Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to offer some public gratitude to Barry 'Daido Houun' Weiss for coming to lead a retreat at Zen Mountain Monastery a couple weekends ago. As he now lives and practices as a monk in Japan, the workshop marked the end of an over 30 year relationship of retreat leading at the Monastery. He played a wonderful concert Saturday night dressed as a komuso. The depth of his experience and practice was physically palpable and affecting. The best description I can offer about his playing itself is on what happened to us, the audience. Everyone buzzed up with energy and openly expressing and talking about their shared experience. More significantly, more than a few people awakened to a newfound interest/passion/curiosity for the shakuhachi. A testament in and of itself. The man tapped into the good stuff. The 'Finale', to generously define the term, involved all 17 students of the day, the bulk of which had never played before (only a couple of us could consistently get a sound), got up in front of everyone and played 'Taps'. I won't attempt to describe the quality of the sound. However, undeniably, it did sound startlingly true. Undeniably true. Humble and honest.

Overall, the performance manifested qualities that affect/transform an audience in ways subtle and profound. So much so, they may not even notice. In my opinion, qualities that touch and move parts of people that even the greatest virtuoso can consistently fail to access. As a long time professional performer, I can attest, that's hard stuff to do. And in front of people. Seriously hard. At least, access in any sort of genuine way.  I think the coolest part about the way it ended was that he didn't make it about him. Rare stuff.

OK, guess I've blathered enough.

Thank you to Barry 'Daido Houun' Weiss.

Last edited by Kohl (2009-10-13 10:49:31)