Something Beautiful for the World: A Shakuhachi Sadhana is a book about music and contemplation and how we fit with the world. The text, richly illustrated with the brush work of Robert Sinclair, weaves back and forth between poetry, philosophy, clear instruction and contemplative exercises. Tarchin writes from the premise that the process of crafting a fine flute and then learning to play it, parallels the process of crafting a fine human being. While flute making involves tools such as files and drills and sandpaper, human making, involves tools of our breath and senses and capacity for empathy and awareness. Each chapter touches a deep theme of human experience such as our grounding in nature, communication, movement, compassionate activity, authenticity and presence, music as language and more.

96 pages. BK-15

Tarchin Hearn was born in England and raised in Canada. With more than 40 years of experience in Theravadin, Mahayana and Vajrayana schools of Buddhism, he was ordained as a monk for 12 years in the Tibetan tradition. Since 1977 he has taught in many countries and helped establish a number of centres for study and practice. Author of several books, he has been a guiding teacher for The Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre in New Zealand since 1980. Writer, artist, poet, traveller and inspiring teacher, Tarchin has a great interest in blending the insights and understandings of science and ecology with Buddha Dharma and in particular the teachings of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. Though well trained in Buddhism, Tarchin's approach is thoroughly non-sectarian and universal in nature. His work has inspired a wide range of people, from those who are new to the spiritual life, all the way through to people who are themselves already competent teachers of various different traditions. In the last few years Tarchin has begun to explore shakuhachi. Something Beautiful for the World is a result of this meeting of bamboo flute and years of contemplation.