in the mountains

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in the mountains 
the water and the trees 
flow together




 The haiku relates to process philosophy by emphasizing relationality and the dynamic, interconnected nature of reality.

1. Relationality and Interconnectedness

Process philosophy, particularly as articulated by thinkers like Alfred North Whitehead, rejects the idea of substances as isolated, independent "things." Instead, it posits that reality is composed of events or "actual occasions," which are defined by their relationships to one another.

  • The haiku's line "the water and the trees / flow together" beautifully illustrates this concept.

  • The water is not just a separate substance; its "flow" is a dynamic process that shapes and is shaped by the trees, and vice versa.

  • The trees are not static objects but are themselves part of this continuous, relational process, with roots drawing from the water and branches shaping the flow of air and light.

They aren't two separate entities in a passive relationship, but rather are co-constituting and flowing within the same event.

2. Process Over Substance

The poem's focus on "flow" highlights the central tenet of process philosophy: that becoming is more fundamental than being.

  • The essence of the scene isn't the static "water" or "trees," but the dynamic process of their interaction—the "flowing together."

  • This aligns with the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who is considered a precursor to process philosophy and famously said, "You could not step twice into the same river, for other and other waters are flowing."

  • The haiku captures this same sense of constant change and flux, where the "things" are merely temporary snapshots of an ongoing, ceaseless process.

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