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 by Thich Nhat Hanh (with additional words by me.  Music by Betsy Rose

This performance and arrangement © Monica Max West

Animals, plants and minerals
Animals, plants and minerals

I vow to develop understanding
In order to live peacefully with people
Animals, plants and minerals
Animals, plants and minerals

Mmmm, ahhh, mmmm, ahhh, mmmm, ahhh

I vow to develop my compassion
In order to protect the lives of people
Animals, plants and minerals
Animals, plants and minerals.

Mmmm, ahhh, mmmm, ahhh, mmmm, ahhh

This is my vow, this is my vow
My two promises

Two Promises (Plum Village song)

A version of the Plum Village song.
Words and music by Sister Chan Duc.
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

No coming, no going
No after, no before
I hold you close to me
I release you to be so free
Because I am in you
And you are in me
Because I am in you
And you are in me

True Aspiration Of The Heart

No Coming, No Going (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; music by Betsy Rose.
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

Breathing in, breathing out
Breathing in, breathing out
I am blooming as a flower
I am fresh as the dew
I am solid as a mountain
I am firm as the earth
I am free

Breathing in, breathing out
Breathing in, breathing out
I am water reflecting
What is real, what is true
And I feel there is space
Deep inside of me
I am free, I am free, I am free

Breathing In, Breathing Out (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 by Thich Nhat Hanh; music by Joseph Emet.
This performance, arrangement and recording © Monica Max West.

Breathing in, I go back
To the island within myself.
There are beautiful trees
Within the island.
There are clear streams
Of water, there are birds,
Sunshine and fresh air...
Breathing out, I feel safe.
I enjoy going back to my island.

Island Of The Self (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)

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!

No Coming, No Going (Plum Village song)

True Aspiration of the Heart

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Peter Nguyen

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