Waterfalls, Spiritual Training and TakiochiWaterfalls are considered places to refresh the senses and tap into the power of nature. Hidden deep in the Katsuragi mountains lies the “Inori no Taki” (“The Waterfall of Prayers”). It is said that En no Gyoja (634-701), a mountain ascetic who founded Shugendo, retreated to here in Gose city for spiritual training. It is in these mountains that En no Gyoja was said to have gathered his mystic powers and then spread his teachings to the common people, which the government was not very happy about. The Waterfall of Prayers
Throughout the ages, people have been coming to these flowing water spots that lie deep in the mountains to directly get in touch with nature and the spirits that abide there. Even today various people such as local karate clubs and religious groups come to the “Inori no Taki” for taki-gyo, or waterfall meditation or training. The average person likewise comes to this serene place just to feel the cold mist of the falls and stand in amazement at nature’s beauty. Offering Songs Near Hiezan, Kyoto, Shiga
There is a traditional shakuhachi piece called “Takiochi” (“Cascading Waterfall”), which was originally composed at Ryugenji, a temple of komuso (mendicant shakuhachi-playing monks) in Izu Peninsula. With the nearby Asahi Falls as the inspiration for this piece, the music depicts the slow movement of the water flowing over the rocks above the falls, then rushing over the edge, and eventually calming at the pool at the bottom of the falls. Click here to visit the CD which this song is featured on. Unlike many komuso songs, this song has a connection to people with a more structured poetic melody. My teacher, Okada Michiaki, had his annual recital recently in Kyoto and the featured traditional solo piece was “Takiochi.” As I listened to him perform this song on stage, I was moved by how much balance he has between paying attention to the fine details and just letting things flow, the accumulation of years of musical and spiritual training. Lost in the moment, I pictured this melody flowing along as I stood at the foot of a cascade. For some of my own training, I decided that “TInori no Taki” was the place to better get in touch with this song. It is actually not that far from a narrow, windy mountain road, so I decided to drive up there. The water is also recognized as one of Japan’s top 100 fresh spring-water spots, so there are often people from both Nara and Osaka filling up large containers to take the pure water home with them. I arose early in the morning and headed over for a morning training session. The rain had stopped but it was still a misty, chilly morning, perfect for a little solitary practice. I played the slightly lengthy song a few times through and each time I could hear the water itself more and more...but I still have a lot to learn from flow of these cascades. “Takiochi” is more than just a piece of music, it’s an opportunity for a spiritual experience. To truly know it well, I have to learn from nature. Listen to the waterfalls and the intricate details that they will slowly reveal. Where the water from “The Waterfall of Prayers” comes from, we don’t really know; nor do we know where it’s going. But just by observing it, touching it, drinking it, we realize our connection to the serene power of water - the basis of both physical and spiritual well-being.
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