Dear Sensei,
Coming to TTT to study Noh was to enter a bamboo forest. We don't have bamboo forests in the USA; so it looks very unfamiliar. It is dark and a little frightening - yet seductive in its mystery. There are 3 paths through the bamboo. They diverge, then criss-cross, then come back together. One path is more physically challenging than the others. One has puzzles we must solve in order to proceed. Another reveals exquisite images and places of worship along the way. Sometimes it’s hard to see the paths. We (Wen-Hsuan, Num, Meyu, and I are all there) trip over sections or stray into the forest. We have doubts and fears that we will be able to unveil any of the secrets of this forest. The sound of chanting leads us back and sometimes beams of moonlight break through the trees and illuminate a part of a path, and we feel encouraged. We proceed closer to the chanters. The paths come to a clearing in the bamboo with four pillars at its corners. It is bathed in soft light, and our focus concentrates on the chant and the four pillars. Now the chanting is behind us, and we step, suriashi, to the dai sho mae. We feel that reassuring tweak on the bottom of our hakama. Our fears dissolve, and we begin to dance shimai. Meyu and Num stamp with the keenest joy, and Wen-Hsuan and I fly above them. Then I find myself alone, outside of the bamboo forest, and realize I only caught a glimpse of it and that the paths led so much farther. I sigh with regret but resolve to send you some of my best and brightest students to venture into the bamboo forest.
Arigato gozaimashita.
Kate
Coming to TTT to study Noh was to enter a bamboo forest. We don't have bamboo forests in the USA; so it looks very unfamiliar. It is dark and a little frightening - yet seductive in its mystery. There are 3 paths through the bamboo. They diverge, then criss-cross, then come back together. One path is more physically challenging than the others. One has puzzles we must solve in order to proceed. Another reveals exquisite images and places of worship along the way. Sometimes it’s hard to see the paths. We (Wen-Hsuan, Num, Meyu, and I are all there) trip over sections or stray into the forest. We have doubts and fears that we will be able to unveil any of the secrets of this forest. The sound of chanting leads us back and sometimes beams of moonlight break through the trees and illuminate a part of a path, and we feel encouraged. We proceed closer to the chanters. The paths come to a clearing in the bamboo with four pillars at its corners. It is bathed in soft light, and our focus concentrates on the chant and the four pillars. Now the chanting is behind us, and we step, suriashi, to the dai sho mae. We feel that reassuring tweak on the bottom of our hakama. Our fears dissolve, and we begin to dance shimai. Meyu and Num stamp with the keenest joy, and Wen-Hsuan and I fly above them. Then I find myself alone, outside of the bamboo forest, and realize I only caught a glimpse of it and that the paths led so much farther. I sigh with regret but resolve to send you some of my best and brightest students to venture into the bamboo forest.
Arigato gozaimashita.
Kate
Hello Kate,
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying reading your blog! I am an actor and playwright participating in TTT this summer and would love to ask you some questions about your experience. I couldn't find your email address on the blog, but I'd appreciate it if you could contact me at zfazal at gmail dot com.
Thanks so much,
Z