notion of presence and interconnectedness, echoing the widespread human experience of love.
Beyond love, Brooks tackles concepts like joy and reality, challenging readers with Zen paradoxes that disrupt conventional thought and perception. He reflects on complex themes such as “original sin”, which he depicts not as a religious condemnation but rather as an error stemming from a sense of separateness from one’s source.
This poetry collection also distinguishes itself by addressing everyday situations—from mundane visits to the dentist to the frustrating loss of a phone—while positioning these experiences within a loftier spiritual context. The subtle humor and personal reflections included further enhance the relatable yet profound nature of his work.
The structure and substance of “The Poetry of the Moment of Life Itself” have drawn comparisons to revered spiritual texts, including Tao Te Ching and the biblical Apocrypha. The book invites readers to view poetry not merely as art but as a profound vehicle for conveying formless truths and describing innate realities of life.
Brooks is not a newcomer to poetry; he has an established history in the literary world, having served as a public poet in San Francisco during the dynamic cultural era of the 1970s. His continued recognition as a wisdom-keeper reflects the impact of the 60s generation in the United States, contributing to his credibility as an influential voice in contemporary poetry.
Through this latest collection, Brooks aims to illustrate that poetry can be a transformative tool that resonates deeply within us all. Each poem serves not only as an artistic expression but as an invitation to experience life more fully and intentionally, embracing the moment in all its complexities.
Readers interested in exploring the depth of love, joy, and the human experience within a spiritual framework are encouraged to discover Steve Abhaya Brooks’ insightful collection. As he summarizes on the back cover of his book, poetry holds the potential to communicate profound truths and reveal the innate realities that define our existence.
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Additional Resources
- Smoky Mountain News: Asheville Poet Focuses on the Now
- Wikipedia: Mindfulness
- Smoky Mountain News: Local Artists in 2024
- Google Search: Steve Abhaya Brooks
- Smoky Mountain News: Spirituality in Poetry
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