[Harp-L] Zen and the art of harmonica playing



A famous Zen koan asks, "This is the sound of two hands clapping (two hands clap here), what is the sound of one hand?"



To a Buddhist, the answer would be that the first is a sense object, and the second is a mind object. Are they the same? Should they be?



Relating to the creativity discussion, the creative harmonica player (or musician in general) takes a mind object of his own creation and makes a sense object that others may enjoy. By the same token, he can play either creative or standard stuff and the listener experiences both the sense object (music), and his own mind objects that occur as he listens. Oldies are popular because they often bring up memories (mind objects) of a past event in the listeners life.



The important thing is the music. Where it comes from, or what mind objects it plants, may be different for different players, and different listeners, but the Zen process happens with indifference.



This is the sound of one note (I played a 2 draw), what is the sound of the space before the next note? Are they the same? Should they be?



My two cents on Zen and the harmonica.



Peace and music,

Dave







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