Mountain Tasting gathers a wide cross section of haiku and a selection of the diaries of  the wandering Japanese poet, Santoka (1882-1940).  Santoka lived his life in the long zen hermit wandering poetic tradition of Japan that includes Basho, Ryokan and Saigyo.  His zen practice was that of solitary walking and begging. The open road was to become both his home and monastery. As he said “ Days I don’t enjoy: Any day I don’t walk, drink sake, and compose haiku”. His haiku are admired both in Japan and around the world for their unadorned style. 

John Stevens is the author or translator of over twenty books on Buddhism, Zen, Aikido, and Asian culture. He has practiced and taught Aikido all over the world. His books include Lotus Moon: Poems of Rengetsu and Wild Ways: Poems of Ikkyu.