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#1 2007-04-02 18:23:55

Tairaku 太楽
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From: Tasmania
Registered: 2005-10-07
Posts: 3226
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Meaning of the holes and nodes

Hi Everybody,

I recall hearing Iwamoto Sensei speak about how each hole in the shakuhachi has a specific meaning, or maybe relationship to the elements. And I think he also talked about the nodes and why shakuhachi has 7 nodes. Does anybody know about this or have links they can post which discuss this matter? The philosophical importance of the holes and nodes?

Regards,

Tairaku


'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari

http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie

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#2 2007-04-02 21:44:38

-Prem
Member
From: The Big Apple
Registered: 2007-03-27
Posts: 73

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

Hello Tairaku-
I seem to remember that this information was in the Kaido Honsoku thesis written by Torsten Olaffson. It is also reprinted in the Annals Vol.2.

Here is what it says:

"Oh, how mysterious is the bamboo flute that the Komo has in his possession!
The shakuhachi is the principle treasure of the Komo and therefore it
represents the Four Seasons, likened to the four, front finger holes.
The single-finger hole on the back expresses the Clarity of the Enlightened,
Adual Mind.
As for the darkness of the interior, that is the Realm of Jurisdiction of the
King of Hell, Judge of the Dead. The three nodes represent the Oneness of
the Three Bodies, the lower opening the Womb World, the upper opening
the Diamond World, and the crescent-shaped mouthpiece above teaches
the Clarity of Absolute Reality.
The shakuhachi is precious beyond limit."

It is a really great writing and Torsten is a very kind and generous person; well worth the read.
I also found it really great because it also kind of sheds light on all the false history that
has been retold and retold through time about the shakuhachi.
I hope this helps.
-Prem

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#3 2007-04-02 23:22:27

Travis Winegar
Member
From: Columbia, MO
Registered: 2005-10-31
Posts: 74
Website

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

Tairaku,

Riley Lee also makes note of the writings of Honsoku in this PhD thesis.  You can read them in section 3.5.3 located here.


~travis~


"As soon as you see something, you already start to intellectualize it. As soon as you intellectualize something, it is no longer what you saw." – Shunryu Suzuki

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#4 2007-04-03 10:46:20

shaman141
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From: Montreal, QC.
Registered: 2006-02-02
Posts: 154
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Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

The reference to the different elements corresponding to each hole can also be found on Taro Miura' s site.

http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~take23/eindex.htm

It's a cool site worth checking out.

Best,

Sean


Find your voice and express yourself, that's the point.

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#5 2007-04-03 10:56:39

Tairaku 太楽
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From: Tasmania
Registered: 2005-10-07
Posts: 3226
Website

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

Thanks guys that's great. Here it is from Miura:


It is said that all things are made up of five elements:
Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Space.
The shakuhachi too has five holes, and each hole has a sound, making up five sounds.
The sounds that the shakuhachi makes are ephemeral and hardly remain in one's memory.
In order to visualize the five sounds, compare them to the five elements respectively,

that is,
Earth --- (RO)
Water --- (TSU) 
Fire --- (RE)
Wind --- (DHI)
Space --- (RI) or (HA)

Though each person may have different ideas and concepts about these five elements, try to relate them to the sounds.
Then come the control of breath and the tranquility of mind.
Ask yourself,

Does (RO) have the sublimity of earth?
Does (TSU) have the flow of water?
Does (RE) have the warmth of fire?
Does (CHI) have the freshness of wind?
Does (RI) have the infinity of space?    

Seek the sound which is evoked from within ... improved, polished and developed inside yourself.
The shakuhachi demands of you your candid self〜thus, put your whole being into the shakuhachi.
Exhale once and expire. There is no second chance in life.
Each exhalation must be pure.


'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari

http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie

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#6 2007-04-04 16:19:34

Karmajampa
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From: Aotearoa (NZ)
Registered: 2006-02-12
Posts: 574
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Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

Nice one, thanks BR.

§


Kia Kaha !

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#7 2007-04-04 16:42:34

Tairaku 太楽
Administrator/Performer
From: Tasmania
Registered: 2005-10-07
Posts: 3226
Website

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

Karmajampa wrote:

Nice one, thanks BR.

§

That was Shaman141's link, I just posted it.


'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari

http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie

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#8 2007-04-07 23:25:00

GingerR
Member
From: DC / Baltimore area
Registered: 2007-03-24
Posts: 8

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

You know, you guys (and I mean that as non-gender specific) are all so cool, I have noticed that everyone gives credit where credit is due, like Tairaku, above.

I am glad I found this forum, what an oasis for music, learning, and peace.


Ginger

And GOD* said: "BE NICE"
(*all of them)

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#9 2007-04-13 04:12:38

Priapus Le Zen M☮nk
Historical Zen Mod
From: St-Jerome, Quebec, Canada
Registered: 2006-04-25
Posts: 612
Website

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

Just thought I might add to the discussion.

Buddhistically speaking the five elements relate to the Gorinto. The five elements that compose the Gorinto are used to represent either the stupa that contains the Sharira (Shakyamuni’s remains) or the 5 elements that compose the Human body.

If you want information on the 5 elements from a Buddhist or Shinto point of view you can visit this website. The page has lots of detailed info on the subject.

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/5 … stone.html


Sebastien 義真 Cyr
春風館道場 Shunpukan Dojo
St-Jerome, Quebec, Canada
http://www.myspace.com/shunpukandojo

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#10 2007-04-13 09:32:08

Priapus Le Zen M☮nk
Historical Zen Mod
From: St-Jerome, Quebec, Canada
Registered: 2006-04-25
Posts: 612
Website

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

-Prem wrote:

Hello Tairaku-
I seem to remember that this information was in the Kaido Honsoku thesis written by Torsten Olaffson. It is also reprinted in the Annals Vol.2.

Here is what it says:

"Oh, how mysterious is the bamboo flute that the Komo has in his possession!
The shakuhachi is the principle treasure of the Komo and therefore it
represents the Four Seasons, likened to the four, front finger holes.
The single-finger hole on the back expresses the Clarity of the Enlightened,
Adual Mind.
As for the darkness of the interior, that is the Realm of Jurisdiction of the
King of Hell, Judge of the Dead. The three nodes represent the Oneness of
the Three Bodies, the lower opening the Womb World, the upper opening
the Diamond World, and the crescent-shaped mouthpiece above teaches
the Clarity of Absolute Reality.
The shakuhachi is precious beyond limit."

It is a really great writing and Torsten is a very kind and generous person; well worth the read.
I also found it really great because it also kind of sheds light on all the false history that
has been retold and retold through time about the shakuhachi.
I hope this helps.
-Prem

Very interesting indeed now that I look at it again. When taking the words in Kanji of this paragraph here what it relates to.

As for the darkness of the interior, that is the Realm of Jurisdiction of the
King of Hell, Judge of the Dead
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/1 … ml#enmaten

the lower opening the Womb World
Taizokai= Womb world
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/mandala1.shtml


the upper opening the Diamond World
Kongokai= Diamond world

Intersting that it links to Shingon esoteric Buddhism and not Zen at all. Actually in Zen they usually do not mention or use those 2 mandalas.

that part of the link is actually the most interesting one in connection with the 5/6 elements

In the Mandala artform, which is of special importance to Japan's Esoteric sects (Shingon, Tendai), the five elements are considered inanimate (this equates to the Garbhadhatu or Womb World Mandala). Only by adding the sixth element -- mind, perception, or spiritual consciousness -- do the five become animate. This equates with the Vajradhatu or Diamond World Mandala. Phrased differently, there is "unity" only when the sixth element is added. Without the sixth element, ordinary eyes see only the differentiated forms or appearances.

1-Earth
2-Water
3-Fire
4-Air (or Wind)
5-Space
6-the MIND (spiritual consciousness or perception)

Last edited by Gishin (2007-04-13 09:34:45)


Sebastien 義真 Cyr
春風館道場 Shunpukan Dojo
St-Jerome, Quebec, Canada
http://www.myspace.com/shunpukandojo

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#11 2008-02-28 21:12:09

Kraig
Member
From: Boston (Quincy), Mass. U.S.A
Registered: 2008-01-31
Posts: 5

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

This posting is great.  What a great help this is to help keep focus while practing; by understanding/feeling (what ever word you choose) the naturalistic element represented within each note....Thank you everyone for contributing to these postings...


"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it. "  -Upton Sinclair

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#12 2008-02-29 13:41:11

Musgo da Pedra
Member
From: South of Brazil
Registered: 2007-12-02
Posts: 332
Website

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

I can see a relation between the holes and chakras movements... The fundamental chakra has less vibrations than the chakra of thousand petals, as the lower sound has less vibrations per second than a high one... 
 
So this aproach will sound like this: 
 
bottom hole: muladhara chakra 
 
hole # 1 : svadhisthana chakra 
 
hole #2 : manipura chakra 
 
hole #3 : anahata chakra 
 
hole #4 : vishuda chakra 
 
hole #5 : agna chakra 
 
the blowing hole : saharara chakra 
 
 
It's just another point of view (the blowing hole may be out of the context? which one go there so?)... not the truth itself... 
 
 
Peace to all...


Omnia mea mecum porto

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#13 2008-04-01 11:01:46

Jordan
Member
From: Vancouver
Registered: 2006-12-08
Posts: 24
Website

Re: Meaning of the holes and nodes

How’s this from the top (blowing edge)?

1. great capacity and great function
2. swiftness of wit and eloquence
3. wondrous spirituality of speech
4. the active edge to kill or bring life
5. wide learning and broad experience
6. clarity of mirroring awareness
7. freedom to appear or disappear


Be Well and Happy!
Gassho!

Jordan

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