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

["Dave Murray" <dmurray777@xxxxxxx>]

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