Subtitles
you have to have an essential sense of 00:00:00
you have to have an essential sense of 00:00:03
you have to have an essential sense of Li and there's no way of prescribing it 00:00:03
Li and there's no way of prescribing it 00:00:09
Li and there's no way of prescribing it this is the very devil for teachers 00:00:09
this is the very devil for teachers 00:00:12
this is the very devil for teachers because you see all our universities and 00:00:12
because you see all our universities and 00:00:16
because you see all our universities and schools are trying to teach creativity 00:00:16
schools are trying to teach creativity 00:00:20
schools are trying to teach creativity that's the great thing these days know 00:00:20
that's the great thing these days know 00:00:22
that's the great thing these days know and you hear it the SL and all of the 00:00:22
and you hear it the SL and all of the 00:00:25
and you hear it the SL and all of the people are giving courses and workshops 00:00:25
people are giving courses and workshops 00:00:27
people are giving courses and workshops in creativity now the trouble is this if 00:00:27
in creativity now the trouble is this if 00:00:30
in creativity now the trouble is this if we found out a method whereby we could 00:00:30
we found out a method whereby we could 00:00:34
we found out a method whereby we could teach creativity and everybody could 00:00:34
teach creativity and everybody could 00:00:37
teach creativity and everybody could just explain how it was done it would no 00:00:37
just explain how it was done it would no 00:00:39
just explain how it was done it would no longer be of interest what always is an 00:00:39
longer be of interest what always is an 00:00:46
longer be of interest what always is an essential element in the creative is the 00:00:46
essential element in the creative is the 00:00:49
essential element in the creative is the mysterious the dark it's like the black 00:00:49
mysterious the dark it's like the black 00:00:53
mysterious the dark it's like the black in lacquer the impenetrable and yet the 00:00:53
in lacquer the impenetrable and yet the 00:00:58
in lacquer the impenetrable and yet the the profound depth out of which glorious 00:00:58
the profound depth out of which glorious 00:01:01
the profound depth out of which glorious things come but nobody can see why 00:01:01
things come but nobody can see why 00:01:04
things come but nobody can see why there's a poem which says that when the 00:01:04
there's a poem which says that when the 00:01:06
there's a poem which says that when the bird calls the mountain becomes more 00:01:06
bird calls the mountain becomes more 00:01:12
bird calls the mountain becomes more mysterious you imagine for example 00:01:12
mysterious you imagine for example 00:01:15
mysterious you imagine for example you're in a mountain valley and 00:01:15
you're in a mountain valley and 00:01:17
you're in a mountain valley and everything is very silent and suddenly a 00:01:17
everything is very silent and suddenly a 00:01:21
everything is very silent and suddenly a crow a squawks somewhere you don't know 00:01:21
crow a squawks somewhere you don't know 00:01:27
crow a squawks somewhere you don't know where that crow is and the little sound 00:01:27
where that crow is and the little sound 00:01:30
where that crow is and the little sound emphasizes the silence now all those 00:01:30
emphasizes the silence now all those 00:01:37
emphasizes the silence now all those things have in the museum element of 00:01:37
things have in the museum element of 00:01:39
things have in the museum element of mystery there's a Chinese poem which 00:01:39
mystery there's a Chinese poem which 00:01:41
mystery there's a Chinese poem which puts it this way it is a poem written by 00:01:41
puts it this way it is a poem written by 00:01:46
puts it this way it is a poem written by a man who has gone to find a sage in the 00:01:46
a man who has gone to find a sage in the 00:01:49
a man who has gone to find a sage in the mountains and sage has a little Hut at 00:01:49
mountains and sage has a little Hut at 00:01:52
mountains and sage has a little Hut at the foot of the mountain and the boy 00:01:52
the foot of the mountain and the boy 00:01:54
the foot of the mountain and the boy there who is his servant I asked the boy 00:01:54
there who is his servant I asked the boy 00:01:58
there who is his servant I asked the boy beneath the pines 00:01:58
beneath the pines 00:02:00
beneath the pines he said the Masters gone alone herb 00:02:00
he said the Masters gone alone herb 00:02:03
he said the Masters gone alone herb gathering somewhere on the Mount child 00:02:03
gathering somewhere on the Mount child 00:02:06
gathering somewhere on the Mount child hidden whereabouts unknown in so many 00:02:06
hidden whereabouts unknown in so many 00:02:13
hidden whereabouts unknown in so many athletic and artistic skills you will 00:02:13
athletic and artistic skills you will 00:02:21
athletic and artistic skills you will find a teacher who teaches you how to do 00:02:21
find a teacher who teaches you how to do 00:02:26
find a teacher who teaches you how to do it without forcing it I once studied the 00:02:26
it without forcing it I once studied the 00:02:32
it without forcing it I once studied the piano I'm absolutely no good at it now 00:02:32
piano I'm absolutely no good at it now 00:02:35
piano I'm absolutely no good at it now because I don't practice I've involved 00:02:35
because I don't practice I've involved 00:02:39
because I don't practice I've involved in other things but I had an absolutely 00:02:39
in other things but I had an absolutely 00:02:42
in other things but I had an absolutely superb teacher for a while he was a very 00:02:42
superb teacher for a while he was a very 00:02:47
superb teacher for a while he was a very very great musicologist you know there 00:02:47
very great musicologist you know there 00:02:49
very great musicologist you know there was nothing sloppy about his standards 00:02:49
was nothing sloppy about his standards 00:02:51
was nothing sloppy about his standards they were the highest perfection but 00:02:51
they were the highest perfection but 00:02:55
they were the highest perfection but when I first went to him he said let me 00:02:55
when I first went to him he said let me 00:02:59
when I first went to him he said let me see what you can do so I played him 00:02:59
see what you can do so I played him 00:03:00
see what you can do so I played him Escala he sonata he said yeah but the 00:03:00
Escala he sonata he said yeah but the 00:03:04
Escala he sonata he said yeah but the trouble with you is you're trying too 00:03:04
trouble with you is you're trying too 00:03:05
trouble with you is you're trying too hard you're hitting the piano and you 00:03:05
hard you're hitting the piano and you 00:03:08
hard you're hitting the piano and you should never hit a piano he said 00:03:08
should never hit a piano he said 00:03:12
should never hit a piano he said actually all you've got to do in order 00:03:12
actually all you've got to do in order 00:03:14
actually all you've got to do in order to play a piano is to drop your hands on 00:03:14
to play a piano is to drop your hands on 00:03:17
to play a piano is to drop your hands on it and you need to have relaxed arms so 00:03:17
it and you need to have relaxed arms so 00:03:21
it and you need to have relaxed arms so he made me practice for a while he felt 00:03:21
he made me practice for a while he felt 00:03:22
he made me practice for a while he felt my muscles to see whether I was relaxed 00:03:22
my muscles to see whether I was relaxed 00:03:24
my muscles to see whether I was relaxed or not and he said I'll just drop your 00:03:24
or not and he said I'll just drop your 00:03:26
or not and he said I'll just drop your hand on the piano I don't care what 00:03:26
hand on the piano I don't care what 00:03:27
hand on the piano I don't care what notes you hit but just drop your hand 00:03:27
notes you hit but just drop your hand 00:03:28
notes you hit but just drop your hand let it fall said there's enough energy 00:03:28
let it fall said there's enough energy 00:03:31
let it fall said there's enough energy in the weight of your arm to play as 00:03:31
in the weight of your arm to play as 00:03:33
in the weight of your arm to play as loud as you will or a soft as you will 00:03:33
loud as you will or a soft as you will 00:03:36
loud as you will or a soft as you will but just let it drop he said that's all 00:03:36
but just let it drop he said that's all 00:03:40
but just let it drop he said that's all you have to do drop your hands he kept 00:03:40
you have to do drop your hands he kept 00:03:41
you have to do drop your hands he kept feeling my arm he said no no you're 00:03:41
feeling my arm he said no no you're 00:03:42
feeling my arm he said no no you're getting too tense you must pretend you a 00:03:43
getting too tense you must pretend you a 00:03:44
getting too tense you must pretend you a loud sir and he was a very educated man 00:03:44
loud sir and he was a very educated man 00:03:49
loud sir and he was a very educated man he knew about easing and then he said 00:03:49
he knew about easing and then he said 00:03:56
he knew about easing and then he said now after dropping your hands all you 00:03:56
now after dropping your hands all you 00:03:59
now after dropping your hands all you got to do is to hit the right note he 00:03:59
got to do is to hit the right note he 00:04:04
got to do is to hit the right note he said you know the same thing is involved 00:04:04
said you know the same thing is involved 00:04:08
said you know the same thing is involved in making a very complex true and he 00:04:08
in making a very complex true and he 00:04:10
in making a very complex true and he demonstrated yes dropped his hand on the 00:04:10
demonstrated yes dropped his hand on the 00:04:12
demonstrated yes dropped his hand on the piano and at the same time his fingers 00:04:12
piano and at the same time his fingers 00:04:14
piano and at the same time his fingers went floated like that and there was 00:04:14
went floated like that and there was 00:04:17
went floated like that and there was this magnificent ornamentation then we 00:04:17
this magnificent ornamentation then we 00:04:23
this magnificent ornamentation then we went on with practices for some time he 00:04:23
went on with practices for some time he 00:04:25
went on with practices for some time he said now let's get around 00:04:25
said now let's get around 00:04:26
said now let's get around the right notes and he found immediately 00:04:26
the right notes and he found immediately 00:04:29
the right notes and he found immediately I had a block on reading music because 00:04:29
I had a block on reading music because 00:04:33
I had a block on reading music because when I was a small boy and studied piano 00:04:33
when I was a small boy and studied piano 00:04:36
when I was a small boy and studied piano at the age of roughly eight I had a test 00:04:36
at the age of roughly eight I had a test 00:04:41
at the age of roughly eight I had a test if ur Asst teacher who was a mistress in 00:04:41
if ur Asst teacher who was a mistress in 00:04:45
if ur Asst teacher who was a mistress in this private school I went to in England 00:04:45
this private school I went to in England 00:04:47
this private school I went to in England and she used to sit beside you would hit 00:04:47
and she used to sit beside you would hit 00:04:50
and she used to sit beside you would hit your fingers with a pencil every time 00:04:50
your fingers with a pencil every time 00:04:51
your fingers with a pencil every time you made a wrong note Gregory Bateson I 00:04:51
you made a wrong note Gregory Bateson I 00:04:58
you made a wrong note Gregory Bateson I think was taught piano and as a child in 00:04:58
think was taught piano and as a child in 00:05:00
think was taught piano and as a child in such a way and he has a total block on 00:05:00
such a way and he has a total block on 00:05:03
such a way and he has a total block on reading music 00:05:03
reading music 00:05:05
reading music the Viennese got a brilliant mind you 00:05:05
the Viennese got a brilliant mind you 00:05:08
the Viennese got a brilliant mind you know he was a mathematician and great 00:05:08
know he was a mathematician and great 00:05:10
know he was a mathematician and great anthropologist ethnologist and so on he 00:05:10
anthropologist ethnologist and so on he 00:05:12
anthropologist ethnologist and so on he has a total block to reading music and 00:05:12
has a total block to reading music and 00:05:15
has a total block to reading music and so this man had to teach me to overcome 00:05:15
so this man had to teach me to overcome 00:05:18
so this man had to teach me to overcome my block and he said now are first of 00:05:18
my block and he said now are first of 00:05:23
my block and he said now are first of all feel perfectly free to make mistakes 00:05:23
all feel perfectly free to make mistakes 00:05:27
all feel perfectly free to make mistakes here do you everybody is going to make 00:05:27
here do you everybody is going to make 00:05:30
here do you everybody is going to make some mistakes and it doesn't matter if 00:05:30
some mistakes and it doesn't matter if 00:05:31
some mistakes and it doesn't matter if you make a mistake and if you do make a 00:05:31
you make a mistake and if you do make a 00:05:33
you make a mistake and if you do make a mistake don't don't go back and do it 00:05:33
mistake don't don't go back and do it 00:05:35
mistake don't don't go back and do it over again but just go on the play as 00:05:35
over again but just go on the play as 00:05:39
over again but just go on the play as slowly as you like don't hurry it just 00:05:39
slowly as you like don't hurry it just 00:05:41
slowly as you like don't hurry it just so long as you keep the relative rhythm 00:05:41
so long as you keep the relative rhythm 00:05:43
so long as you keep the relative rhythm the relative values of the thing go slow 00:05:43
the relative values of the thing go slow 00:05:46
the relative values of the thing go slow and take it easy another thing is to not 00:05:46
and take it easy another thing is to not 00:05:50
and take it easy another thing is to not to pay so much attention to the notes 00:05:50
to pay so much attention to the notes 00:05:52
to pay so much attention to the notes but to the distances or intervals 00:05:52
but to the distances or intervals 00:05:55
but to the distances or intervals between them because that is the 00:05:55
between them because that is the 00:05:57
between them because that is the significant jump and this sort of 00:05:57
significant jump and this sort of 00:06:01
significant jump and this sort of overcomes to the difficulty of key 00:06:01
overcomes to the difficulty of key 00:06:04
overcomes to the difficulty of key signatures where we we start out with as 00:06:04
signatures where we we start out with as 00:06:08
signatures where we we start out with as it learn we started out learning music 00:06:08
it learn we started out learning music 00:06:10
it learn we started out learning music with this weird system that the nines on 00:06:10
with this weird system that the nines on 00:06:13
with this weird system that the nines on the stave really represent the major 00:06:13
the stave really represent the major 00:06:17
the stave really represent the major scale of C and that therefore when you 00:06:17
scale of C and that therefore when you 00:06:21
scale of C and that therefore when you put a key signature at the beginning you 00:06:21
put a key signature at the beginning you 00:06:24
put a key signature at the beginning you remember that every time you exposing 00:06:24
remember that every time you exposing 00:06:26
remember that every time you exposing you're playing an F every time you hit B 00:06:26
you're playing an F every time you hit B 00:06:29
you're playing an F every time you hit B it should be b-flat well that's 00:06:29
it should be b-flat well that's 00:06:32
it should be b-flat well that's extremely tedious way of learning music 00:06:32
extremely tedious way of learning music 00:06:34
extremely tedious way of learning music and you just have to think in different 00:06:34
and you just have to think in different 00:06:38
and you just have to think in different keys that's the only 00:06:38
keys that's the only 00:06:39
keys that's the only to adjust to a key signature and play in 00:06:39
to adjust to a key signature and play in 00:06:42
to adjust to a key signature and play in the thing according to the intervals 00:06:42
the thing according to the intervals 00:06:45
the thing according to the intervals appropriate for that key but you see in 00:06:45
appropriate for that key but you see in 00:06:49
appropriate for that key but you see in this instance this man although he was a 00:06:49
this instance this man although he was a 00:06:52
this instance this man although he was a great perfectionist and was highly 00:06:52
great perfectionist and was highly 00:06:54
great perfectionist and was highly skilled in music he used intelligence 00:06:54
skilled in music he used intelligence 00:06:58
skilled in music he used intelligence first of all to give you a shortcut and 00:06:58
first of all to give you a shortcut and 00:07:02
first of all to give you a shortcut and then he also used a relaxation to enter 00:07:02
then he also used a relaxation to enter 00:07:10
then he also used a relaxation to enter into a difficult thing by the easiest 00:07:10
into a difficult thing by the easiest 00:07:12
into a difficult thing by the easiest route in Zen training in its initial 00:07:12
route in Zen training in its initial 00:07:23
route in Zen training in its initial stages the master discourages 00:07:23
stages the master discourages 00:07:28
stages the master discourages intellectualization you know you come in 00:07:28
intellectualization you know you come in 00:07:31
intellectualization you know you come in with a lot of ideas but this difficulty 00:07:31
with a lot of ideas but this difficulty 00:07:33
with a lot of ideas but this difficulty you have is not going to be solved by 00:07:33
you have is not going to be solved by 00:07:35
you have is not going to be solved by ideas it's not going to be solved by 00:07:35
ideas it's not going to be solved by 00:07:37
ideas it's not going to be solved by talk and intellectualization so in the 00:07:37
talk and intellectualization so in the 00:07:40
talk and intellectualization so in the same way this is discouraged because 00:07:40
intellectualization sets up a kind of 00:07:46
intellectualization sets up a kind of 00:07:49
intellectualization sets up a kind of interval or lack of rapport between you 00:07:49
interval or lack of rapport between you 00:07:54
interval or lack of rapport between you and your life you think about things so 00:07:54
and your life you think about things so 00:08:02
and your life you think about things so much that you get into the state where 00:08:02
much that you get into the state where 00:08:05
much that you get into the state where you're eating the menu instead of the 00:08:05
you're eating the menu instead of the 00:08:07
you're eating the menu instead of the dinner you're valuing the money more 00:08:07
dinner you're valuing the money more 00:08:10
dinner you're valuing the money more than the wealth you are confusing as 00:08:10
than the wealth you are confusing as 00:08:14
than the wealth you are confusing as Kurbsky would say the map with the 00:08:14
Kurbsky would say the map with the 00:08:18
Kurbsky would say the map with the territory and what they want to do is to 00:08:18
territory and what they want to do is to 00:08:21
territory and what they want to do is to get you into the territory to get you 00:08:21
get you into the territory to get you 00:08:24
get you into the territory to get you into relationship with what is as 00:08:24
into relationship with what is as 00:08:27
into relationship with what is as distinct from ideas about what is and 00:08:27
distinct from ideas about what is and 00:08:32
distinct from ideas about what is and this is an important preliminary 00:08:32
this is an important preliminary 00:08:35
this is an important preliminary discipline but later on you can realize 00:08:35
discipline but later on you can realize 00:08:39
discipline but later on you can realize that the process of thinking is also 00:08:39
that the process of thinking is also 00:08:42
that the process of thinking is also what is 00:08:42
the thoughts in their own domain are as 00:08:47
the thoughts in their own domain are as 00:08:50
the thoughts in their own domain are as real as rocks words have their own 00:08:50
real as rocks words have their own 00:08:55
real as rocks words have their own reality as much as sky and water 00:08:55
thoughts about things are in them their 00:09:02
thoughts about things are in them their 00:09:05
thoughts about things are in them their own turn things and so they lead you 00:09:05
own turn things and so they lead you 00:09:10
own turn things and so they lead you eventually to the point where you 00:09:10
eventually to the point where you 00:09:13
eventually to the point where you intellectualize and think in an 00:09:13
intellectualize and think in an 00:09:17
intellectualize and think in an immediate way let's go on and ask then a 00:09:17
immediate way let's go on and ask then a 00:09:22
immediate way let's go on and ask then a further problem how about thinking about 00:09:22
further problem how about thinking about 00:09:24
further problem how about thinking about thinking wouldn't that be pretty far off 00:09:24
thinking wouldn't that be pretty far off 00:09:29
thinking wouldn't that be pretty far off here is a person removed from life 00:09:29
here is a person removed from life 00:09:31
here is a person removed from life because he's in the intellectual world 00:09:31
because he's in the intellectual world 00:09:33
because he's in the intellectual world and he's all in living in symbols he's a 00:09:33
and he's all in living in symbols he's a 00:09:35
and he's all in living in symbols he's a kind of a kind of a living bookworm 00:09:35
kind of a kind of a living bookworm 00:09:38
kind of a kind of a living bookworm now what about a librarian a person who 00:09:38
now what about a librarian a person who 00:09:43
now what about a librarian a person who writes books about books a bibliography 00:09:43
writes books about books a bibliography 00:09:46
writes books about books a bibliography a classifier of classifications that's a 00:09:46
a classifier of classifications that's a 00:09:51
a classifier of classifications that's a pretty dusty occupation and as we know 00:09:51
pretty dusty occupation and as we know 00:09:54
pretty dusty occupation and as we know sometimes librarians seem to be very 00:09:54
sometimes librarians seem to be very 00:09:57
sometimes librarians seem to be very dusty people they seem way removed from 00:09:57
dusty people they seem way removed from 00:10:02
dusty people they seem way removed from life all tied up in their categories and 00:10:02
life all tied up in their categories and 00:10:05
life all tied up in their categories and catalogs and musts and Muslims and that 00:10:05
too you see is also its own level of 00:10:13
too you see is also its own level of 00:10:17
too you see is also its own level of reality and thinking about thinking can 00:10:17
reality and thinking about thinking can 00:10:24
reality and thinking about thinking can be lived with just as much direct fresh 00:10:24
be lived with just as much direct fresh 00:10:26
be lived with just as much direct fresh spontaneity as just living without 00:10:26
spontaneity as just living without 00:10:29