20/11/2025
Once I went to a shop in Istanbul and said I wanted to buy a ney. The guy asked me if I could play it. I said no, but maybe I could learn… and that was it — I couldn’t get his attention anymore.
I was still someone who stayed quiet in front of a man exercising his power. I left. No ney for me.
The other flute I really wanted was a shakuhachi. “Oh, but it’s the most difficult wind instrument ever,” people said. “Oh, you can’t even make a sound on it.”
Okay, but maybe I can learn. I don’t give up this time.
I started asking around, and people in Tokyo were so sweet — they gave me names of makers, contacts for lessons, many suggestions that I couldn’t even meet them all.
Then I realized my time in Japan was coming to an end, so I went to the shop of this kind man. Was my last day. We spent a lot of time together, but I had to win him over, one small step at a time.
After that I said I need a thinking walk. I sat in a park for an hour, in a quiet part of the city, thinking about whether I really wanted to buy a shakuhachi. Then the story of the ney came to my mind, and I went back to the shop.
The little old man was surprised. He sat with me again and brought out three other beginner pieces. We tried them all, talking about overtones, playing techniques, and instrument-making styles — part ritual, part lesson.
I chose this one, and I promised I will never skip a day of practice. Next time I’m in Tokyo, I’ll visit him and show him my progress.
It’s wonderful, powerful, and damn difficult. Facing frustration becomes a beautiful Zen practice.
The flute is empty, and so my mind becomes.
![.green with .repost・・・silent green pres. Mutant Radio Sessions [19.3.]: silent green präsentiert: mit Magda Mayas, El...](https://img5.schoolandcollegelistings.com/789/688/1441540747896884.jpg)
