A good player of shakuhachi is one who makes the bamboo shaft come alive. A master naturally and effortlessly brings forth something inconceivable. However, without study it is impossible to enter the boundaries of mastery.
You become the bamboo. The bamboo becomes you. A master lives in emptiness while working in form. Then playing each piece becomes the ultimate piece "Kyorei (Void Spirit)." Emptiness is taking the name of Kyorei as the essence of each piece. Emptiness is calling oneself void. The Zen practice of living in emptiness and working in form applies to the self and heart.
--Fuyo Hisamatsu, 18th century samurai and komuso
