A VOICE FROM THE HEART 一葉心聲

A SPECIAL CONCERT CELEBRATING MASTER YINYUAN LONGQI 隱元隆琦 (1592-1673)
February 4 (Sat), 2023, 6 PM (Arizona)

The University of Arizona Center for Buddhist Studies

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“This special concert highlights Yinyuan’s poetic talent and deep spirituality. It is jointly produced by The Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of Arizona, the Chinese Wanfu Temple, Ven. Kanho Yakushiji, MUGEN Creations, and Manpukuji in Uji, Japan.

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Musician Spotlight:

Kanho Yakushiji serves as deputy director of Kaizenji temple in Imabari, a city in Japan’s Ehime Prefecture. Japan has a strong tradition of danka, or the father-to-son succession of a temple, but Yakushiji initially rebelled against this expectation and instead became a musician. He eventually trained in the Rinzai tradition at Kenninji temple in Kyoto, Japan, and is now the sixteenth generation of his family to care for Kaizenji.      

Though he initially thought about music and Buddhism as separate entities, Yakushiji now views music as an expression of Zen practice. His two identities—a Zen monk and an artist—are no longer separate. He released his fifth album, The Prayer, in September of 2019, and just before the pandemic began, he started a music video project whereby he chants in historic Japanese temples to introduce listeners around the world to Zen and chanting.

(source: httpsce:://tricycle.org/article/kanho-yakushiji/, by Koshin Paley Ellison)

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About Concert:

Three hundred fifty years ago, the Chinese Zen Master Yinyuan Longqi 隱元隆琦 (1592-1673, Ingen Ryūki in Japanese) passed away at Manpukuji 萬福寺, in Japan. He migrated from China in 1654 after being the abbot of the Chinese Wanfu Temple in Fuqing 福清. In 1661, he founded the Japanese Ōbaku 黃檗 school. In North America, the Center for Buddhist Studies, College of Humanities at the University of Arizona has organized a series of commemorative events to present and explore his extraordinary life and achievements.”

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Program:

1. A Leaf from the West 一葉西來 (in Chinese)

Lyric: Yinyuan Longqi; Music: Yakushiji Kanho; English Translation: Bill Porter (Red Pine), James Baskind, Jiang Wu

2. The Heart Sutra 般若心経 いろは歌 (in Japanese)

3. Disaster Preventing Dharani 消災呪 (in Japanese)

4. Gatha Praising the Buddha 世尊偈 (in Chinese)

5. Gazing at Mount Fuji from the Nakayama Ridge 中山嶺望富士山 (in Chinese)

Lyric: Yinyuan Longqi; Music: Yakushiji Kanho; English Translation: Bill Porter, James Baskind, Jiang Wu

6. The Heart Sutra 般若心経 (Ōbaku Chanting Style 黄檗宗 ver. in Ming-dynasty Chinese)

7. Hand 手 (in Japanese)

Lyric and music: Yakushiji Kanho

8. The Great Compassion Dharani 大悲呪 (in Japanese)

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Viewing Platform:
Center for Buddhist Studies Youtube Channel, Facebook, Zoom

Feb. 2, 2023 at Fox Tucson Theater, 17 W. Congress St. at 7:30 p.m.

“Since 1973, San Jose Taiko has captivated global audiences and critics alike with the powerful sounds of the taiko, or Japanese drum. Inspired by traditional Japanese stylings and techniques, company performers express the beauty of the human spirit through the voice of the taiko, creating a vibrant, contemporary art form as they strive to connect people through cultural understanding, creative expression, and a collective rhythmic heartbeat. Performances are high-energy fun for all ages that gets hearts pounding and expands cultural understanding in an unforgettable way. Experience San Jose Taiko’s rich repertoire in a 90-minute concert set with creative staging and lighting design.

San Jose Taiko has become a world-class ensemble, performing extensively both nationally and internationally, reaching more than 75,000 audience members each year. By studying with masters of other traditions and cultures, San Jose Taiko has broadened and embellished this historical art form into a distinct performance style that blends the traditional rhythms of Japanese drumming with the beat of world rhythms, including African, Brazilian, Filipino, Latin and Jazz and is often described as “dancing with drums.” Known for synchronized choreography, eclectic musicality, and joyful spirit, San Jose Taiko performances and instruction are sought throughout the world by taiko fans and practitioners alike.”

“San Jose Taiko is a talented and passionate group. The drums were like both thunder and kisses—amazing, moving and theatric and full of passion.”

Tickets $25 to $42.50:
San Jose Taiko – Purchase Tickets (foxtucson.com)

[Spring 2023] Center for Buddhist Studies Lecture Series “See schedule below. Please subscribe to our email list or social media for more information and updates. To receive a link to the webinar, please sign up for our email list here: http://eepurl.com/gb2yaD. If you are already on our list of “Lectures and Academic Research,” you will receive the link soon.

Jan. 30 (Monday)John Johnston, Independent Scholar Topic: Manpukuji – Views from Inside the Main Temple of the Obaku School of Zen

Feb. 13 (Monday)Robert Sharf, UC Berkeley Topic: Thinking Through Zen Kōans

Feb. 14 (Tuesday)Elizabeth Sharf, Independent Scholar Topic: How to Read Ingen’s Portraits

Feb. 21 (Tuesday)Paul Berry, Details TBA

March 13 (Monday)Marcus Bingenheimer, Temple University Topic: A network perspective on the two stages of the late Ming revival of Chinese Buddhism

March 27 (Monday)Harald Conrad, University of Sheffield Topic: A Collector’s Reflection on the Appreciation, Understanding and Authentication of Ōbaku Zen Calligraphy

April, TBA Chia-lin Pao Tao, University of Arizona Topic: Teaching Buddhism through Calligraphy: Three Masters

Sponsored by Wanfu Temple in Fuqing, Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, Pu Yin Education Center, and Matcha.com.”

To check schedule and location for each lecture, go to:
(2) Center for Buddhist Studies | Tucson AZ | Facebook

• Sunday, January 29, 2023
• 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
• Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson (map)

“Haiku is the definition of brevity. Elegant due to its compactness of expression, its typically unrhymed versus only take up a few lines and a handful of syllables. As you can imagine, every single word counts. Revolving around seasonal topics and nature but often holding double meanings, these poems are a pleasure not only to read and understand, but also to try your hand at writing.

Our haiku writing walk is a time to observe, reflect on, and collect perceptions and
images both of nature and life which are used in the appreciation and creation of
haiku, the iconic Japanese short poem.

Led by award-winning haiku poet Yukihiro Ibuki and Yume Cultural Director
Paul Amiel, this two-hour workshop will discuss the history, form, and aesthetics of haiku, followed by time in the Gardens to gather personal images and impressions (along with gentle Japanese music) which we will share afterwards in an informal time together.”

Sunday, January 29 at 1pm.
$20/ $10 Members

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot!

Purchase Tickets

” Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos is a teacher, performer, and maker of the shakuhachi based out of the Sunshine Coast of BC, Canada. Born and trained in Japan in the classical zen shakuhachi tradition. Alcvin is a genre-bridging artist who is also a composer and multi-instrumentalist (shamisen, shinobue, shinkin). Alcvin is also a recording artist with several CDs of traditional and contemporary music to his name. He has performed nationally and internationally, and has shared the stage with many distinguished musicians and artists of various disciplines including dance, theatre, painting, poetry, sculpture, and fashion. Alcvin lives on the Sunshine Coast of BC where he teaches and makes precision jinashi shakuhachi flutes, and leads the Shakuhachi Roots Pilgrimage to Japan every few years. Alcvin also creates unique, hand-made shakuhachi-inspired jewellery made from bamboo roots which he harvests from Japan and the Sunshine Coast of Canada. 
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Shakuhachi Solo Concert 
In the historical intimate San Pedro Chapel, on the outskirts of Tucson, Alcvin will guide you in a sonic journey with the mysterious tone colours meditative sound of the shakuhachi Japanese bamboo flute. Silence and sound weave together with to create visceral and transcendent melodic structures for the inner mind to express spirit. Alcvin is a master player and maker of this revered flute and will be offering a solo performance of traditional and original shakuhachi sonic sutras based on the Shakuhachi Roots Pilgrimages to Japan.
CDs, flutes, and Alcvin’s unique Sunroot Bamboo and Crystal pendants will be for sale as well. 
Doors: 6:30 Start: 7:00 Tickets: $25 in advance $30 at the door 
(PayPal at: DesertBamboo2023@gmail.com).

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Fundamental Shakuhachi Geometrics Workshop 
This workshop will focus on a meditative approach to blowing and the application of various geometric forms and patterns that make up the basic sonic structures in the practice of shakuhachi flute playing. Alcvin will guide you through various exercises that will help you enjoy the process of improving your shakuhachi practice. Alcvin will be handing out PDFs of the workshop for future reference. What to bring: 
Please bring your shakuhachi and a full bottle of water. 
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21 Start: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Tickets: $100 in advance (PayPal at: DesertBamboo2023@gmail.com).”

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Alcvin Ryūzen Ramos
          Bamboo-In Shakuhachi & Related Arts
web: www.shakuhachi.ca