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The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom The William Altig Choir

A choral meditation on the Buddhist Heart Sutra, the oldest and most beloved teaching on emptiness and liberation.

For 1,600 years, the mantra "Gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā" has been chanted in temples across Asia—a song of going beyond, of crossing to the other shore where suffering cannot reach. Now The William Altig Choir brings this ancient wisdom to life through the soulful harmonies of gospel and blues tradition.

Gone, gone, gone beyond. Gone all the way beyond. Awakening. Hail!

From the book "The Heart Sutra Reborn: An American Blues Interpretation" by William Altig.

(Slow, steady beat—like a heart finding its true rhythm)

Verse 1:
Avalokiteśvara sitting all alone, Deep in wisdom on that glory throne. Looked at the world with a spiritual eye, Saw the truth of things beneath the sky.  He looked at the body, looked at the mind, Searching for a self he could not find. Five big heaps where a man used to be, Saw them all empty, saw them all free.

Chorus (Call and Response):
Yeah, the body is empty, like a passing cloud, Feelings just a whisper, though they scream so loud. Thoughts are like the wind, blowing through the trees, When you see they're empty, Lord, you fall to your knees.  Suffering is gone, pain don't stand a chance, When you join that rhythm of the freedom dance. Avalokiteśvara saw it clear as day, Emptiness washes all the tears away.

(Up-tempo now, driving rhythm—like a train gathering speed)

Verse 2:
Oh Śāriputra, hear what I say, Form and emptiness are the same way. Ain't no difference between the two—What you see is empty, and empty is you.  No eyes to see, no ears to hear, No nose to smell, no doubt to clear. No tongue to taste the bitter or sweet, No solid ground beneath your feet.

Chorus (Building power):
Tear it all down, let the walls fall flat, Tell me Śāriputra, what you think about that? No wisdom to find, no prize to be won—The work is over, the journey is done.  No suffering here, no cause to be found, No end to the pain, no path on the ground. When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose—That's the secret, brother, of the Emptiness Blues.

Bridge (Slower, building to the release):

So the Bodhisattva walks with a stride so bold, Breaking the chains that the mind can't hold. No fear in the heart, no cloud in the sky, Waving all your illusions goodbye.

(Call and Response, soulful and loud—congregation rising)

Verse 3:
So here is the magic, here is the spell, To break you out of your personal hell. The wisdom that shines like the morning sun, Showing you the battle's already won.  Listen to the words that the Buddhas say, To wash your troubles and your cares away. It ain't no secret, brother, it ain't no lie—It's the wings you need if you want to fly.

The Mantra (Chant it slow, let it build):

Gate Gate—Gone, gone away! Paragate—Gone to a brighter day! Parasamgate—Gone all together! Bodhi Svaha — Awake forever!

(Repeat—with growing power)

Gate Gate—Leave it all behind! Paragate—Clear your worried mind! Parasamgate—Cross to the other shore! Bodhi Svaha—Don't you cry no more!

Final Verse (Slow, settling into peace):

Gone, gone, gone beyond, To the place where we all belong. Awakening is here, the dream is through— The Emptiness Blues is the song for you.

The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom

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