Regarding R. H. Blyth: Blyth's four volume Haiku became especially popular at this time [1950's] because his translations were based on the assumption that the haiku was the poetic expression of Zen. Not surprisingly, his books attracted the attention of the Beat school, most notably writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder and Jack Kerouac, all of whom had a prior interest in Zen.
Reginald Horace BlythThere is no greater difference between men than between grateful and ungrateful people.
Reginald Horace BlythPerfect does not mean perfect actions in a perfect world, bur appropriate actions in an imperfect one.
Reginald Horace BlythThe love of nature is religion, and that religion is poetry; these three things are one thing. This is the unspoken creed of haiku poets.
Reginald Horace BlythThese are some of the characteristics of the state of mind which the creation and appreciation of haiku demand: Selflessness, Loneliness, Grateful Acceptance, Wordlessness, Non-intellectuality, Contradictoriness, Humor, Freedom, Non-morality, Simplicity, Materiality, Love, and Courage.
Reginald Horace Blyth