-------------------------------1081993149
I was asked by Bruno, did I knew of Koans that have a music theme as part of
there structure. I asked the same question of a Zen teacher friend of mine.
The following response was offered.
Dear Kyosei:
Xxxxx remembered Case 44 in Blue Cliff Record, Ho Shan's Knowing How to Beat
the Drum......Br...mmm....br...mmm....!!
"That there is no duality to real and conventional is the highest meaning of
the holy truths."
I remembered the title of a Koan collection by Nyogen Senzaki called The Iron
Flute, originally compiled by Genro, Soto school, 1783.
"Tetteki Tosui is the name of the original text. Tetteki means "iron
flute." Usually a flute is made of bamboo with a mouthpiece and several
sideholes for the fingers, but this flute is a solid iron rod with neither
mouthpiece nor fingerholes. Tosui means "to blow it upside down." The ordinary
musician who wanders among the lines of the grand staff will never be able to handle
this Zen instrument, but one who plays the stringless harp can also play this
flute with no mouthpiece.
The moon floats above the pines,
And the night veranda is cold
As the ancient, clear sound comes from your fingertips.
The old melody usually makes the listeners weep,
But Zen music is beyond sentiment.
Do not play again unless the Great Sound of Lao-tsu
accompanies you.
-Hsueh-Tou (980-1052)
...Now you know why the book was named "Blowing Upside Down the Solid Iron
Flute." It is a book of the "sound of one hand." It is the daily life of Zen."
-Nyogen Senzaki
pp.13-14
I hope the above is of interest to some and answers Bruno's question.
In Gassho,
Kyosei
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<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman Special G1">I was asked by Bruno, did I k=
new of Koans that have a music theme as part of there structure. I=
asked the same question of a Zen teacher friend of mine. The following resp=
onse was offered. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Dear Kyosei:<BR><BR>Xxxxx remembered Case 44 in Blu=
e Cliff Record, Ho Shan's Knowing How to Beat the Drum......Br...mmm....br..=
.mmm....!!<BR>"That there is no duality to real and conventional is the high=
est meaning of the holy truths."<BR><BR><BR>I remembered the title of a Koan=
collection by Nyogen Senzaki called <I>The Iron Flute, </I>originally compi=
led by Genro, Soto school, 1783.<BR><BR> "<I>Tetteki=
Tosui </I>is the name of the original text. <I>Tetteki </I>mean=
s "iron flute." Usually a flute is made of bamboo with a mouthpiece an=
d several sideholes for the fingers, but this flute is a solid iron rod with=
neither mouthpiece nor fingerholes. <I>Tosui</I> means "to blow it upside d=
own." The ordinary musician who wanders among the lines of the g=
rand staff will never be able to handle this Zen instrument, but one who pla=
ys the stringless harp can also play this flute with no mouthpiece.<BR><BR>&=
nbsp; </FONT><FONT size=3D2><I>The moon floats=
above the pines,<BR> And the night vera=
nda is cold<BR> As the ancient, clear so=
und comes from your fingertips.<BR> The=20=
old melody usually makes the listeners weep,<BR> &nbs=
p; But Zen music is beyond sentiment.<BR>  =
; Do not play again unless the Great Sound of Lao-tsu<BR> &=
nbsp; accompanies you.=
<BR><BR> &n=
bsp; -Hsueh-Tou (980-1052) <BR><B=
R>...</I>Now you know why the book was named "Blowing Upside Down the Solid=20=
Iron Flute." It is a book of the "sound of one hand." It is the daily=20=
life of Zen."<BR><BR> &=
nbsp; &nb=
sp; -Nyogen Senzaki<BR>&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nb=
sp; pp.13-14</FONT><BR><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman=
Special G1"></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman Special G1">I hope the above is of intere=
st to some and answers Bruno's question.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman Special G1"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman Special G1">In Gassho,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Kyosei</DIV></BODY></HTML>
-------------------------------1081993149--
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