Get ready to feel the flow of abundance in "Path to Prosperity!" This song is a celebration of gratitude, mindfulness, and the power of positive karma. Let the uplifting melodies and inspiring lyrics guide you towards a brighter future!

The William Altig Choir: A collection of amazingly talented singers with musical accompaniment, brought to life through the cutting-edge technology of Suno AI language models.

Path to Prosperity

(Verse 1) 
In the light of the Sutra, 
I find my way, Interconnected life, 
guiding me each day. Meditate on unity, 
compassion in my heart, Every step I take, 
plays a crucial part.

(Chorus) 
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, 
I chant and feel the flow, Gratitude and presence, 
let the prosperity grow. Karma's in my actions, 
intentions clear and true, Balance in my spirit, 
harmony in all I do.

(Verse 2) 
Morning gratitude, 
for the blessings that I see, Setting clear intentions, 
aligning destiny. In the present moment, 
mindfulness I find, Creating positive karma, 
with a peaceful mind.

(Chorus) 
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, 
I chant and feel the flow, Gratitude and presence, 
let the prosperity grow. Karma's in my actions, 
intentions clear and true, Balance in my spirit, 
harmony in all I do.

[Instrumental]

(Bridge) 
Join hands in the Sangha, 
community so bright, Sharing in this journey, 
together in the light. Guidance from the wise, 
strengthens every song, In the path of Dharma, 
where we all belong.

(Chorus) 
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, 
I chant and feel the flow, Gratitude and presence, 
let the prosperity grow. Karma's in my actions, 
intentions clear and true, Balance in my spirit, 
harmony in all I do.

(Outro) 
Balance and harmony, 
prosperity will see, In the light of Sutra, 
forever we will be. Path to prosperity, 
with love as our guide, In the interconnected web, 
where our spirits ride.

Path To Prosperity

Inspired by a timeless spiritual paradox, "The Open Gate" is a blues-folk story that suggests the most profound truth isn't hidden away for the chosen few—it's accessible to everyone.

Using the ancient parable of a loving father saving his children from a burning house, the song explores the idea that the greatest wisdom doesn't require immense skill or a lifetime of practice, but simply an open heart. With a soulful, acoustic groove, "The Open Gate" is a reminder that the path to peace is not a steep mountain to be climbed, but a door standing wide open for all.

Lyrics

(Intro - Acoustic guitar and a single, long slide guitar note)

(Verse 1)
Some folks try to climb a mountain, thinkin' that's the only way
Practice hard for countless ages, just to see a brighter day
They believe you gotta be a scholar, or a saint of high degree
That only the strongest souls can find the key to be set free
And for them, that road is true, but it's a hard and lonely state
It takes a will of iron just to get past the first gate

(Chorus)
But the Teacher, in his wisdom, he turned it all around
Said the truest, deepest teaching is for the lowest ground
Some paths say you must be worthy, before you even start
But the real Truth is a river, for every broken heart
It don't depend on your own power, your wisdom or your might
It's the power of the Love itself that brings the darkness into light

(Verse 2)
They tell a story 'bout a Father, watchin' his whole house burn down
His children played inside with toys, the most distracted kids in town
He called out, "I've got precious treasures, wonders to behold!"
A loving lure to save them from that ruin, weak and old.
But he didn't give those separate gifts, when they were safe and near, 
He gave them one great open road, and put an end to all their fear.

(Chorus)
'Cause the Teacher, in his wisdom, he turned it all around
Said the truest, deepest teaching is for the lowest ground
Some paths say you must be worthy, before you even start
But the real Truth is a river, for every broken heart
It don't depend on your own power, your wisdom or your might
It's the power of Love itself that brings darkness into light

(Bridge)
In these modern, troubled days, the world is full of strife
The old maps are all faded, they've lost the power for this life
So you don't need a grand cathedral, don't need a scholar's mind
The only thing that's asked of you is the faith that you can find
Just a simple act of trust, a whispered prayer or tune
To awaken that bright Spirit, that's been sleeping in the gloom

(Outro)
Yeah, the gate is standin' open, for the sinner and the saint
For the fisherman's child, the warrior, for the weary and the faint
The truest teaching... is for the open gate...

The Open Gate

An intimate, raw acoustic blues meditation on the "Sahā-Loka Grind."

"Sahā-Loka Grind" isn't just about the suffering of the world; it's about the profound, compassionate choice to stay in it. It's the sound of the Bodhisattva's resolve, finding purpose not in escape, but right here in "the Bodhisattva's backyard."

Lyrics: 
[Verse 1]
Woke up this morning, same static on my soul
Stuck in this lifetime, feel it take its toll.
Star-King asked the Teacher, talkin' straight and true:
"Why's the Medicine-King walkin' where the pain cuts through?
He said, "Hey, Big Man, why you carryin' that weight?
When you got a first-class ticket past the golden gate?"

[Chorus]
Oh, this Sahā-Loka Grind, yeah, it's a world of static and pain
Trapped on the wheel, round and round, again and again.
Got that poison cocktail burnin' deep inside my head
All that wantin', all that hatin', seein' everyone in red.
But I gotta stay right here, though the work is bitter and hard
This world of fire is the Bodhisattva's backyard.

[Verse 2]
I saw that other place, shinin' in the distant blue
All neon crystal, diamond avenues.
The streets were all level, smooth as polished glass
'Cause the folks up there, they let all the trouble pass.
No addiction, no nightmares, no one clawin' at the door
But that kinda quiet ain't what I'm fightin' for.

[Chorus]
Oh, this Sahā-Loka Grind, yeah, it's a world of static and pain
Trapped on the wheel, round and round, again and again.
Got that poison cocktail burnin' deep inside my head
All that wantin', all that hatin', seein' everyone in red.
But I gotta stay right here, though the work is bitter and hard
This world of fire is the Bodhisattva's backyard.

[Bridge]
They call it the pressure-cooker, call it the forge
Where you build your backbone, just to stand before the horde.
Gotta take the garbage, the suffering, and the flaw
It's the raw material for a higher law.
"Why you stayin' in the mud?" I hear 'em loud and clear
'Cause love ain't got a job to do if there ain't no tears to spare.

[Guitar Solo]
(A long, gritty, wailing electric slide guitar solo)

[Outro]
Yeah, the road is cracked, but my will is strong
Stayin' in this Sahā-Loka, where I belong.
Gonna bear it, gonna bear it, gotta push on through
Till every last broken soul can stand up new.
The Sahā-Loka Grind... yeah. The grind...

Sahà-Loka Grind

A stark, bluesy folk ballad that tells a heavy story.

Inspired by the dramatic schism in Chapter Two of the Lotus Sūtra, "Twigs and Leaves" is a song about one of the most subtle dangers on the spiritual path: arrogance (māna). It recounts the moment when 5,000 practitioners, believing they had already achieved enlightenment, walked away from the Buddha's ultimate teaching. They mistook a milestone for the final destination.

This is a song about the Buddha's silent, powerful reaction—watching the "twigs and leaves" depart from the assembly, purifying it for the final truth. It's a mournful warning about the price of certainty and a call for the deep endurance (Kṣānti) required to stay the course.

Told with just a voice and an acoustic guitar, it's an intimate, raw, and hypnotic story for anyone who has ever wrestled with questions of faith, progress, and humility.


Lyrics: 
(Genre: Bluesy Folk Ballad)
(Intro) (Slow, mournful acoustic guitar...)
(Spoken, in rhythm):
Here's a song 'bout a crowd...
Who thought they were done,
'Fore the final truth had even come.

(Verse 1: The Revelation)
The Master rose up from his deep samādhi rest
Said, "My skillful means were just a temporary test."
"Those three small roads you traveled, the vehicles you knew,
"Were just a clever shelter, 'til I revealed the truth to you.
"There's only one Great Vehicle, one single road to ride,
"The journey is the goal now... there's no final place to hide."

(Verse 2: The Five Thousand Depart)
Five thousand souls stood up, and they started to go.
They bowed their heads politely, but their feet were movin' slow.
They had that sickness of the soul, that spiritual pride (māna),
Attached to what they'd reached, but with nothin' left inside.
Convinced they'd gained the final Law, while the job was incomplete,
They thought they'd attained... what they'd never reached... and stumbled on their own feet.

(Chorus: The Buddha’s Silence)
Oh, the Arrogance Trap, it's a lock on the deepest door,
It's thinkin' that you're done, when He's askin' you for more.
The Buddha watched them leave... He didn't argue or coerce.
He said, "The assembly's purified, it's free from somethin' worse."
He said the "twigs and leaves" are gone, just the truthful souls remain.
That self-imposed exile... the price of all their spiritual pain.

(Verse 3: The Price of Certainty)
They built a life on certainty that couldn't stand the shock,
Mistook a restin' milestone for the true top of the rock.
So tragically faithful to their own constricted view,
They judged the Master by the little road they knew.
Their pride was just a high, high wall, built from their own good works,
That old, deluded arrogance... where the deepest shadow lurks.

(Bridge: The New Armor)
To the faithful ones who stayed, the Master gave the key.
He told Maitreya, "Listen... here's what you're gonna see...
"You gotta wear the armor of Endurance, deep and true,
"You gotta practice patience when the insults come for you.
"From those same arrogant people... who think they've found the way...
"You must remain unswayed, don't you listen to what they say."

(Outro)
The slander that they throw... that's just fuel for wakin' up.
The aggressor is your teacher, fillin' up your merit cup.
The Buddha gave his final lesson in the silence of that room...
Just watchin' the twigs and leaves fall... and walkin' to their doom.

(Guitar fades out slow)

Twigs and Leaves

"The Monkey, the Cow, and the Crown Jewel" is a musical journey into a profound spiritual paradox from 13th-century Japan. Inspired by Nichiren Daishonin's letter, the Urabon Gosho, the song tells the story of Lord Jibu, a priest described as lacking wisdom and dignity—like a "monkey or a cow". Yet, he is praised in the highest terms.  

Why? Because his one redeeming quality is his simple, unshakable faith in the Lotus Sutra.

This orchestral folk-rock epic explores the theological concept of "derived sanctity." It's not about our own perfection, but the power of the ultimate truth we hold dear. Through the powerful metaphors of a "snake holding a gem" and a "dragon guarding sacred relics," the song builds from a sparse, intimate confession into a soaring anthem for the imperfect. It is a testament to the idea that pure faith is the one jewel that can make any flawed vessel sacred, transforming a life of shadow into a source of brilliant light.  

(Verse 1 – The Lament of the Flawed Vessel)
[sparse fingerpicked guitar, Hammond drone] Not one of two hundred fifty precepts kept, Three thousand rules of conduct, all unkept. My wisdom’s dull — like a horse or a cow, A monkey’s dignity is all I’ve got now. A broken vessel in these latter days, My strength’s a whisper, lost inside the maze. No merit gathered, nothing I can claim, Just a flawed old priest who barely speaks his name.

(Chorus – The Pivotal Faith)
[add upright bass, soft brushed snare] But nevertheless, my heart holds one thing true: I revere the Buddha, and the Sutra too. My only treasure is the faith I hold — A story for these latter days retold. For broken vessels shine with borrowed light, And in devotion, find their sacred might.

(Verse 2 – The Sacred Metaphors of Derived Sanctity)
[slide guitar enters with call-and-response] I’m like a serpent with a priceless gem — Its light redeems, though it’s not mine, but them. A dragon guarding relics, pure and bright, My being changed by the Dharma’s light. The jewel is perfect, though the snake may crawl, Untouched by mud, it sanctifies us all. My hands are empty, yet I guard the Law — The greatest treasure this world ever saw.

(Chorus – The Pivotal Faith) But nevertheless, my heart holds one thing true: I revere the Buddha, and the Sutra too. My only treasure is the faith I hold — A story for these latter days retold. For broken vessels shine with borrowed light, And in devotion, find their sacred might.

(Bridge – The Boundless Promise)
[choir harmonies swell, organ opens] A wisteria vine around a mighty pine, I climb to heights that never could be mine. My strength may fail, but clinging to this grace, I’ll save my kin and find their sacred place. For seven generations, I can bring them peace, A fine jewel of a grandson — granting release. Through faith alone, I soar on borrowed wings, And hear the song the Tranquil Heaven sings.

(Outro – The Mantra of Faith)
[fade with gospel humming — mantra-like repetition of “borrowed light…”] The monkey, the cow, and the crown jewel bright — A flawed man’s faith in eternal light. The monkey, the cow, and the crown jewel bright — Borrowed light becomes my own tonight.

The Monkey the Cow and the Crown Jewel

A Blues-Folk Testimonial for Anyone Who Ever Got Told They Were Already Lost

This isn’t a hymn for saints — it’s a rallying cry for the bruised. Change Poison into Medicine walks the razor’s edge between despair and awakening, hammering the old karma-chains with a raw acoustic spark and a harmonica that won’t stop crying until it can finally soar.

The narrator questions the old fear-based religion that promised endless punishment — then flips the script. The Lotus Sūtra drops like a thunderbolt — revealing a “Mystic Law” already raging in his bones. No waiting for heaven. No cosmic warden counting sins.

Just the courage to take the worst you’ve lived… and alchemize it into strength.

Firelight vocals. Scratched-up guitar. Stomping kick and tambourine driving the chorus like a second chance pounding at the door.

A blues of rebirth. A sermon for the skeptics. A reminder that the medicine and the poison are often the same— depending on who you decide to be now.

Lyrics
(Verse 1 – The Heavy Chain) Woke up this mornin', sun wouldn't shine on me Felt the chains of my past, far as my eye could see The old preachers told me the debt was way too deep Said I’d pay for a million years, even in my sleep. They said, "Son, gettin' clean is a long, hard road." Felt my soul gettin' heavy, carryin' that load. I was shackled by a story that I couldn't change Just a ghost in my own life, lost on a lonely range.

(Chorus – The Good Medicine) But the Lotus Sūtra came like a hammer on the stone Gave me one true sound to call my own Said the power of the Law was right here in my soul It’s the great physician’s cure, Lord, to make a man whole. Yes, it's true, my friend, I finally understood Gotta change the poison into medicine, and turn the bad to good.

(Verse 2 – The Vanishing Dew) My debts were piled as high as a mountain in the sky Thought I’d be carryin' that burden 'til the day I die But the Sūtra said my faith was a deeper root And this one true practice set my soul loose. That old, bad karma didn't need to be pulled out piece by piece It vanished like the frost or dew when the sun brings release. Yeah, it wiped the whole slate clean in the twinkling of an eye Gave me the nerve to face the things I was too scared to try.

(Chorus – The Good Medicine) But the Lotus Sūtra came like a hammer on the stone Gave me one true sound to call my own Said the power of the Law was right here in my soul It’s the great physician’s cure, Lord, to make a man whole. Yes, it's true, my friend, I finally understood Gotta change the poison into medicine, and turn the bad to good.

(Bridge – The Vow) I ain't no prisoner just payin' for my sin This very hardship is where my real work begins I chose to be here, to take on this pain Like the soul who made a promise, walkin' through the rain. My suffering ain't a sentence, it's a promise that I made Right here in this muddy world, my foundation is laid.

(Outro – Right Here, Right Now) I'm gettin' my reward right here, in this present life No longer bound by that old, endless strife Oh, the Mystic Law, it's a burnin' light Turnin' all my darkness into something bright.

Oh, that medicine... (Poison into medicine) That sweet, sweet medicine... (Poison into medicine) I'm changin' it now... Right here... Right now.

Change Poison into Medicine

A blues-folk meditation on the exhaustion of trying to earn your worth through endless striving. This song walks through the valley of good intentions gone sour, calloused hands and hollow prayers, until a stranger by the roadside offers an ancient truth: the light you've been climbing toward was inside you all along.

Written in the tradition of confessional Americana, "Lay Your Shovel Down" explores what happens when our attempts to help others become mirrors for our own ego, and how grace arrives not as a reward for effort, but as a gift to the weary.

Inspired by contemplative spiritual traditions but rooted in universal human longing, this is a song for anyone who's ever tried to light their own house with the fire they gave away.

For the broken-down, the burnt-out, the ones still climbing in the dark—this one's for you.

[VERSE 1 – The Labor and Dissatisfaction]
I woke up this morning, 
climbed the highest hill, 
tried to make it right.
Dug every garden, 
gave my neighbor water, 
waited for a sign of light.
I hauled stone and timber, 
built a fire to keep folks warm,
But when the long shadows stretched and the day was gone, 
I was empty, soaked, and worn.
I found my kindness was just a mirror, 
cracked and gray, Tryin’ to light my own damn house with the fire I gave away.
Yeah, I worked all day long, but when the moon rose high— My spirit still wasn’t satisfied.

[CHORUS – The Cry and the Lifeline]
My hands are calloused, 
but my prayers taste like a lie,
I’m standin’ in the dust, 
watchin’ every good deed drift on by. My giving was hollow, 
hidin’ what I hoped to get, I’m drownin’ in my own well-meaning, 
and the shore ain’t found me yet.
Practice ain’t enough, Lord—
I need the truth I can’t achieve,
I need the word that saves me from the man I thought I had to be.

[VERSE 2 – The Scene of Collapse and Grace]
I tried to pull the world up clean from the mud,
But the weight of their sorrow mixed in with my blood.
My high aspirations sank down in the mire,
My water turned bitter—
I forgot the true fire.
I fell by the roadside, 
cold dread in my chest,
When a stranger laid a parchment right upon my weary chestc.
He said: “You been tryin’ to earn the daylight, 
climbin’ in the dark,
The wellspring you been diggin’ for’s already in your heart. Now close your weary eyes, child—
let these words carry you home.”

[CHORUS (REPRISE)]
My hands are calloused, 
but my prayers don’t taste like lies, I’m standin’ in the dust, 
watchin’ grace come rollin’ by. My giving was hollow once, 
hidin’ what I hoped to get, But I’m drinkin’ from that same well now—
and I ain’t drownin’ yet.
Practice ain’t enough, Lord—
but faith is what I see, I found the word that saves me from the man I tried to be.

[BRIDGE – The Revelation and Assurance]
Then a whisper cut through the drought,
Said, “The gold you’re diggin’ for—
it’s what you’re made of, child, no doubt.”
You been pullin' on a door that never was locked,
Bleedin’ for the light when it’s burnin’ inside.
The fire was in the wood all along,
The song was in your skin.
The debt was paid before your birth—
You just gotta let the mercy in.

[OUTRO – The Final Release]
You don’t gotta carry nothin’, 
just lay your shovel down and sigh.
The worth you were lookin’ for, child, 
was shinin’ in your own eye. You don’t gotta earn the grace—
just stand still and breathe.
I climbed that high hill, 
but now I sit down flat, And the quiet that holds me deep—
is the peace I chased at last. I stopped the striving, let the light just stay—
I walked out of my own shame today.
“No more... cold dread..."

Lay Your Shovel Down

A blues-folk confession about carrying the weight of our own minds. Starting in the darkness of recognition and moving toward the light of shared burden, this song traces the journey from isolation to acknowledgment—where simply naming what we carry begins to break its hold.

Inspired by Chapter Twenty-Four of the Lotus Sūtra, "The Delusion Chain" catalogs the six afflictions—greed, anger, ignorance, jealousy, stinginess, and arrogance—that obscure our clarity and peace. But the song's real subject is what happens when we stop carrying these burdens alone.

In the tradition of Robert Johnson's crossroads darkness and Mississippi John Hurt's front-porch wisdom, with early Dylan's confessional storytelling throughout, this is a song about how recognition becomes liberation, and how asking for help is itself the answer.

"The moment that I name what's holding me / I ain't carrying this delusion all alone, you see"

Acoustic fingerpicking, upright bass, harmonica. Recorded with intention and honesty.

Lyrics: 

[Verse 1]
Woke up this morning with a weight I can't name
Six different devils all playing the same game
Got greed in my pocket, got anger in my bones
Jealousy whispering through the telephone

[Verse 2]
Stinginess counting every coin I save
Arrogance telling me I'm too good to behave
Ignorance smiling like an old, old friend
Can't see the teaching through the fog I'm in

[Chorus]
I'm dragging this delusion chain
Link by link in the pouring rain
Too much greed and not enough wisdom, Lord
Can't find the key to break this chain

[Verse 3]
Tried to read the good book, couldn't see the page
My attachments got attachments keeping me in this cage
Every desire's got a desire of its own
I'm obscuring my own path, reaping what I've sown

[Bridge]
Now, I ain't saying I'm the only fool
Who mistakes his confusion for something cool
But when you're carrying six kinds of heavy all day
You start to wonder if there ain't a better way

[Chorus]
I'm dragging this delusion chain
Link by link in the pouring rain
Too much greed and not enough wisdom, Lord
Can't find the key to break this chain

[Verse 4 - tempo softens, opens up]
So I'm singing you this song, laying my burden down
Telling you the truth I finally found
The moment that I name what's holding me
I ain't carrying this delusion all alone, you see

[Verse 5 - gentle, clear]
Recognition's like a question asked out loud
Breaks the spell of walking in a cloud
When I show you all my greed and jealous ways
The teaching starts to shine through the haze

[Chorus - modified, lighter]
I'm naming this delusion chain
Speaking it out loud eases the pain
Still got greed, but I got wisdom growing, Lord
And sharing the burden starts to break this chain

[Outro - quiet, intimate, almost spoken]
Six links make a chain
One voice breaks the hold
The asking is the answer
The telling makes me whole
Brother, can you hear me?
I'm not alone no more

THE DELUSION CHAIN

The Cure I Couldn't See | The William Altig Choir

A blues-folk meditation on the physician's parable from the Lotus Sutra. This song tells the story of a soul searching desperately for healing, only to realize the remedy was offered all along—but pride and delusion kept them from believing.

Inspired by ancient Buddhist wisdom translated through the language of Delta blues and Appalachian folk, "The Cure I Couldn't See" explores themes of suffering, recognition, and the bittersweet moment when we finally accept the truth that's been waiting for us.

Raw acoustic guitar, mournful harmonica, and vocals that carry the weight of the journey from darkness into light.

For those who wander, for those who doubt, for those who finally see.


lyrics: 
Verse 1 I've been walking these roads with a poison in my veins Searching every hollow for someone to ease my pain Knocked on a thousand doors, cried out a thousand names But the remedy was sitting right there in my father's hands

Chorus Oh, the cure I couldn't see Was waiting there, waiting there for me Too proud, too blind, too lost in my disease To believe in the cure I couldn't see

Verse 2 He showed me the medicine, said "Son, just take this pill" But I shook my head and wandered off across another hill Thought I knew better, thought his words were just old tales While the poison kept on spreading and my body growing frail

Chorus Oh, the cure I couldn't see Was waiting there, waiting there for me Too proud, too blind, too lost in my disease To believe in the cure I couldn't see

Bridge Now I'm falling to my knees in the dust Everything I thought I knew just turned to rust And I hear his voice calling through the years: "Child, I never left you, I was always here"

Verse 3 So I took the medicine, felt it burn and then turn sweet Recognition flooding in like mercy at my feet All that wasted time, all those miles I roamed alone When the doctor was beside me, trying to lead me home

Final Chorus Oh, the cure I finally see Was waiting there, always there for me No more running, no more disbelief I've found the cure, and the cure has set me free Yeah, I've found the cure, and the cure has set me free


The Cure I Couldnt See

The Forgotten Promise | By The William Altig Choir

We all carry something ancient within us—a promise made before memory, a purpose that calls to us through the noise of daily life. "The Secret Vow" is a heavy blues meditation on the profound loss we feel when we've forgotten why we're here.

Drawing from the Buddhist teaching of the Bodhisattva vow—the commitment to return to this world of conflict to benefit all beings—this song explores what happens when life's preoccupations bury that sacred purpose so deep it becomes a secret even to ourselves. The weight we carry isn't a burden to escape, but a key waiting to unlock our deepest calling.

Through haunting fingerpicked guitar, wailing slide, and raw vocal testimony, the song journeys from confusion and heaviness toward the breakthrough moment of remembering. It's about waking up to the realization that we didn't come here by accident—we came on purpose, with purpose.

For anyone who's ever felt simultaneously lost and called, burdened by a mission they can't quite name, preoccupied by a thousand distractions while something sacred whispers from beneath it all—this song is for you.

The secret vow was never hidden. It was sleeping in your heart. And today's the day you start.


Lyrics
Verse 1
[Fingerpicked acoustic guitar, sparse and haunting]
I wake before the dawn breaks, with weight upon my chest
Something whispers in the silence, won’t let my spirit rest
There’s a promise in my bones, carved deeper than my name
But the preoccupations of this life have smothered out the flame
I walk these streets like shadows, familiar but alone
Each face I pass, a question mark, each moment overthrown
By bills and fears and anger, by the grinding of the day
While something sacred calls to me from ages far away

Chorus
[Full band enters: slide guitar, upright bass, brushed drums]
I made a vow, I made a vow
Before I can’t remember when
To walk into the fire, to come back here again
But the secret’s grown so heavy
That I’ve buried it from me
I made a vow to all of you
But I’ve forgotten how to see

Verse 2
[Guitar builds intensity, adding distortion on the edges]
Some nights I dream of battlefields where suffering runs deep
Of reaching out my hands to hold the ones who cannot sleep
Of stepping through the doorway into conflict and to pain
Not running from, but running toward, to help them break the chain
But morning comes with coffee, with the traffic and the news
With a thousand small distractions and a thousand small refusals
To remember why I’m here at all, what mission brought me through
The veil between the worlds I’ve known to stand here next to you

Chorus
[Heavier, with harmonica wailing between lines]
I made a vow, I made a vow
Before this flesh and bone
To benefit all beings, not to walk this path alone
But the secret’s grown so heavy
I’m a stranger to myself
I made a vow that mattered once
Now it’s gathering dust on shelves

Bridge
[Music strips down to just voice and acoustic guitar, building gradually]
Wait—
There’s a crack in the concrete
There’s a light beneath the door
There’s a reason I keep stumbling
Like I’ve been here once before
Maybe—
[Drums return, soft but insistent]
All this weight I’m carrying
Isn’t burden, it’s a key
To unlock the ancient promise
That’s been waiting inside of me
[Full band swells]
I came into this world of conflict
Not to add more to the pain
But to hold the hand of suffering
And walk with it again

Final Chorus
[Triumphant, cathartic, full-throated]
I made a vow, I MADE A VOW
And now I’m starting to recall
To come back here in service
To answer when you call
The secret wasn’t hidden
It was sleeping in my heart
I made a vow to benefit all beings
And today’s the day I start
I made a vow to benefit all beings
And today’s the day I start

Outro
[Extended instrumental fade with slide guitar and harmonica trading phrases, like a conversation between the old forgotten self and the newly awakened one. Ends on a single, sustained note of resolution]

The Forgotten Promise

Just to Cater to Your Whim

"Just to Cater to Your Whim" - The William Altig Choir

Sometimes love looks like giving in. Sometimes compassion means meeting someone where they are, even when you know the path they're walking won't heal them. This song is about that impossible tightrope - when your heart can't bear to see someone suffer, so you bend to their comfort, knowing full well it's only temporary relief.

"Just to Cater to Your Whim" explores the ancient Buddhist concept of expedient means through the lens of American blues and folk tradition. It's the story of a parent watching a child cling to what harms them, the impossible choice between truth and tenderness, between what heals and what soothes.

This is an introduction to The William Altig Choir - where Buddhist wisdom meets the American roots music tradition. Where ancient teachings are translated into songs you can feel in your bones.

Featuring intimate fingerpicked guitar, crying pedal steel, and vocals that confess more than they perform. This is blues as dharma, folk as philosophy, and a reminder that sometimes the hardest walk is the one where you don't yet know you're already held.

Production: Acoustic blues ballad Key themes: Expedient means, parental love, enabling, compassion, difficult truths Part of: The William Altig Choir song cycle exploring Buddhist sutras through American music
Listen with headphones. Sit with the ache.

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Verse 1 I see you hurting, see you holding on To something that ain't helping, but it feels so strong I know the truth would set you free But watching you suffer is killing me

Chorus So I'll bend a little, just to ease your pain Tell you what you want to hear again and again I know it's wrong, but Lord, it's hard to win When I'm just trying to cater to your whim

Verse 2 The road to change is steep and long And I can't bear to see you struggling on So I'll meet you where you stand tonight Even if I know it ain't quite right

Chorus Yeah, I'll bend a little, just to ease your pain Tell you what you want to hear again and again I know it's wrong, but Lord, it's hard to win When I'm just trying to cater to your whim

Bridge Sometimes love looks like a compromise Sometimes truth gets tangled up in lies I'm walking this wire, trying not to fall Wanting to save you from it all

Verse 3 But sugar-coating won't heal your soul Even though my heart can't bear the toll One day you'll be ready, one day you'll see 'Til then I'm caught between what is and what should be

Final Chorus So I'll bend a little, just to stop your pain Give you what you need, though nothing really changed This temporary comfort, this familiar sin Lord forgive me, I'm just catering to your whim Yeah, I'm just catering to your whim

Outro (Hummed melody, trailing off with resignation)

Just to Cater to Your Whim

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Welcome to the musical world of The William Altig Choir, where ancient wisdom meets contemporary sound.

Inspired by the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and infused with deep spiritual themes, my music blends the rich traditions of blues and folk with modern elements, creating a unique fusion that resonates with both the heart and soul.

I've been captivated by the Lotus Sutra's messages of compassion, wisdom, and transformation since my youth. It's a journey of self-discovery that has found its voice in my music. Each song is a reflection of my own spiritual awakening and a celebration of universal truths.

My style is characterized by emotive storytelling, powerful lyrics, and a commitment to exploring the depths of human experience. Featuring contemplative blues, acoustic slide guitar, saxophone melodies, and the harmonies of a gospel choir, my music reflects a quest for enlightenment and a better understanding of the self.

Join me on this musical journey. Together, we can explore the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, finding solace, hope, and a deeper connection to the world around us.

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