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March 16, 2006
The affects of blowing shakuhachi
I often receive emails from people responding to my flutes.
Aside from my children and wonderful partner in life, I find great inspiration from letters like these:
" Dear Perry,
I am writing to sincerely and deeply thank you for the fantastic flute
that you've made. I have been playing the 2.9 shakuhachi as part of my
meditation practice almost every night and many of the mornings since
it arrived. I had never played a flute before, although I have been
meditating for many years. Yet I am already able to blow the /ro/ note
often when I try. I can even play little improvised melodies along with
the train sounds, bird sounds, wind sounds and traffic sounds outside
my window. Then I set the flute down and sit mindfully listening and
hearing. The I pick the flute up again... I feel very connected with this instrument.
I wanted to start playing flute because my meditation teacher had
suggested during my last retreat with him that we, his students, make a
list of ten things we could do in "post-meditation" (in others words
/life/ or /when not sitting on the cushion/) in an "effortless" way. I
had put making music on my list but had not played guitar in years.
Then I read that monks in Japan used to play the shakuhachi-- I knew I'd
found the instrument for me. I feel that I must have generated some
pretty good merit to have come across your web site. And even more
merit to have been able to purchase one of you instruments.
Thank You .."
Some of you may have read about the Liberty bell a few months ago...
"The flute came in today. I got off of work early so I'd be at
home in time :) I'm so impressed with the craftsmanship on it. I had
a feeling about you, and am so happy with the 2.4 you created. Thank
you thank you thank you. You made me very happy.
I'll keep in touch with you, and send any songs I make using the
liberty bell your way. I wish you good luck with your career, and if
I find the need to buy a different size shak, I'm going to turn to you
for making it!
Also, I've linked you site in my links page for the instrument
makers I support.
Thanks again, I really can't put it in words how
happy I am!
Best ..."
This patron commissioned a YUNG model 1.8. It took over one year to complete.
" I'm 68 years old and my life is changing as
constantly (if less glamorously) than yours. At least a trip to Hong
Kong sounds glamorous. I do not understand the process of slowing down and
growing old. I just keep on going and things keep happening.
The shakuhachi you made for me becomes more mysterious the longer I
play it. I have become more and more sensitive to sound as sound. Melody and
pieces are less and less interesting. This has carried over to the
silver Boehm flute as well as the shakuhachi. Life changes are happening as
well. It seems a whole liftime ago that I rushed home from a 3-year old's
birthday party to open my much awaited package containing my new Yung flute.
The date was October 8, 2005.
Thank you...
Here's one from someone who has generously supported much of my work.
"It is great to do business with you. I feel honored to have been able to play your shakuhachi. They stir my soul.
Your friend..."
These days with Sasa in her "terrible twos" and Jet just starting to crawl, I find myself with less and less focused time in the shop. And let me tell you, making good shakuhachi requires intense focus. I have to remind myself not to rush anything, that a shakuhachi is finished when it is finished. Just enjoy the process.
And, when I get responses like this, I'm reminded that my work, my art, affects people in numerous ways that I will never fully understand. For example, when I get that rare moment alone and can actually play my favorite flute (no, I won't tell what length!), I go places that words can not describe. Sometimes, images of all my teachers pass in the shifting timbres of a single tone. A single breath reveals another world, another consciousness, perhaps another life. I open my eyes and look at my flute. Is it me...or is it the flute?
My instruments may very well out live me so somewhere in the future, someone may open their eyes after a session and then ask that very same questions... I would only be so honored.
BTW, the photo above was taken a few days after Jet was born. He came out at 21 1/2 inches, or, 54.5cm - the length of a 1.8.
Namaste my friends, breath deeply and maybe together, we can heal our world,
Perry
Posted by Perry Yung at March 16, 2006 10:02 PM