HOLY GRAIL MANTRA

The transcription is a part of the ‘Bussetsu Maka Hannya Haramita Shin Gyo’ or ‘ The Great Sutra on the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom’ , as taught to me while practising Shinnyo-en Buddhism.
This part always had an extra meaning to me (so much, that I had it tattooed on my arm), and gave me strength to carry on and endure whatever obstacles (in training, live, playing) might occur.
 
The part goes as follows:  ‘ Sharishi, shiki fu I ku. Ku fu I shiki. Shiki soku ze ku. Ku soku ze shiki. Ju so gyo shiki yahu fu nyo ze.
 
Ku =  empty, or 9 …
 
In english :  ‘’ Form is empty, emptiness is form. Form is no other than emptiness; emptiness is no other than form… it is the same with feelings, perception, impulses and consciousness…”
 
When Luke asked me to put a little of me on this guitar, the best part of me to put on there was this sutra.
 
To me it means: “Keep practising, keep playing. You start as a beginner, totally formless and empty, but yet full of anticipation (In-Yo or Yin Yang). As the road progresses, and the learning curve flattens, you come to the part where you want to stop, as you feel it will take forever to master. After this point however, if you have the guts to let go of everything you learned, is the real thing: You become empty, but full at the same time, moving and playing freely and without boundaries. Your style is unique, and sets you apart from all others.”
 
Chris/Kurisu