Challenging limits, demonstrating the undefeated spirit.
To become a first-class, world renowned trumpeter
Shunzo Ohno
Japan
I was born in Gifu Prefecture of Japan. My mum sold and delivered Japanese bento in the day and ran a small pub in the night. Since young, I was helping my mum in the delivery and washing the dishes.
Encountering the Mystic Law and my mentor, Beginning my new advance
I got in touch with the trumpet during my high school days. By performing with the trumpet, I could express my hope, worries and determination, and soon, it became a goal in my life. Hence I decided to focus all my energies into playing the trumpet.
When I was 16 years old, relying on my innate musical talent, curiosity and a pure sense of passion, I began to work in a pub as a trumpeter. School and lessons filled the morning and working in the pub filled the evening. It became a daily affair to reach home in the wee hours every day. Because of this, my school work was neglected.
When I was 24 years old, upon the invitation of the legendary jazz musician, Art Blakey, I headed to the city of jazz, New York. Never did I expect that this opportunity steered my life to an entirely brand new direction. In New York, I was very fortunate to be able to perform with many first-class jazz musicians. However, not too long after I left Japan, on 17 Mar, my mum passed away. Also in New York, I was quick to adapt to the new night life, got hooked into drugs, became alcoholic and led a decadent life. I lost the proper sense of value and direction in life.
In the midst of public performances in the year 1976, a friend sensed that I was feeling lonely and down, hence encouraged me to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I started chanting and prayed to manifest hope in my life. Very soon, I felt a sense of darkness lifted away in my life. Not too long in the future, I met my wife, and took up faith in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism together with her. Both of us participated actively in the Soka Gakkai activities in New York. Through these activities, I began to embrace new goals in my life. On the day of 19 June 1981, I met SGI President Ikeda for the first time in my life, re-affirming the primary goals of my life.
Broken lips and teeth, struggling to practice my trumpet
At that time, I was fortunate to be able to be invited by Machito to perform in his performance tour, and recorded an album (Machito and His Salsa Big Band) together with him, which led to me winning the Grammy Award. I firmly believed that it is due to my faith and practice that I would be able to win the trust of Machito.
On 24 Dec 1988, I met with a car accident. Due to the severe impact of the crash, my head smashed into the car’s windows, causing severe brain concussion, broken teeth, face, lips and many other parts of the body. At that time, my wife who was carrying a 6 month pregnancy, rushed to the hospital and told me, “You will be alright.”
Immediately, the doctor joined my broken lips back in an operation, but it also resulted in a scar between the lips and the surrounding muscles. Because playing the trumpet required the manipulation of the lips, if the lips were broken or deeply scarred, it will result in the inability to freely use the lips in playing. This is as good as destroying the future of any trumpeter.
At this time when I dropped into the abyss of darkness, my mentor-in-life, SGI President Ikeda, sent a message to me, encouraging me to become the world number 1 performing artiste! SGI President Ikeda said, “You are the Ohno of the world, you must recover completely no matter what! You must return to the stage, pick up your life, and focus on the research of the arts. You are the Ohno of the world, from now and ever, you must remain active every single day, be like a phoenix and rise up again!” I was deeply indebted and filled with gratitude towards SGI President Ikeda’s foresight and expectation.
I spent the following few years to practice a new way of playing the trumpet. I vowed that I must be able to respond to this heart and devotion to the common people of SGI President Ikeda, fully realized that this was indeed my mission that I must fulfil. I must be able to shine like a bright light of hope, lives, especially to those who lost their sense of hope in life. Because of this, and in order to perform once again, I gave my entire life into practicing and trying to find the most appropriate way to use my lips to play the trumpet. At the same time, I started to compose and conduct recordings, and to perform with many well-known musicians whenever possible. This provided a new opportunity in my career, giving me a chance to accumulate even more experiences. In the midst of it, I had the privilege to be able to participate in renowned musical arrangement and composition, conducted in Gil Evans Orchestra and began my world performance tour. I also recorded 4 albums, one of which a live performance (Live at Sweet Basil) that won me another Grammy Award.
Defeat the demon of illness, performing in front of my mentor-in-life
However, in the following year of 1996, I was diagnosed of cancer of the tonsils at its 4th stage. Because of heavy chemotherapy, I lost 18 kg in a span of 2 weeks. I was unable to swallow, speak and get out of bed. I felt excruciating pain, and relied on tubes to feed myself. At that time, the doctors that commanded authority of this cancer research in New York publicly proclaimed that the invasiveness of this cancer would result in death, let alone being able to continue to play the trumpet again. I reported the state of my conditions to SGI President Ikeda. Not long later, SGI President Ikeda sent a telegram to encourage me, “Honorable Ohno! The comrades and fans around the world are looking forward to your recovery! Mr. Ohno, you must be victorious! My comrade, you must win this battle no matter what!”
I started to chant with this single-minded prayer in mind i.e. to defeat all the cancerous cells in my body. In order to manifest the tremendous life force, I based myself on the following Gosho (major writings of Nichiren Daishonin), “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of the lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?” Due to the removal of the muscles around the neck and lymph nodes, in addition to the chemotherapy, there were times where I could not utter even a single word. Mystically and unbelievably, when I chanted daimoku, I could feel that every single cell of my body is changing.
At that time, I am determined that I must recover. On 19 June 1996, I wanted to perform in the SGI youth culture festival in Carnegie Hall, New York, to welcome SGI President Ikeda. Because of this, I requested my doctor to remove my stomach tubes and exerted every ounce of my energy to perform a piece of my composition which I wrote to fight against cancer i.e. Musashi, on stage with the 2 grandmasters i.e. Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Musashi Miyamoto is a samurai hero who manifested the spirit of justice and the spirit of never giving up.
An award for Musashi, vow to repay my debt of gratitude to my mentor-in-life
The road to recovery and health is a long, arduous one, where I experienced and gained tremendous good fortune. I am convinced that all these were never in vain. Every day, I spent many hours practicing my trumpet, even until today. This daily routine of struggle and fight contained the victory and strength of rehabilitation and recovery. At that point in time, the guidance of SGI President Ikeda inspired me deeply, “Once we have made up our mind, everything would move and change towards the direction of what was thought. At the very moment where we decided to be victorious, every single cell and tissue in our lives will turn and advance towards the direction of victory.”
In my musical career, I attempted many facets and areas of work, including composing, recording albums, becoming the producer for other musicians, and also composing theme songs for movies and documentaries for children’s right. In the process, there were publishing houses that published my struggles into books, and the Japanese television stations made my struggles into special documentaries. In the recent years, I gave support to the people and families who suffered natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis by involving in the planning of their reconstruction and revival of their homes. Until now, I am still visiting these disaster areas. On 3 May 2014, my composition i.e. Musashi won the highest honor i.e. Grand Prize of the renowned International Songwriting Competition!
In the past, I was unable to achieve the performing standards which I wanted, even though I had many experiences and kept on with my practice. Now, I was able to transcend multiple vicissitudes of life due to the strength stemmed from what SGI President Ikeda encouraged me when we first met, “Must become the Ohno of the world…” This allowed me to embrace lofty goals and dreams, and for that, committed myself to daily prayers, practice, and the spirit of never giving up. My deepest gratitude to SGI President Ikeda for his support and encouragement! From now on, I will strive even harder to repay his gratitude.
For the sake of encouraging those who had lost their will and felt loneliness in their lives, I am determined to challenge my own limits without respite, breaking through all obstacles. Because of my own experiences, I could felt very deeply that all of us have the tremendous power to transform and create values in our lives. To encounter difficulties and issue are of no coincidence, I am convinced that these are golden and irreplaceable opportunities for us to create new ways of confronting and solving these difficulties. Everyone in this world has a unique mission of our own. Let’s challenge the limits together, and create tremendous joy and happiness in our lives.
[Source: He Le, Dec 2014 issue]
Translation Disclaimer: The original testimonial is in the Chinese Language. It has been translated to the English Language for our readers’ convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however the editorial team acknowledged that the translation may not be perfect to the author’s original and seeks our readers understanding. Please note that all guidance and quotes are loosely translated.
(编辑注释: 以上是中英翻译,原版如下.)
挑戰極限 展现絕對不输精
成為世界一流小號演奏家
大野俊三
日本
我出生於日本岐阜縣,母親白天販賣曰式便當,晚上經營一家小酒吧。我從小就幫忙母親送便當及洗碗。
值遇妙法、師匠 嶄新出發
進入国中後,我接觸到小號,透過演奏小號表達自己的希望、煩惱及決意,成為我人生追求的目標,於是,將心力専注於吹奏小號。
16歲時,憑藉目己的音樂才能、好奇心及單純的熱情,我開始到俱樂部打工吹奏小號。白天上完課,接著晚上打工,經常半夜才回到家。因此,口漸荒廢學業。
24歲時,在爵士樂傳奇大師亞特·布萊奇邀請下,我前往爵士之都紐約。作夢也想不到這個機緣,會為我的人生開啟嶄新方向。在紐約,非常幸運地能與多位一流的爵士音樂家共同演出。然而,在離開日本不久後的3月17日,母親過世。再加上在紐約,我很快融入喧囂的夜生活,染上藥物、酗酒等壞習慣,生活糜爛,更迷失人生的目的及價值觀。
在1976年的公演行程中,一位友人感覺我的孤獨及意志消沉,鼓勵我唱念「南無妙法蓮華經」。我開始唱題祈求要湧現希望,很快地就感覺到一切黑暗消 失無蹤。不久,認識了我的太太,之後與她一同勤勵信仰日蓮佛法,愉快且積極地參與紐約的創價活動。透過參加活動,我開始懷抱新的目標。1981年6月19曰,首次與池田先生的會面,更加確立我的人生目標。
唇齒裂傷 拚命練習吹奏
當時,有幸在音樂家馬奇多邀請下參與巡迥公演,與他一同錄製的專輯更榮獲葛萊美獎。能獲得馬奇多的信赖,我確信這是因為勤勵信心獲致的勝利成果。
1988年12月24日,我發生車禍,因嚴重撞擊、我的頭部撞破車窗,造成嚴重腦震盪,及牙齒碎裂,顏面、嘴唇等多處重傷。當時,懷有6個月身孕的太太趕到醫院,對我說:「你沒事的。」
醫生緊急將裂開的嘴唇做縫合手術,但卻在肌肉及嘴唇間造成疤痕。因小號等管樂器是以運唇法來進行演奏,若有裂痕或深層的疤痕,會使上嘴唇兩端肌肉無法自由動作,這幾乎會斷送小號樂手的前程。
在跌入黑暗深淵之際,人生之師池田先生捎來口信,鼓勵我要成為世界第一的演奏家!先生說:「你是世界的大野,你要完全康復,一定要完全康復!要重回舞台,重振生活,持續專注於藝術的鑽研。你是世界的大野,從現在到永遠,要日益活躍,要如同不死鳥般,再次奮起。」池田先的遠見及對我的期待,我滿懷感謝。
我花了好幾年的時間,才練就新的小號演奏法。我誓願要回應池田先生祈願民眾幸福的心,自覺這是我的使命。為了向他人、甚至喪失希望的人注入明亮的希望之光,自己一定要先綻放光明。因此,為能再次演奏,我拚命練習,找出最適合自己的運唇法,開始作曲及錄音,並有機會與許多著名音樂家一同演出。這成為事業的新契機,有更多累積經驗的機會。當中,很榮幸有機會參與知名的編曲、作曲及指揮大師吉爾·艾凡思的樂團,展開世界巡迴公演,並共同錄製4張專輯,其中一張實況演出專輯,再度獲得葛萊美獎殊榮。
打敗病魔 在師匠面前演出
然而,就在隔年的1996年,我卻被診斷出罹思第4期扁桃腺癌,因為嚴苛的治療,在2星期內體重就掉了 18公斤,我無法吞嚥、講話,甚至無法下床,感到無比疼痛,必須靠胃管才能進食。當時,在紐約的權威醫師都公開表示,罹患這種侵略性強的病症,可能無法存活,更不可能再演奏小號。我將病情向池田先生報告,不久後立即收到先生捎來電報鼓勵我:「大野君!全世界的同志及樂迷都期待你康復,大野先生,一定要戰勝!我的同志,一定要戰勝啊!」
「要打倒體內所有壞細胞」我開始以此明確目標,透過持續唱題,秉持御書所云:「南無妙法蓮華經如師子吼,任何病障不足為禍。」使身體湧現強盛生命力。因為切除部份頸部肌肉組織及淋巴節,再加上化療,有時完全發不出聲音。不可思議的是,唱題時,我感受到體內每一個細胞在轉變。
當時我決意一定要康復,1996年6月19日要在紐約卡內基音樂廳舉辦的SGI青年文化節舞台上演出,以此來回應池田先生。為此,我要求醫生拔除胃管,用盡 身上僅存的力量,與韋恩蕭特、哈比漢考克兩位爵士大師一同在舞台上,演奏我在對抗病魔之際創作的樂曲〈武藏〉,宮本武藏是一位展現為正義而戰及絕對不输精神的英雄武士。
〈武藏〉獲獎 誓願回報師恩
復原健康是條長遠的旅程,我在過程中獲得難以衡量的福運。我確信這一切都沒有白費。我每天花好幾個小時努力練習吹奏小號,至今仍然持續。這項每天必須奮戰的課題,蘊含迎向勝利的重生力量。當時,池田先生的指導令我深受啟發:「一旦立下決意,一切都會朝向所想的方向開始改變。在決意一定要勝利的瞬問,生命裡的所有細胞及組織,立刻會轉向勝利的方向前進。」
在音樂事業上,我從事作曲、錄製專輯,擔任其他音樂家的專輯製作人,也為電影及兒童人權團體的紀錄片創作主題曲等多元的發展。過程中,有出版社及日本電視台以我的奮鬥歴程出版書籍或製作節目特輯。近年來,我為支援地震、海嘯等受災區域及家庭,企畫了復興支援活動,至今仍定期前往災區訪問。2014年5月3日,我創作的樂曲〈武藏〉榮獲國際知名ISC國際作曲 大賽最高榮譽!
我曾經歷過即使拚命練習,都無法達到既有演奏水準的情況,而至今能夠持續超越種種困難的原動力,正是池田先生與我初次見面時,給予的鼓勵:「要成為世界的大野…」。這讓我懷抱遠大目標、夢想,每日為此持續祈求、練習,且絕不放棄。深深感謝池田先生對我的支持及鼓勵,今後要更加努力來回報師恩。
為了鼓勵失去意志、感到孤獨的人,我決意不斷挑戰自身極限、突破障壁。因為透過自己的體驗,深刻體認到每個人生命中都擁有變革及創造無限價值的力量。會遭遇問題及苦難,絕對不是偶然,我確信一切都是使我們創造出嶄新、正面對應方法的絕佳機會。每一個人在今世都有屬於自己的使命。就讓我們一同挑戰極限,創造人生的無限歡喜。
[和樂新闻 2014年12月号]
To become a first-class, world renowned trumpeter
Shunzo Ohno
Japan
I was born in Gifu Prefecture of Japan. My mum sold and delivered Japanese bento in the day and ran a small pub in the night. Since young, I was helping my mum in the delivery and washing the dishes.
Encountering the Mystic Law and my mentor, Beginning my new advance
I got in touch with the trumpet during my high school days. By performing with the trumpet, I could express my hope, worries and determination, and soon, it became a goal in my life. Hence I decided to focus all my energies into playing the trumpet.
When I was 16 years old, relying on my innate musical talent, curiosity and a pure sense of passion, I began to work in a pub as a trumpeter. School and lessons filled the morning and working in the pub filled the evening. It became a daily affair to reach home in the wee hours every day. Because of this, my school work was neglected.
When I was 24 years old, upon the invitation of the legendary jazz musician, Art Blakey, I headed to the city of jazz, New York. Never did I expect that this opportunity steered my life to an entirely brand new direction. In New York, I was very fortunate to be able to perform with many first-class jazz musicians. However, not too long after I left Japan, on 17 Mar, my mum passed away. Also in New York, I was quick to adapt to the new night life, got hooked into drugs, became alcoholic and led a decadent life. I lost the proper sense of value and direction in life.
In the midst of public performances in the year 1976, a friend sensed that I was feeling lonely and down, hence encouraged me to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I started chanting and prayed to manifest hope in my life. Very soon, I felt a sense of darkness lifted away in my life. Not too long in the future, I met my wife, and took up faith in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism together with her. Both of us participated actively in the Soka Gakkai activities in New York. Through these activities, I began to embrace new goals in my life. On the day of 19 June 1981, I met SGI President Ikeda for the first time in my life, re-affirming the primary goals of my life.
Broken lips and teeth, struggling to practice my trumpet
At that time, I was fortunate to be able to be invited by Machito to perform in his performance tour, and recorded an album (Machito and His Salsa Big Band) together with him, which led to me winning the Grammy Award. I firmly believed that it is due to my faith and practice that I would be able to win the trust of Machito.
On 24 Dec 1988, I met with a car accident. Due to the severe impact of the crash, my head smashed into the car’s windows, causing severe brain concussion, broken teeth, face, lips and many other parts of the body. At that time, my wife who was carrying a 6 month pregnancy, rushed to the hospital and told me, “You will be alright.”
Immediately, the doctor joined my broken lips back in an operation, but it also resulted in a scar between the lips and the surrounding muscles. Because playing the trumpet required the manipulation of the lips, if the lips were broken or deeply scarred, it will result in the inability to freely use the lips in playing. This is as good as destroying the future of any trumpeter.
At this time when I dropped into the abyss of darkness, my mentor-in-life, SGI President Ikeda, sent a message to me, encouraging me to become the world number 1 performing artiste! SGI President Ikeda said, “You are the Ohno of the world, you must recover completely no matter what! You must return to the stage, pick up your life, and focus on the research of the arts. You are the Ohno of the world, from now and ever, you must remain active every single day, be like a phoenix and rise up again!” I was deeply indebted and filled with gratitude towards SGI President Ikeda’s foresight and expectation.
I spent the following few years to practice a new way of playing the trumpet. I vowed that I must be able to respond to this heart and devotion to the common people of SGI President Ikeda, fully realized that this was indeed my mission that I must fulfil. I must be able to shine like a bright light of hope, lives, especially to those who lost their sense of hope in life. Because of this, and in order to perform once again, I gave my entire life into practicing and trying to find the most appropriate way to use my lips to play the trumpet. At the same time, I started to compose and conduct recordings, and to perform with many well-known musicians whenever possible. This provided a new opportunity in my career, giving me a chance to accumulate even more experiences. In the midst of it, I had the privilege to be able to participate in renowned musical arrangement and composition, conducted in Gil Evans Orchestra and began my world performance tour. I also recorded 4 albums, one of which a live performance (Live at Sweet Basil) that won me another Grammy Award.
Defeat the demon of illness, performing in front of my mentor-in-life
However, in the following year of 1996, I was diagnosed of cancer of the tonsils at its 4th stage. Because of heavy chemotherapy, I lost 18 kg in a span of 2 weeks. I was unable to swallow, speak and get out of bed. I felt excruciating pain, and relied on tubes to feed myself. At that time, the doctors that commanded authority of this cancer research in New York publicly proclaimed that the invasiveness of this cancer would result in death, let alone being able to continue to play the trumpet again. I reported the state of my conditions to SGI President Ikeda. Not long later, SGI President Ikeda sent a telegram to encourage me, “Honorable Ohno! The comrades and fans around the world are looking forward to your recovery! Mr. Ohno, you must be victorious! My comrade, you must win this battle no matter what!”
I started to chant with this single-minded prayer in mind i.e. to defeat all the cancerous cells in my body. In order to manifest the tremendous life force, I based myself on the following Gosho (major writings of Nichiren Daishonin), “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of the lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?” Due to the removal of the muscles around the neck and lymph nodes, in addition to the chemotherapy, there were times where I could not utter even a single word. Mystically and unbelievably, when I chanted daimoku, I could feel that every single cell of my body is changing.
At that time, I am determined that I must recover. On 19 June 1996, I wanted to perform in the SGI youth culture festival in Carnegie Hall, New York, to welcome SGI President Ikeda. Because of this, I requested my doctor to remove my stomach tubes and exerted every ounce of my energy to perform a piece of my composition which I wrote to fight against cancer i.e. Musashi, on stage with the 2 grandmasters i.e. Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Musashi Miyamoto is a samurai hero who manifested the spirit of justice and the spirit of never giving up.
An award for Musashi, vow to repay my debt of gratitude to my mentor-in-life
The road to recovery and health is a long, arduous one, where I experienced and gained tremendous good fortune. I am convinced that all these were never in vain. Every day, I spent many hours practicing my trumpet, even until today. This daily routine of struggle and fight contained the victory and strength of rehabilitation and recovery. At that point in time, the guidance of SGI President Ikeda inspired me deeply, “Once we have made up our mind, everything would move and change towards the direction of what was thought. At the very moment where we decided to be victorious, every single cell and tissue in our lives will turn and advance towards the direction of victory.”
In my musical career, I attempted many facets and areas of work, including composing, recording albums, becoming the producer for other musicians, and also composing theme songs for movies and documentaries for children’s right. In the process, there were publishing houses that published my struggles into books, and the Japanese television stations made my struggles into special documentaries. In the recent years, I gave support to the people and families who suffered natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis by involving in the planning of their reconstruction and revival of their homes. Until now, I am still visiting these disaster areas. On 3 May 2014, my composition i.e. Musashi won the highest honor i.e. Grand Prize of the renowned International Songwriting Competition!
In the past, I was unable to achieve the performing standards which I wanted, even though I had many experiences and kept on with my practice. Now, I was able to transcend multiple vicissitudes of life due to the strength stemmed from what SGI President Ikeda encouraged me when we first met, “Must become the Ohno of the world…” This allowed me to embrace lofty goals and dreams, and for that, committed myself to daily prayers, practice, and the spirit of never giving up. My deepest gratitude to SGI President Ikeda for his support and encouragement! From now on, I will strive even harder to repay his gratitude.
For the sake of encouraging those who had lost their will and felt loneliness in their lives, I am determined to challenge my own limits without respite, breaking through all obstacles. Because of my own experiences, I could felt very deeply that all of us have the tremendous power to transform and create values in our lives. To encounter difficulties and issue are of no coincidence, I am convinced that these are golden and irreplaceable opportunities for us to create new ways of confronting and solving these difficulties. Everyone in this world has a unique mission of our own. Let’s challenge the limits together, and create tremendous joy and happiness in our lives.
[Source: He Le, Dec 2014 issue]
Translation Disclaimer: The original testimonial is in the Chinese Language. It has been translated to the English Language for our readers’ convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however the editorial team acknowledged that the translation may not be perfect to the author’s original and seeks our readers understanding. Please note that all guidance and quotes are loosely translated.
(编辑注释: 以上是中英翻译,原版如下.)
挑戰極限 展现絕對不输精
成為世界一流小號演奏家
大野俊三
日本
我出生於日本岐阜縣,母親白天販賣曰式便當,晚上經營一家小酒吧。我從小就幫忙母親送便當及洗碗。
值遇妙法、師匠 嶄新出發
進入国中後,我接觸到小號,透過演奏小號表達自己的希望、煩惱及決意,成為我人生追求的目標,於是,將心力専注於吹奏小號。
16歲時,憑藉目己的音樂才能、好奇心及單純的熱情,我開始到俱樂部打工吹奏小號。白天上完課,接著晚上打工,經常半夜才回到家。因此,口漸荒廢學業。
24歲時,在爵士樂傳奇大師亞特·布萊奇邀請下,我前往爵士之都紐約。作夢也想不到這個機緣,會為我的人生開啟嶄新方向。在紐約,非常幸運地能與多位一流的爵士音樂家共同演出。然而,在離開日本不久後的3月17日,母親過世。再加上在紐約,我很快融入喧囂的夜生活,染上藥物、酗酒等壞習慣,生活糜爛,更迷失人生的目的及價值觀。
在1976年的公演行程中,一位友人感覺我的孤獨及意志消沉,鼓勵我唱念「南無妙法蓮華經」。我開始唱題祈求要湧現希望,很快地就感覺到一切黑暗消 失無蹤。不久,認識了我的太太,之後與她一同勤勵信仰日蓮佛法,愉快且積極地參與紐約的創價活動。透過參加活動,我開始懷抱新的目標。1981年6月19曰,首次與池田先生的會面,更加確立我的人生目標。
唇齒裂傷 拚命練習吹奏
當時,有幸在音樂家馬奇多邀請下參與巡迥公演,與他一同錄製的專輯更榮獲葛萊美獎。能獲得馬奇多的信赖,我確信這是因為勤勵信心獲致的勝利成果。
1988年12月24日,我發生車禍,因嚴重撞擊、我的頭部撞破車窗,造成嚴重腦震盪,及牙齒碎裂,顏面、嘴唇等多處重傷。當時,懷有6個月身孕的太太趕到醫院,對我說:「你沒事的。」
醫生緊急將裂開的嘴唇做縫合手術,但卻在肌肉及嘴唇間造成疤痕。因小號等管樂器是以運唇法來進行演奏,若有裂痕或深層的疤痕,會使上嘴唇兩端肌肉無法自由動作,這幾乎會斷送小號樂手的前程。
在跌入黑暗深淵之際,人生之師池田先生捎來口信,鼓勵我要成為世界第一的演奏家!先生說:「你是世界的大野,你要完全康復,一定要完全康復!要重回舞台,重振生活,持續專注於藝術的鑽研。你是世界的大野,從現在到永遠,要日益活躍,要如同不死鳥般,再次奮起。」池田先的遠見及對我的期待,我滿懷感謝。
我花了好幾年的時間,才練就新的小號演奏法。我誓願要回應池田先生祈願民眾幸福的心,自覺這是我的使命。為了向他人、甚至喪失希望的人注入明亮的希望之光,自己一定要先綻放光明。因此,為能再次演奏,我拚命練習,找出最適合自己的運唇法,開始作曲及錄音,並有機會與許多著名音樂家一同演出。這成為事業的新契機,有更多累積經驗的機會。當中,很榮幸有機會參與知名的編曲、作曲及指揮大師吉爾·艾凡思的樂團,展開世界巡迴公演,並共同錄製4張專輯,其中一張實況演出專輯,再度獲得葛萊美獎殊榮。
打敗病魔 在師匠面前演出
然而,就在隔年的1996年,我卻被診斷出罹思第4期扁桃腺癌,因為嚴苛的治療,在2星期內體重就掉了 18公斤,我無法吞嚥、講話,甚至無法下床,感到無比疼痛,必須靠胃管才能進食。當時,在紐約的權威醫師都公開表示,罹患這種侵略性強的病症,可能無法存活,更不可能再演奏小號。我將病情向池田先生報告,不久後立即收到先生捎來電報鼓勵我:「大野君!全世界的同志及樂迷都期待你康復,大野先生,一定要戰勝!我的同志,一定要戰勝啊!」
「要打倒體內所有壞細胞」我開始以此明確目標,透過持續唱題,秉持御書所云:「南無妙法蓮華經如師子吼,任何病障不足為禍。」使身體湧現強盛生命力。因為切除部份頸部肌肉組織及淋巴節,再加上化療,有時完全發不出聲音。不可思議的是,唱題時,我感受到體內每一個細胞在轉變。
當時我決意一定要康復,1996年6月19日要在紐約卡內基音樂廳舉辦的SGI青年文化節舞台上演出,以此來回應池田先生。為此,我要求醫生拔除胃管,用盡 身上僅存的力量,與韋恩蕭特、哈比漢考克兩位爵士大師一同在舞台上,演奏我在對抗病魔之際創作的樂曲〈武藏〉,宮本武藏是一位展現為正義而戰及絕對不输精神的英雄武士。
〈武藏〉獲獎 誓願回報師恩
復原健康是條長遠的旅程,我在過程中獲得難以衡量的福運。我確信這一切都沒有白費。我每天花好幾個小時努力練習吹奏小號,至今仍然持續。這項每天必須奮戰的課題,蘊含迎向勝利的重生力量。當時,池田先生的指導令我深受啟發:「一旦立下決意,一切都會朝向所想的方向開始改變。在決意一定要勝利的瞬問,生命裡的所有細胞及組織,立刻會轉向勝利的方向前進。」
在音樂事業上,我從事作曲、錄製專輯,擔任其他音樂家的專輯製作人,也為電影及兒童人權團體的紀錄片創作主題曲等多元的發展。過程中,有出版社及日本電視台以我的奮鬥歴程出版書籍或製作節目特輯。近年來,我為支援地震、海嘯等受災區域及家庭,企畫了復興支援活動,至今仍定期前往災區訪問。2014年5月3日,我創作的樂曲〈武藏〉榮獲國際知名ISC國際作曲 大賽最高榮譽!
我曾經歷過即使拚命練習,都無法達到既有演奏水準的情況,而至今能夠持續超越種種困難的原動力,正是池田先生與我初次見面時,給予的鼓勵:「要成為世界的大野…」。這讓我懷抱遠大目標、夢想,每日為此持續祈求、練習,且絕不放棄。深深感謝池田先生對我的支持及鼓勵,今後要更加努力來回報師恩。
為了鼓勵失去意志、感到孤獨的人,我決意不斷挑戰自身極限、突破障壁。因為透過自己的體驗,深刻體認到每個人生命中都擁有變革及創造無限價值的力量。會遭遇問題及苦難,絕對不是偶然,我確信一切都是使我們創造出嶄新、正面對應方法的絕佳機會。每一個人在今世都有屬於自己的使命。就讓我們一同挑戰極限,創造人生的無限歡喜。
[和樂新闻 2014年12月号]