Madhuri

This article was written by Madhuri for, and posted on, Osho News.

Madhuri’s review of Ray Brooks’ book; “Having worked in Japan a lot during the 90’s, I enjoyed the immersion into aspects of the culture I’d not encountered, as well as some I had.”

Blowing Zen: Finding an Authentic Life
by Ray Brooks
H.J. Kramer, Inc, California, USA, 2000
267 pages

An informative, intriguing, feel-good book about a gaijin (foreigner in Japan) who, with lots of hard work and devotion, becomes a very accomplished player of the shakuhachi, a traditional large bamboo flute.

The study of this instrument is known to be extremely difficult; foreigners at the time – the 80’s – had never been known to attempt it. But Ray Brooks, an upper-middle-class Brit who had worn himself out nightclubbing in London until he’d become so disgusted he’d changed his life, married a wonderful woman, and begun to travel widely with her – somehow just has what it takes. And the study is a spiritual journey as well, for each note demonstrates the state of the player; great centering and depth are required.

There are interesting vignettes of Japanese life – a comical, badly-behaved foreigner, meetings with a few shakuhachi masters, a reluctant private concert for a band of vulgar, stylized, and rather menacing yakuza (gangsters). And lots about busking in various parts of Tokyo, as well as in nearby mountains where there are temples and tourists.

We come away heart-warmed and happy, and curious as to what that instrument could sound like…

Having worked in Japan a lot during the 90’s, I enjoyed the immersion into aspects of the culture I’d not encountered, as well as some I had. The writing is clear and competent. The author comes across as both affectionate and knowledgeable about that mysterious land.