Makoto Shinjitsu - with a heart of true sincerity

"Original compositions, healing honkyoku and "neo-honkyoku". A collection of serene solo pieces from Shakuhachi master Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin. This is the follow up to "Ichi On Buttsu", viewed as landmark achievement in Shakuhachi performance. Nyogetsu Seldin is one of the most widely sought Shakuhachi masters in the world today, and on Makoto Shinjitsu, the absolute mastery he exhibits is immediately apparent."

Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
Lyrichord Discs Inc. - LYRCD 7443
1998

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Artist
1	Makoto Shinjitsu		06'17	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	(With a heart of true sincerity) This piece was written in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Founding of Tenrikyo by Miki Nakayama in 1838. In the style of the Mei-an tradition of honkyoku, as practiced by the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism, "Makoto Shinjitsu" expresses the wish that our actions be in constant harmony with our innermost spiritual feelings. It was composed in the Honkyoku tradition of trying to find the one perfect sound to cause world peace. This also involves the attempt to become a Boddbisatva, and trying to wait until the rest of the world enters Nirvana, before entering oneself. ICHI ON-BUTTSU.
2	Daiwagaku	大和楽	03'51	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	Daiwa-Gaku is a piece composed by the great Shakuhachi Master of the 20th Century, Jin Nyodo. The piece is of the few that have been composed in the modern era, and have been accepted into the ranks of the great traditional Honkyoku. While Daiwa Gaku literally means "the great piece"; it also speaks to the four seasons of the year, the four times of the day, and the four stages of a man's life. The title derives from the ancient teaching" good manners are the beginning of heaven; music (gaku) is the harmony (wa) of heaven." Jin Nyodo has said this piece was written as a basic instructional piece for the Shakuhachi, and that all of the basic sounds of the instrument are utilized and their arrangement is endowed with symbolic meaning-comparing and contrasting the transitions found in human life, time and the seasons. Throughout this piece, the technique called Kyosui is used. Kyosui is a method without yuri or komi (head movements) where the breath is blown evenly and calmly and allowed to fade away naturally. Because of its natural quality, Kyosui is the first step to natural playing, but in fact is quite a difficult technique to master. In this sense Kyosui can be viewed as both a basis of shakuhachi, as well as its highest attainment.
3	Five Minutes More		03'58	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	Very often if we just persevere a little bit extra we can receive great rewards. Five minutes more to ...satisfaction. Five minutes more to ...comprehension. Five minutes more to ...enlightenment.
4	San'ya (Jinbo)	神保三谷	07'44	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	"Sanya" is a 400-year-old honkyoku, expressing a free-floating, boundary-less Zen state in which there is no longer any up or down, left or right. It also refers to being unified in action, or to pure action from the heart rather than from the head. This particular version of Sanya was played by a komus6, or wandering priest, named Jinbo, who devoted his whole life to the perfection of this one piece. This piece is also played for safe and easy childbirth. When the woman goes into labor, uncooked rice is poured down the Shakuhachi. Then, during the birth, this piece is played. After the birth, the "blessed rice", by now cooked, is given to the new mother to eat.
5	Murasaki Reibo	紫鈴慕	07'47	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	(Also known as Shrinpo) This piece has been attributed to the great Zen Buddhist monk, Ikkyu Zenji (also popularly known as Ikkyu-san) who lived about 400 years ago. He was known for his great intelligence, and especially for his ability to see the simple, natural way of things. This piece compares the nature of people and clouds. It is said that the alternating movement and stillness of clouds are truly in the spirit of nature. So too, should people imitate the clouds and know when it is time to move and when it is time to be still. "Shirinpo" is a Meian honkyoku from Daitokuji temple in Kyoto. It is played with the intention of creating an overall feeling of peacefulness.
6	Hi Fu Mi Hachigaeshi no Shirabe (Kinko Ryū)	一二三鉢返の調	07'36	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	This interesting honkyoku was often played by komuso in front of houses, in order to take the problems of the ailing person of the house upon himself. It is made up of two different shorter pieces. The HiFuMi or "1,2,3" melody is used as a warm up, to flex the fingers and calm the mind; next is the Hachikaeshi or "Returning the Bowl" melody which describes the actions of the komuso as he receives alms in his bowl. This is then followed by a section of music where he plays his gratitude on the shakuhachi; and finally, the "1,2,3" melody returns to form the conclusion. This piece is not a Meian style honkyoku, but rather a piece in the Kinko school (or Kinko-Ryu style). It is played in an attempt to take the problems upon himself.
7	Yugure no Kyoku	夕暮の曲	06'53	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	Yugure no Kyoku is also a Kinko-ryu Honkyoku, and literally means "the evening bell". The bell which this composition refers to is that of Chio-in Temple in Kyoto. The bell is very famous for being rung on New Year's eve every year. It is rung 108 times, to rid humanity of its 108 sins.
8	San'ya (Ki Sui-An)	三谷	09'22	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	This original composition was composed in the Shakuhachi tradition of each school or line, having its own Sanya or Reibo, the two most popular types of Honkyoku. As such, it is a meditative piece as well as a healing piece. It is unusual in that there is a brief improvisation section -something not usually found in traditional Shakuhachi Honkyoku music. Sanya also refers to being unified in action, or to pure action from the heart, rather than from the head.
9	Shizukesa		05'46	Shakuhachi: Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
	Shizukesa means Serenity. It is hoped that the peace of the Shakuhachi can help us to center ourselves, and to put aside all problems, and stresses. This Honkyoku was composed for all those recovering from their diseases, obsessions and illnesses. The musical content of this piece directly relates to a quote from the traditional Soto Zen liturgy which states. "May we exist in muddy water with purity like a lotus. Thus we bow to Buddha."