Last November, we had a huge festival of Dharma songs here in Seoul. The singing was truly spectacular, as were the contents of the song. Listen to the song as you read through its lyrics, and see if it doesn’t touch you! (You may have to open the song in a new window while viewing this page. Let me know in the comments if the music isn’t playing for you.)

Smooth the Rough Edges and Become a Free Person



When you’re able to use your mind harmoniously and generously

you’ll be able to use it freely,

becoming one with others

and manifest according to the need.

This harmonious mind can become smaller than the smallest dot,

and larger than the vastest universe.

Returning things inwardly makes your mind harmonious,

raising harmonious thoughts

helps you be more thorough about returning things inwardly.

Returning things inwardly also gives rise to compassion and caring.

If you have just compassion, just caring,

everything can be melted down,

and anything can be achieved.

If you can return things inwardly

you can communicate with everything.

You can become one with Buddhas,

one with a bug or a blade of grass.

Everything is also yourself!

With equanimity, with an empty mind,

observe your inner foundation,

without any thought of trying to see it:

This what it means to return things inwardly and observe.

Seeing everything as one,

embracing everything

without learning to one side or the other,

this is equanimity.

When everything has been put down

when there’s nothing left to hold onto,

and not even the thought that you have to put something down,

this is empty mind.

When you have such generous and harmonious attitude,

you can become one with all life

one with the whole universe.

This mind can make even rough things harmonious and generous,

and can find a use for them.

Not a single thing is thrown away!

This mind becomes one with all life.

This mind can make even rough things harmonious and generous,

and can find a use for them.

Not a single thing is thrown away!

This is compassion!



copyright 2011, The Hanmaum Seonwon Foundation