What's More Important Than Developing Technique?

[Kevin Hatton]

Bo, Haggard, Paycheck, and Jones ALL went to jail, and had marital and dependency problems. Yes. No pain, no country. Correct. They are the real ones. Listen to the words. Its not like skipping down a boardwalk in hot pants for a video shoot. No, the people who listen to the music are not assumed to live the same life. I never sat my a$$ in San Quentin. Musicality comes from the soul, not a video shoot. It'll trump technique every day of the week.

[Ian]

A: Having fun and creating beautiful music. Bill, have you ever read "Zen Guitar" by Philip Toshio Sudo? I highly recommend it.

Ian

[Bill Hankey]

Ian,

No, I haven't read literature written by Philip Toshio Sudo, pertaining to ZEN. After receiving your friendly inquiry, I delved superficially into the basic premises of his teachings through clientele reviews. I'm impressed far beyond words, particularly when the subject matter moves in the direction of creativity. All of my senses throughout my lifetime have not been willing to condone the lack of explanative literature which denotes our existences, brought from an eternal void. I refer to the phenomenon as "The Missing Link". Ignorance in part, has become a scientific stumbling block, should the subject matter move to creativity.

Thanks for suggesting the publication by Philip Toshio Sudo, as a means of gathering additional information pertaining to arousing incentive abilities.

How do you personally account for the varigated forum positionings relative to techniques borrowed from higher echelon steel guitarists? Would you suggest ignoring that special group of accomplished players, or work consistently through the teachings of ZEN GUITAR?

[Ian]

Bill,

The book "Zen Guitar" is meant to be used as a companion piece to what ever you happen to be studying. I usually pick it up once a year for fresh inspiration. It's filled with stuff like, "To reach the point on the path of Zen Guitar, you must be good at what you do. But to truly know the Way, it's not enough to be good at what you do. You must go beyond." I'll admit the book borders on being a little too "new agey" but it does put things into perspective.

Ian

[CrowBear Schmitt]

since we're into zen may i quote the tao ?
" he, who's thoughts don't go far, will see troubles up close "

[Bill Hankey]

Crowbear,

I'm not sure that the two different approaches to philosophy suggest similarities worthy of consideration. I keep a safe distance from studies that tend to mix education with any sort of conversional activities. Your suggested tao studies date back centuries before the birth of our Saviour.

[Bo Legg]

Zen! Yeah I used have them little burn holes all over the front of my shirt back when an inspired bit of Zen spin would hit me about the same time I burnt my lip.

[b0b]

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