The Poet Rilke Sends Some Zen Telegrams

Since Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) is the most frequently translated poet of the twentieth century, Professor Wasserman decided to adopt a new “conceptual” approach in order to have an even greater appreciation of the author’s work. He pictured Rilke, who was a strong admirer of Buddhism, walking into a telegraph office and sending Zen-like poems to his many friends, based upon segments from his personal writings. This imagined experience was able to show in a markedly different way both the wisdom and the depth of Rilke’s beliefs that are found in most of his poetic offerings.