Hi.
I guess this is my introduction to the list.
I have been plowing through the archive, not reading
everything, but getting a flavor. I want to make a
few points.
First, music and religion are universal. Wherever you
look they occur, usually together. Most religious
ceremonies are sung. The music-spirit link is too
obvious for comment. If there is secular music, an
aberrant form, it needs explanation. You can tell
from the trance state of fans that even rock music has
a spiritual dimension. Music is holy.
Second, the other day I was on my way to work when a
cellist got on the bus with his cello. He caressed
the case and leaned his head against it. I saw his
face and thought of my feelings for my flutes.=20
Fantasy enriches hours of practice. My flute becomes
the world. My reaction to his =93performance=94 was
entirely my projection. There is no way to determine
his intention.
Third, Zen is a form of Mahayana Buddhism. Japanese
culture is not. (Perhaps you want to argue that US or
European culture is a form of Christianity.) There is
an intellectual content to both Buddhism and Mahayana
and unless you deal with that you will not make much
sense. It=92s not about feelings, though feelings are
there. I do not think it is useful to conflate
Japanese hierarchical culture and Buddhist
egalitarianism.
Fourth, samsara is nirvana. There is no other
material from which to make nirvana. The problem is
bad thinking. There=92s a great quote which I can only
paraphrase, =93Rational thought is the great ignorance.=94
All this rational talk only leads =96 well, you know
where it leads. Everyone is already enlightened, we
just do not know it. (Don=92t mistake my meaning. I am
using reason now and I want reason to run the world.=20
But it doesn=92t take me beyond itself. It=92s like this
talk of spending ten years in traditional training so
you can be free. Show me that freedom. It doesn=92t
look free to me. I guess I=92m not a very traditional
guy.)
Last, I=92m early into my affair with Japanese flutes.=20
I like modern flutes by American makers. I came from
the transverse flute to the end-blown late, and it is
great to start something new. Here is something I
wrote at the beginning. It does not reflect my
thought today. A poem is a kind of fiction.
Starting Out
Nothing
Before
Nothing
After
Nothing
To recall
No theme
Varied
Once more
No
Ground bass
No mode
No scale
Just sound
History
Is dead
And
History
Lives
Progress
Decay
Beyond
Sorrow
No joy
In just
This sound
I hope you all have happy holidays.
Regards,
John Baker
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