beautiful harmonies max - in gratitude to you x

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)

A Buddhist version of the spiritual by Harry Dixon Loes; one of the songs of Plum Village.  New words by Plum Village and Monica Max West

This performance and arrangement © Monica Max West

This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Building up a world of peace, I’m gonna let it shine! (x 3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

For my brothers and my sisters, I’m gonna let it shine! (x 3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Taking care of Mother Earth, I’m gonna let it shine! (x 3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Everywhere this road takes me, I’m gonna let it shine! (x 3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

INSTRUMENTAL

Trusting in the power of love, I’m gonna let it shine! (x 3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

(So) grateful and happy, I’m gonna let it shine! (x 3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little mine of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

True Aspiration Of The Heart

This Little Light Of Mine (Plum Village song)

A version of the Plum Village song.
Origins unknown.
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

We're all moving
On a journey to nowhere
Taking it easy
Taking it slow
No more worries
No need to hurry
Nothing to carry
Let it all go

We're All Moving (Plum Village song)

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

I have arrived, I am home
In the here and in the now.
I have arrived, I am home
In the here and in the now.
I am solid, I am free
I am solid, I am free
In the ultimate I dwell
In the ultimate I dwell.

I Have Arrived (Plum Village Song)

A version of the Plum Village song.
Words and music of unknown origin.
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

I am a cloud, I am the blue sky
I am a bird spreading out its wings
I am a flower, I am the sunshine
I am the earth receiving a seed

And I am free when my heart is open
Yes, I am free when my mind is clear
Oh Dear Brother, oh Dear Sister
Let's walk together mindfully

And I am free when my heart is open
Yes, I am free when my mind is clear
Oh Dear Brother, oh Dear Sister
Let's walk together joyfully

I Am A Cloud (Plum Village song)

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 version of the Plum Village song.
Words by Thich Nhat Hanh; music by Ellen Deimann.
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

Here is the Pure Land, the Pure Land is here:
I smile in mindfulness and dwell in the present moment.

Buddha is seen in an autumn leaf,
The Dharma in a floating cloud.
The Sangha body is everywhere.
My true home is right here.

Breathing in, flowers are blooming.
Breathing out, I am aware that
Bamboo is swaying - my mind is clear
And I enjoy every moment.

Here Is The Pure Land (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.

Come and join the circle
All people hand in hand

There's a place for you in the circle
The circle can expand
Come and join the circle
All people hand in hand

There is love for you in the circle
A love you can understand
Come and join the circle
All people hand in hand

... join the circle!

There is peace in the circle
Non-violence is our plan
Come and join the circle
All people hand in hand

There is strength in the circle (in the circle)
As together we all stand (our circle)
Come and join the circle (join the circle)
All people hand in hand (all people)

... in the circle
... our circle
... join the circle
... all people

There is healing in the circle (in the circle)
Healing on the land (our circle)
Come and join the circle (join the circle)
All people hand in hand (all people)

There's a place for you  in circle
The circle can expand
Come and join the circle
All people hand in hand

The Circle Song (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!

In Gratitude (Plum Village song)

True Aspiration of the Heart

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