I don’t know about you, but I am constantly searching for music to fit the bill when clients ask for “something quiet and relaxing.” I have to admit, space music is really not my cup of ocha (tea!). I have a pretty good selection of Jazz, Brazilian and other upbeat “Qi tonic” kinda music. But I get bored of monotony, finding all too often that there is a fine line between “quite” and “insipid.” If you are like me, Buddha Nature is varied enough to keep your interest but relaxing enough to sooth your clients with jangled nerves and “excess” natures. Lilting flute seamlessly binds together Tibetan singing bowl harmonics, sounds from nature and keyboards. Each track flows into the next; the natural sounds are not overdone to the point of being unbelievable. One client asked if I could see what kind of birds there were outside! My favorite cut has the soulful sound of a Japanese shakuhachi flute. A great mood match for Asian bodywork! The artist Deuter was obviously inspired by Buddhism for this recording. On the CD jacket, Deuter says, “Because it is the quality of being present in this very moment – that is Buddha nature. Not having one’s mind travel into the past or future, but relaxing into what is, non-doing and learning to enjoy one’s being.
Indeed, the Buddhist concept of being present for our clients is almost more important that anything else. I appreciate an artist whose intention is to bring our awareness to the hear and now. I think too much music designed for bodywork encourages our clients to check out instead of notice what they are feeling in their bodies during the session.
So far, all of my clients have given ‘Buddha Nature’ a thumbs up, as I thumb down their meridians! This CD is a welcome addition to anyone’s ABT music collection. – Barbra Esher, CI Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu (Spring 2002)
