Zen Masters from Hawai`i to Make Presentations on Zen, Martial Arts and Fine Arts
For Immediate Release. September 6, 2008
Contact: Rev. Bunko (Diane Yen-Mei) Wong, (425) 736-6080
SEATTLE – Two Zen masters from a Rinzai Zen monastery in Honolulu will make a series of presentations to demonstrate the practice of Zen in archery and music. While in the West, martial arts and fine arts are generally not practiced together, in Japan there is a long history of how these two practices are each just different Ways to train in Zen, which consists of the search to find one’s “True Self.”
Kyoen (Wayne) Honda Roshi and Jitsudo (Don) Tsuha Roshi, both masters from the Daihonzan Chozen-ji International Zen Dojo, will perform together to illustrate just how closely related in fact these seemingly disparate forms are. Honda Roshi will play shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute and will also do okyo, or chanting. At the same time, Tsuha Roshi will do kyudo, or Japanese archery, which uses an eight-foot bow. [Note: “Roshi” is the name used to denote a Zen master.]
“The way we train at Chozen-ji is unique,” said Tsuha Roshi, the Master Teacher of Chozen-ji kyudo, or “Way of the Bow.” He explained, “The underlying connection of the martial arts, fine arts and zazen (sitting meditation) is the kiai, or vital energy. It should all have the same feeling and be done with the same kind of awareness and intensity.”
In one part of the presentation, the two masters playing and shooting according to the energy of the four seasons. “Each season’s energy is different,” said Honda Roshi, who has issued two CDs of shakuhachi music. “Spring is emerging energy; summer is intense heat; fall is a time of transition; and winter is quiet intensity.”
“Though shakuhachi and kyudo look different as forms, the kiai, the energy, is the same,” added Tsuha Roshi, who recently retired after 32 years as a secondary school music teacher in Hawai`i. They both agree that all of us can sense the energy, but they emphasize that it requires serious training to strip away the layers of habits we’ve put on ourselves over the years.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to have the two Roshi come here to share their experiences and knowledge,” said Diane Yen-Mei Wong, a locally-based Chozen-ji priest. “Their commitment of time and energy creates a huge responsibility for us to step up and make each encounter full and productive. We’re ready.”
The “Finding the Center” Zen tour includes several stops in Western Washington and also Vancouver, British Columbia. The Seattle Betsuin, a sub-temple of Chozen-ji, is providing local support; the Institute of Zen Studies, a Honolulu-based non-profit group that explores spiritual traditions and develops programs in Zen studies, health, martial arts, fine arts and other areas is tour sponsor.
For information on dates and venues, send emails to revbunkowong@aol.com or visit website at http://zentour2008.web.officelive.com.
Click here to download a word copy of this press release: Zen Tour News Release