No Mud, No Lotus
A new song in honor of one of Thích Nhất Hạnh's most profound teachings about suffering and happiness.
He says, “Most people are afraid of suffering. But suffering is a kind of mud to help the lotus flower of happiness grow. There can be no lotus flower without the mud. Without suffering, there's no happiness. So we shouldn't discriminate against the mud. We have to learn how to embrace and cradle our own suffering and the suffering of the world, with a lot of tenderness.”
~ Thích Nhất Hạnh, from the book, No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering
Please note: If you'd like the song in a different key, let me know via email and I'll be happy to send it to you!
These sheet music downloads are freely offered, but if you're moved to offer a donation to support my work, please use the button below. Thank you!
Lead Sheets + Charts:
Lyrics:
No Mud, No Lotus
no mud, no lotus
no dark, no light
no winter, no springtime
no sorrow, no joy
no compost, no flowers
no tension, no ease
no dying, no transforming
no clinging, no release
no darkness, no dawning
no falling, no rising
no sleeping, no awakening
no birthing, no life
no mud, no lotus
no rain, no rainbow
no stopping, no turning
no journey, no home
no mud, no lotus
no dark, no light
no winter, no springtime
no sorrow, no joy
Credits:
​Copyright 2014 Charity Kahn
Released as a single, Jan 27, 2021
Lyrics + Music by Charity Kahn, inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh
Vocals: Charity Kahn
Guitar and Ukulele: Charity Kahn
Strings: Daryn Roven
Engineering, mixing and production: Daryn and Charity
Coming soon!
Printables + Activities:
Videos + Dance Moves:
Coming soon!