Sonic Meditations Retreat

Writings on Buddhism:

All Sentient Beings Suffer

Balance of Opposites

Buddhas - Enlightened ones

When I was growing up, I was exposed to Buddhism without realizing it.  Between the visits to the Buddhist section of the Cleveland Musum of Art, the book Siddhartha, my grandfather¹s and father¹s interest in Buddhism, and my best friend¹s commitment to Buddhism, I subconsciously became aware of the many wonderful and simple truths that Buddism helps one realize. In 1993 I moved to New York, and immediately became a member of the Brooklyn Buddhist Association and Jikishinkan Aikido Dojo, which was founded by Joseph Jarman, who is also the Dojo cho (head of the dojo). This period of time was the beginning of my serious practice as a Buddhist.  I practiced Aikido and zazen (meditation) six days a week until I became busy with my teaching work. I found the combination of Aikido and meditation to be rather helpful in creating focus and calm in my life. Gradually I incorporated the Buddhist practices with music performance and teaching.  In 1996, the Dojo Band was created, through the Jikishinkan Dojo, and I created Lifetime Visions Orchestra in 2001, also through the dojo based on a song by Joesph Jarman "Lifetime Visions for the Magnificent Human".

In 1994 Reverend Saito, Bishop of Higashi Honganji who had been Joseph Jarman's Buddhist teacher since Chicago days in the 1960s, came to the Brooklyn Buddhist Association and gave several students, including myself, their Dharma Names.  My name is Jyaku, meaning "tranquility".  Reverend Saito told me this was something that wasn't automatically there, something that I also would have to work for.  I realize, now, after many years of study, that his comment refers to the acceptence of both sides, and not just one side, so that one can achieve balance in one's life. There is not only brightness, but rather darkness and brightness.

In 2002 I was fortunate to practice intensive zen training in Chicago with Hosakawa Roshi from Chozen-Ji, the first Rinzai sect of zen Buddhism (with martial arts training) in the United States.  This training gave me incredible strength and clarity which infiltrated in my Aikido practice, music, writing, and other areas of my life.

In 2001, I founded the Sonic Meditations Retreat, and have since been leading the event with Joseph Jarman and Kim Johnston.  This has been a great, intensive way to connect the music and zen training as one complete experience.

In general, Buddhism has helped me over the years apply practical values and ways of thinking to create a more positive existence, a clear mind, and a sense of beauty, calm and joy.