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In a message dated 5/19/04 7:36:40 AM, shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu
writes:
> hi all,
>
> so our conclusion is that, shakuhachi practice is not necessarily connected
> to
> buddhism, even playing on the ancient honkyuko (if play it merely as a piece
> of
> music), have i misinterpreted it?
>
> - john
>
Speaking for myself, I'd say yes, John, your conclusion is a
misinterpretation. You may be looking for a definitive propositional statement of the truth
of the matter. I don't see that that is possible. For one person, every
note on the shakuhachi is intimately connected from that person's spiritual
life--Buddhist, New Age, Christian, Islam, Pagan, Native American or
whatever--while for another person, there is no connection at all. One of my current
Japanese "Sui-Zen" teachers (a famous master) now holds up the shakuhachi to a new
student and says "This is not a spiritual instrument", but then, while
playing honkyoku with him, and while paying close attention to technical detail, one
sometimes glimpses a reality that is deep, pervasive, clear, non-judgmental,
beautiful and intrinsically compassionate. Some players might get that
glimpse and perceive it is a doorway to a way of living or a confirmation of their
chosen spiritual path. However, some players might not get that glimpse, or
get the glimpse and then discount it as non-essential, and that is just the
way it is. If you know the Zen word "koan", you'll recognize your question,
"Is shakuhachi practice necessarily connected to Buddhism?" as a good one.
Peace (a "peace that passes understanding") in every note (for those who hear
it),
Jonas
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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><HTML><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Tim=
es" FAMILY=3D"SERIF" SIZE=3D"4"><BR>
In a message dated 5/19/04 7:36:40 AM, shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu wri=
tes:<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE CITE STYLE=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px;=20=
MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE=3D"CITE"></FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#0=
00000" FACE=3D"Times" FAMILY=3D"SERIF" SIZE=3D"4">hi all,<BR>
<BR>
so our conclusion is that, shakuhachi practice is not necessarily connected=20=
to<BR>
buddhism, even playing on the ancient honkyuko (if play it merely as a piece=
of<BR>
music), have i misinterpreted it?<BR>
<BR>
- john<BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Times" FAMILY=3D"SERIF"=20=
SIZE=3D"4"><BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Times" FAMILY=3D"SERIF" SIZE=3D"4">Sp=
eaking for myself, I'd say yes, John, your conclusion is a misinterpretation=
. You may be looking for a definitive propositional statement of the=20=
truth of the matter. I don't see that that is possible. For on=
e person, every note on the shakuhachi is intimately connected from that per=
son's spiritual life--Buddhist, New Age, Christian, Islam, Pagan, Native Ame=
rican or whatever--while for another person, there is no connection at all.&=
nbsp; One of my current Japanese "Sui-Zen" teachers (a famous master) now h=
olds up the shakuhachi to a new student and says "This is not a spiritual in=
strument", but then, while playing honkyoku with him, and while paying close=
attention to technical detail, one sometimes glimpses a reality that is dee=
p, pervasive, clear, non-judgmental, beautiful and intrinsically compassiona=
te. Some players might get that glimpse and perceive it is a doorway=20=
to a way of living or a confirmation of their chosen spiritual path. =20=
However, some players might not get that glimpse, or get the glimpse and the=
n discount it as non-essential, and that is just the way it is. If yo=
u know the Zen word "koan", you'll recognize your question, "Is shakuhachi p=
ractice necessarily connected to Buddhism?" as a good one.<BR>
<BR>
Peace (a "peace that passes understanding") in every note (for those who hea=
r it),<BR>
Jonas</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Times" FAMILY=3D"SERIF" SIZE=3D"=
4"></FONT></HTML>
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