Open Hands

Lyrics for the song written for and performed at the 2007 Bodhi Nite

Title: Open hands

 

BN Theme: The Invisible Grasp

Buddhist Concept: Clinging

 

Lyrics: Tina Ng

Composer: Sujata Allan

Musicians: Sujata Allan, Alex Pui, Elfie Baker

Performers: Su Sian Teh, Pojdanai Sukijjakhamin

 

We build lives and empires,

Hold onto dreams and treasures,

Willing the world to be ours,

Hoping for forever.

 

But the sun will set and the moon will rise,

Sandcastles will be taken by the tide.

People will leave, our world will change,

But the world keeps turning on.

 

Enjoy each moment as it comes,

So you can smile when you look back one day.

Give your love to those around,

So you can smile when they leave one day.

Cherish your life and make it full,

So you can smile when you leave one day.

 

See the way your mind clings to things,

Don’t be blinded by the Invisible Grasp.

See the freedom in letting go,

And the beauty of the here and now.

 

We suffer when we cling to “me and mine”,

Thinking impermanence will last.

But we can only receive with open hands,

So loosen that Invisible Grasp.