Reaching Beyond: Improvisations on Jazz, Buddhism, and a Joyful Life

by Herbie Hancock, Daisaku Ikeda, Wayne Shorter

In Reaching Beyond, Buddhist thinker and activist Daisaku Ikeda explores the origins, development,and international influence of jazz with legendary artists Herbie Hancockand Wayne Shorter.Reflecting on their lives and careers, Mr. Hancock and Mr. Shorter sharethe lessons they have learned from their musical mentors, including MilesDavis and Art Blakey, and how the Buddhist philosophy they've learnedfrom President Ikeda over the past forty years deeply resonates with theemancipatory spirit of jazz.These wide-ranging conversations include such thought-provoking topics • Music's mission for peace in a time of discord• The importance of the artist's spiritual growth• The Buddhist concept of changing poison into medicine• Ways to make the “ideal America” a reality for everyoneReaching Beyond offers positive new ideasfor musicians and nonmusicians alike.

Genres: Buddhism

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2012

About the author

Herbie Hancock is an American pianist, keyboardist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the post-bop sound. He was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk music. In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with harmonic stylings much like the styles of of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.

Reviews

[Tim Jarrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking dialog that has me thinking about the connections between Buddhism and jazz, and life. Two stars off because the translation from the original Japanese leaves prose so stiff that you could use it to iron shirts.

[Sebastien Helary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book and although some passages were quite interesting, overall I thought it lacked substance. The three authors spend a lot of time congratulating each other for past achievements or remembering events where they have met. I don't feel I gained must insights on "Jazz, Buddhism, and a Joyful Life" from this reading. Maybe my expectations were too high...

[Dennis Merimsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dialogue between Daisaku Ikeda , Buddhist philosopher and founder of Sokka Gakai International ,and two renowned jazz musicians: Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, who are also practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism. This dialogue explores the parallels between the jazz musician struggling to express his authentic voice through his music and the Buddhist who struggles to live life to the fullest in accord with the universe's fundamental rhythm, chanting the mystic law of nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Both jazz and Buddhism were born in suffering ; jazz originated in the improvised tapping communications of oppressed African slaves, while Buddhism originated in Shakyamuni's attempts to find an answer to human suffering. The gift of jazz is to creatively transform suffering into joy rather than into revenge thereby changing poison into medicine. Likewise, in Nichiren Buddhism, "the teaching of the Mystic Law enables us to make the most of every experience. It affirms every experience as a means to create value, to produce happiness for ourselves and others. It enables us to see that even periods of the harshest adversity, when we may stumble and fall again and again, contribute to making us who we are."
"Jazz is a cry from the heart, from the soul. It stirs courage and makes people strong. It invigorates our lives. It brings people together. In this regard, it has much in common with Buddhism."
Nichiren described “the great joy that one experiences when one understands for the first time that one’s mind from the very beginning has been a Buddha. " Jazz too is a celebration of the joy of life and an expression of the great soul that pulses within the lives of all people., An oppressive government or miserable environment are outward limitations but they cannot deprive us of the essential freedom of the human spirit "Nichiren taught his followers: “Do not fear those in authority. Now is the time to break free from the bonds of this realm of birth and death” The key to human revolution is fearlessness—the courage to cut the chains that hold us back."
Jazz gives voice to the essential freedom of the human spirit.
. Buddhism awakens us to this supremely noble life residing in the depths of us all –the Buddha nature which is our true self.
Jazz is an improvisational dialogue that can break through the superficial constraints of dogma, decrees, and mandates. Each jazz musician must find the courage to create his own unique sound but he also needs fellow musicians to dialogue with and improvise their responses. This ability to create value on the spot is very much a feature of Buddhism where the single moment of rejoicing is crucial to break through to our true identity as a Buddha with infinite wisdom and compassion and acquire the “wisdom of the truth that functions in accordance with changing circumstances”. This is the same as the the marvel of improvisation which enables the musician to become one with his instrument and entrance his audience. Buddhism (with its discussion meetings) is based on dialogue- reaching out to touch the hearts and minds of people very different from one another. The jazz musician shares his discoveries with the audience depicting moments of struggle and a breakthrough to victory, reaching for something that transcends the temporariness and unpredictability of life to inspire them with renewed hope. That something is the universal Buddha nature which binds and harmonizes the performers and audience.
"The love of music transcends nationality and race. When we listen to music, we are all just human beings."
Ultimately Buddhism is a religion of universal humanism, transcending national differences while jazz knows no borders and together they point to a culture of peace and transformation. .
In conclusion, this book is an outstanding and moving dialogue which is definitely worth reading.

[Noah Bahler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book about jazz and life and happiness... frankly, I'm not a huge jazz fan, but this book came to me highly recommended and wow, it's really special. Lots of gems in this, great words of wisdom.

[Suhrith Bellamkonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents interesting series of dialogues between Diasaku Ikeda, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. It shares interesting anecdotes from each of their lives and highlights how Buddhist philosophy aligns with the sense of freedom that underpins the spirit of jazz music.

[Marques Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a transcript of a conversation, but a nice afternoon read.

[Snufkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, inspiring and powerful - encouraging for people from all walks of life!