Day 17 Waka Wisdom: Hear How Waka Was Meant to Sound

, Welcome to Day 17 of Waka Wisdom!

Here is your link to the Day 17 Waka Wisdom webpage.

DAY 17: The Living Tradition – Hear How Waka Was Meant to Sound

Today you’ll dive deep into the authentic historical roots of your practice through Dr. Thomas McAuley’s fascinating explanation of how waka was an integral part of pre-modern Japanese Imperial life, and you’ll actually hear the traditional chanting and singing style that brings these ancient poems to life in ways that silent reading simply cannot match.

You’re about to understand Emperor Meiji’s brilliant cultural strategy: he deliberately used waka to reconnect his people with their Shinto spiritual origins by making the poetry more virtuous and nature-focused, creating a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern life that you’re now walking across in your own practice.

Empress Shoken’s fearless poem today gives you the ultimate permission to live authentically: when you’re guided by your true heart and feel no shame about your spiritual path, it doesn’t matter what others in the world might say – your integrity speaks louder than any criticism ever could.

x B

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