Glossary

Glossary of Japanese Words (in order of appearance in the poem, “Ro-Buki in Rhyme”)

Blowing Zen, or, Suizen — a Zen practice using the vertically-played, end-blown, five-hole, Japanese shakuhachi flute.

Shakuhachi — Japanese bamboo flute (hōki) used for suizen meditation.

Hōki — Literally “tool of the dharma” ; sacred tool. The Shakuhachi was considered as hōki, and not as a musical instrument.

Dharma — “truth" … In the Zen tradition, usually refers to some aspect of the true nature of reality, to the emptiness which is the essence of phenomena.

Ro — Ro is the first note on a shakuhachi, with all five finger holes closed.

Ro-Buki — “Buki” is “to blow”. Therefore “Ro-buki” is the practice of “blowing Ro”. In a single sound there is (already) enlightenment. Practicing shakuhachi sui-zen is one of many ways to realize this truth.

Shakuhachi Yuu — A plastic Shakuhachi recommended for beginners to learn to blow suizen. Yuu means at ease, calm, serene, composed.

Shunya — the name I gave my Shakuhachi Yuu. Shunya is short for Shunyata, meaning zero, nothing, empty or void. Shunya comes from the root śvi, meaning hollow … as in a hollow bamboo flute.

Shunyata — tenet that "all things are empty of intrinsic existence”

Komuso — Wandering monks of emptiness who played the Shakuhachi. (Ko: emptiness, mu: nothingness, so: monk or priest)

Fuke Zen Sect — an offshoot of Rinzai Zen during Japan's feudal era, lasting from the 13th century until the late 19th century, to which Komuso monks belonged.

Meiji Restoration — political revolution in Japan in 1868 that ended the Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603–1867)—and returned control direct imperial rule

Honkyoku — "original pieces" of shakuhachi music played by mendicant Japanese Zen monks called Komusō.

Kyorei — “empty formalities”; oldest known Honkyoku piece back to 12th century

Zazen — sitting meditation to give insight into the nature of existence

Tengai — straw basket worn on heads of Komusō monks, manifesting absence of ego

Shugyo — the deepest spiritual training possible, a deep body-mind training

Ganbatte — Do your best!