NYZ: Shakuhachi Concert

Shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese bamboo flute that is used in Zen Buddhism for Suizen, or “blowing Zen”, the spiritual practice of playing the flute during zazen. The honkyoku repertoire of the shakuhachi – which was developed specifically for Zen practice – has particular technical and aesthetic features that allow it to resist being heard as “music.” Therefore, it tends not to distract the meditating mind in the way that other music might. Compared to other shakuhachi repertoires, honkyoku pieces feature fewer notes with a focus on ornamentation and timbral effects. There is a famous saying from the world of suizen: ichion jobutsu, meaning “enlightenment in a single note.”

Solo shakuhachi will be played by Marco Karaku Burmester, who has been studying shakuhachi in New York City and Kyoto since 2006. Marco has been playing during standard-length zazen sessions and 5-hour Suizen intensives at New York Zendo Shobo-Ji. As a student of Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin, Marco has a longtime connection with Dai Bosatsu Zendo, New York Zendo Shobo-Ji and Zen Center of Syracuse Hoen-ji. His current teacher James Nyoraku Schlefer recently granted him a teaching license and the shakuhachi name Karaku 嘉楽 which means, “one who brings joy and peace through music”.

The concert includes a brief introduction to Suizen and the honkyoku pieces played in this concert. If you are interested in learning how to play the shakuhachi, please join us earlier in the day for the Shakuhachi Workshop.

The fee for this event is $20 for nonmembers and $15 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members, please register by purchasing a ticket below. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. ZSS Health Protocols apply.