The Shakuhachi is an ancient flute that captivates many who cross its path. Hidden in its simplicity is profound possibility. The windy, resonant sound of the Shakuhachi brings deep serenity to sympathetic ears. For the devoted player, it is also a spiritual tool for training the mind and breath. Zen monks have been using the Shakuhachi for Sui Zen for centuries. Sui Zen, which means blowing Zen, is meditation using Buddhist music composed for the Shakuhachi.
Shakuhachi Buddhist music seems simple. It doesn't use a great range of octaves or
impressive musical techniques. In fact, you can begin your first Buddhist piece
within a few months. However, you can easily spend the rest of your life 'being'
it. In this regard, this Buddhist music is to mindfulness and sound, what
Tai Chi is to mindfulness and movement.
Simplicity—and the simplicity of doing nothing—is a
cornerstone of Zen. The Shakuhachi serves this ideal well. It is just a resonant
pipe with five holes. The five basic notes, musical notation, and rhythm can be
learned in a few hours. And yet the Shakuhachi offers those who play it a
lifelong experience in the joy of simply blowing nothing.
When in the Yoga of holy contemplation, the movements of
the mind and of the breath of life are in a harmony of peace, there is
steadiness, and that steadiness is pure. –Bhagavad Gita 18-33
The Shakuhachi came to Japan from China in the 3rd century AD. Over that
time it has been used extensively by Zen monks for meditation. It is found in
various forms all over the world, from the Pygmies in the Congo to the Sherpas
in the Himalayas, but only in Japan is it put to such an esoteric use.
More recently it has been used for playing classical, popular and jazz music.
This is easy to see why, as it has a sound uniquely "soulful", with an
expressiveness almost equal to the human voice. If you listen closely, you can
often hear the Shakuhachi playing hauntingly 'windy' background music in various
video productions.
Blowing Zen enables you to learn the Shakuhachi, with or without a teacher or
musical talent. The book contains detailed instructions to guide you from making
your first sound to playing music. To the left is a sample of Shakuhachi music
notation. Look closely and you'll see that its simply the repetition of five
basic notes: a Japanese "do, re, me" tabulature, shown at the right. In fact,
you can learn the five basic notes, musical notation, and rhythm in one
day—far easier than Western notation.
This book also includes fully illustrated instructions to guide you step by
step through the construction of two types of Shakuhachi; there is the easy 60
minute flute anyone can make and the traditional root bamboo flute for those who
enjoy a challenge. The CD contains the music covered in the book, from the
easiest Japanese folk melodies to the Buddhist music compositions (Hon
Kyoku).
Let us take a closer look at the benefits of the Shakuhachi. According to
Yoga and Buddhism, life's joys and sorrows originate in your mind. Of course
events shape and direct your life, but only relative to the way these events are
interpreted by your mind and emotions. Thus the quest for true contentment in
life must begin within your own mind and emotions.
The neurological connection between respiration and emotion can cause one to
effect the other in a destructive downward spiral. For example, when you are
angry, afraid, rushing, or excited, etc., your breathing becomes irregular. This
influences the nervous system which further disrupts breathing. Much depends
on breath harmony. From the first moment you begin the Shakuhachi, you start
laying this crucial foundation.
Your breathing becomes deeper, slower, and more even. The return of natural
breathing rhythm soothes and invigorates your nervous system. The ability to
maintain this—especially in times of stress—increases stamina, self control
and health. In fact, according to Yoga tradition, a life span is measured in
breaths, not years.
Later on, you'll use the sound of the Buddhist Honkyoku music as a mirror of
your mind. This feedback guides you into states of calm reflective
consciousness. This silent watchfulness open the mind's eye to seeing subtleties
of life you may have missed.
The Buddhist music compositions (Hon Kyoku) have an earthy naturalness like
the wind in the trees, the pounding surf, or the call of wild geese. These
compositions reflect in them the full dynamics on nature—rom the "yin" of the
gentle trickling of a mountain stream to the "yang" of a mighty waterfall. This
'natural flow' rides on 'eternal rhythm' (this is very hard to put into words).
Here, rhythm doesn't drive the music's 'flow'. This is what allows Hon
Kyoku to convey the 'orderly asymetry' of nature as few other human activities
can.
Just listening
to the Buddhist music can give you symptomatic relief of stress and help you
feel more in tune with nature. The unique resonance of the sound combines with
the rhythm to synchronize and thus harmonize the natural resonance of your own
nervous system. In a frantic modern world such a simple means of refined musical
expression and tranquilization are to be highly valued.
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