I recorded my composition, Appamada, in this solo version during the recording of my quartet album, An Appropriate Response, in May 2015.  It's dedicated to my teachers.  In Pali, the word loosely translates as "to take care" and is thought to be the last word spoken by the Buddha - “Conditions are subject to decay, work out your salvation with care.”  

Stephen Batchelor talks about it this way:   it's (appamada) really more an ethical or moral perspective or sensibility, an intention which guides, directs, inspires, energizes and commits us to what it is that we consider to be good – wisdom, compassion, tolerance - all the virtues Buddhism encourages.  Asanga defines appamada as that which energetically cherishes the good and guards the mind against what gives rise to affliction. 

photo credit: www.CiraCrowell.com Oct 2015, Dolpo, Nepal

Appamada (Brian Fielding, composer, solo piano)

Brian Michael Fielding