A song we often sing at Middleway that was written and sung by the monks and nuns at Plum Village Buddhist Centre in France

www.middlewaymindfulness.com


Go as a River - a song from the Monks and Nuns at Plum Village

A Plum Village children's song.  Written during the 2012 Holiday Retreat in Deer Park Monastery.  Music by Nhu-Mai Nguyen.  Lyrics by Nhu-Mai and children from the Children's Program; small lyrical adaptations by me.

This performance and arrangement © Monica Max West

The sun, the sun, it shines
On my face and on my eyes
The sun shines in my heart
The sun shines in my heart

The river, the river, it flows
From the mountains to my toes
The river flows in my heart
The river flows in my heart

From the mountains, the flowers,
The children, and the deer (the deer)
We all love each other
There's a space for everyone in my heart

The trees, the trees, they sway
And give oxygen each day
The trees sway in my heart
The trees sway in my heart

The birds, the birds, they fly
As a school of fish swims by
The animals are all in my heart
The animals are all in my heart

From the mountains, the flowers,
The children, and the deer (the deer)
We all love each other
There's a space for everyone in my heart

From the mountains, the flowers,
The children, and the deer
We all love each other
There's a space for everyone in my heart
There's a place for everyone in my heart
There's a home for everyone in my heart

All In My Heart (Plum Village song)

A Plum Village song.  Words and music by Eveline Beumkes.

This performance and arrangement © Monica Max West

Happiness is here and now
I have dropped my worries
Nowhere to go, nothing to do
No longer in a hurry

Happiness is here and now
I have dropped my worries
Somewhere to go, something to do
But I don't need to hurry

Happiness Is Here And Now (Plum Village song)

A Plum Village song.  Words and music by Irene D'Auria

This performance and arrangement © Monica Max West

In gratitude, you have watered seeds
Of love in me, in gratitude
In gratitude, I will water seeds
Of love in someone too

I know you're there for me
And I am so happy

In gratitude, you have watered seeds
Of love in me, in gratitude
In gratitude, I will water seeds
Of love in someone too

And if you suffer some
Please call and I will come

In gratitude, you have watered seeds
Of love in me, in gratitude
In gratitude, I will water seeds
Of love in someone too

In Gratitude (Plum Village song)

These songs are Plum Village classics recorded by Joe Holtaway, a singer songwriter from England who came to work with Wake Up Schools in Plum Village for six months in 2016.

Joe also records his own music. He and a group of friends set up Peace Sounds, a home for music and audio inspired by ideas of peace.

Two Promises

Island Of The Self

In Out Deep Slow

Happiness Is Here And Now

A version of the Plum Village song.
Words by Thich Nhat Hanh; music by Chan Hoa Lam.
With additional music by Monica Max West
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

In, out, deep, slow
Calm, ease, smile, release
Present moment
Wonderful moment.

True Aspiration of the Heart

In, Out, Deep, Slow (Plum Village song)

A call-and-response song in the Plum Village tradition!
Originally discovered on YouTube (Verena Böttcher); first verse and chorus lyrics adapted from Leonard Cohen's "Anthem"
With additional lyrics (verses 2-4) by Monica Max West.
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

There is a crack!
There is a crack!

Forget your perfect offering 
There's still a bell that we can ring 
There is a crack in everything… there is a crack in everything

That's how - the light – gets in
That's how the light gets in! 
That's how - the light – gets in
That's how the light gets in! 

There is a crack!

Forget the drive to be a king
The here and now is happening
There is a crack in everything… there is a crack in everything

That's how - the light – gets in
That's how the light gets in! 
That's how - the light – gets in
…Gets in! 

Forget the flash, forget the bling
It’s the gift of presence we can bring
There is a crack in everything… there is a crack in everything

That's how - the light – gets in
That's how the light gets in! 
That's how - the light – gets in
That's how the light gets in! 

Forget compulsion in doing
Instead we’ll join our palms and sing
There is a crack in everything… there is a crack in everything

That's how - the light – gets in
That's how the light gets in! 
That's how - the light – gets in
That's how the light gets in! 
That's how - the light – gets in
That's how the light gets in! 
That's how - the light – gets in!

How The Light Gets In (Plum Village song)

A version of the Plum Village song.
Words and music from Deer Park Monastery.
With additional words by Monica Max West
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

Simple things, simple things
Simple things, simple things

I get my joy from the simple things
Coming from the earth

I get my joy from the sun that shines
And the water speaks to me

Listen to the rain and listen to the water
Hear what they say

Singing "Hay Yah! Hay Yah! Hay Yah! Hey Yah!
Hey Yah! Hey Yah! Hey Yah! Hey!"
Singing "Hay Yah! Hay Yah! Hay Yah! Hey Yah!
Hey Yah! Hey Yah! Hey Yah! Hey!"

Simple Things (Plum Village song)

Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter

CDs available on my website (http://www.monicamaxwest.com) including "On The Path", a collection of songs based on the 14 Mindfulness Trainings; downloads available on CD Baby! 

Joyous earth dweller, friend of Wild Things, Buddhist following the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, wildlife photographer, feminist, vegan, painter and maker, general creative...grateful for the beauty of life every day! 

In 2023, I am beginning to consolidate all of my creative work.  This SoundCloud channel will now be dormant, and all new Plum Village songs will be launched on my main channel - Monica Max West - along with my original songs.

Plum Village videos will also be launched on my main YouTube Channel - Monica Max West - along with my original songs, Moonbow shows and wildlife videos.  The True Aspiration of the Heart YT channel will become dormant.

Blessings!

How The Light Gets In (Plum Village song)

True Aspiration of the Heart

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