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Enlightenment Lyrics
Chop that wood
Carry water
What's the sound of one hand clapping
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
Every second, every minute
It keeps changing to something different
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
It says it's non attachment
Non attachment. non attachment
I'm in the here and now, and I'm meditating
And still I'm suffering but that's my problem
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
Wake up
Enlightenment says the world is nothing
Nothing but a dream, everything's an illusion
And nothing is real
Good or bad baby
You can change it anyway you want
You can rearrange it
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
Chop that wood
And carry water
What's the sound of one hand clapping
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
All around baby. you can see
You're making your own reality. everyday because
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
One more time
Enlightenment. don't know what it is
It's up to you
Enlightenment. don't know what it is
It's up to you everyday
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
It's always up to you
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
It's up to you, the way you think
Carry water
What's the sound of one hand clapping
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
Every second, every minute
It keeps changing to something different
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
It says it's non attachment
Non attachment. non attachment
And still I'm suffering but that's my problem
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
Nothing but a dream, everything's an illusion
And nothing is real
You can change it anyway you want
You can rearrange it
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
Chop that wood
And carry water
What's the sound of one hand clapping
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
You're making your own reality. everyday because
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
It's up to you
Enlightenment. don't know what it is
It's up to you everyday
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
It's always up to you
Enlightenment, don't know what it is
It's up to you, the way you think
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i read somewhere that part of the song was about van's experiences meditating and how it wasnt working for him
or his experiences with zen rather, including but not limited to meditation
This my favorite Van Morrison - I believe it's about reaching the ultimate goal in Buddhist belief namely 'Enligtenment'. With the words 'non attachment' is the aspiration of every Buddhist. VM is humble enough to admit 'Enlightenment - don't what is'.
Van clearly had an enlightenment experience, and these words are his trying to understand that. Enlightenment, though, is just not an experience, but a moment by moment surrender to "what is". It seems his enlightenment experiences informed a greater part of his earlier work, but like most enlightenment experiences, they are only temporary. It\'s painful to see Van now as a crotchety old man who\'s pissed because he can\'t give a concert due to Covid. The problem with Western spirituality is that we think it\'s a one and done deal. Enlightenment is the unfolding of every moment into surrender and devotion to the Real. Unfortunately, we do not have, in the West, the structures nor the inclination to practice complete Surrender. We are too attached to our Selves.