The Verve is one of the best bands to emerge in the 90’s with music and lyrics that promote a healthy amount of contemplation. The words of Richard Ashcroft can be interpreted in several ways by the listener, and thus reveal his brilliance. There is vast Dharma meaning to be found implicitly and explicitly within this beautiful song…
This song begins (stanzas 1&2) with hope for peace and true lasting happiness, attained through the Wisdom ‘fire’ understanding Ultimate Truth. Having abandoned the deluded states of mind that are the root causes of suffering (ignorance, attachment, anger), and having cultivated the supreme bliss of universal Love (wish for others to be happy) and Compassion (wish for others to be free from suffering), we are free to experience all of existence as unified and pure.
Richard states explicitly (stanzas 3&5) the problems of the unbalanced deluded minds of sentient beings and is asking the listener to tune in to their own virtuous minds as a means of bringing about positive change. The line “Can’t you hear this beauty in life” resonates strongly the message of understanding dependent relationship. This is the means to realize emptiness of inherent existence (Ultimate Truth). Sound is used as an example here because it is easy to understand how sound arises in dependence upon causes and conditions, and is un-findable when searched for, which reveals that sound’s (and ALL phenomena’s) True nature is mere appearance to mind.
The most powerful line (stanzas 4& end) within this song is that of “You’ve gotta tie yourself to the mast my friend and the storm will end”. This line embodies the universal foundation of all religions/ spiritual practices, that is, that of exchanging oneself with others. Giving of oneself unconditionally and selflessly is the actual method practice to attain permanent liberation from cyclic existence. If one were to die with a mind of pure compassion (as Jesus demonstrated) they would be instantly reborn in a pure land (Heaven) and never experience suffering again (FOREVER). As stated in the song also however (stanza 6), our own fears and reservations prevent us from developing faith and engaging in the actual actions of body, speech and mind that lead to these outcomes, and thus these are our principal obstacles to be overcome.
;)
The Verve is one of the best bands to emerge in the 90’s with music and lyrics that promote a healthy amount of contemplation. The words of Richard Ashcroft can be interpreted in several ways by the listener, and thus reveal his brilliance. There is vast Dharma meaning to be found implicitly and explicitly within this beautiful song…
This song begins (stanzas 1&2) with hope for peace and true lasting happiness, attained through the Wisdom ‘fire’ understanding Ultimate Truth. Having abandoned the deluded states of mind that are the root causes of suffering (ignorance, attachment, anger), and having cultivated the supreme bliss of universal Love (wish for others to be happy) and Compassion (wish for others to be free from suffering), we are free to experience all of existence as unified and pure.
Richard states explicitly (stanzas 3&5) the problems of the unbalanced deluded minds of sentient beings and is asking the listener to tune in to their own virtuous minds as a means of bringing about positive change. The line “Can’t you hear this beauty in life” resonates strongly the message of understanding dependent relationship. This is the means to realize emptiness of inherent existence (Ultimate Truth). Sound is used as an example here because it is easy to understand how sound arises in dependence upon causes and conditions, and is un-findable when searched for, which reveals that sound’s (and ALL phenomena’s) True nature is mere appearance to mind.
The most powerful line (stanzas 4& end) within this song is that of “You’ve gotta tie yourself to the mast my friend and the storm will end”. This line embodies the universal foundation of all religions/ spiritual practices, that is, that of exchanging oneself with others. Giving of oneself unconditionally and selflessly is the actual method practice to attain permanent liberation from cyclic existence. If one were to die with a mind of pure compassion (as Jesus demonstrated) they would be instantly reborn in a pure land (Heaven) and never experience suffering again (FOREVER). As stated in the song also however (stanza 6), our own fears and reservations prevent us from developing faith and engaging in the actual actions of body, speech and mind that lead to these outcomes, and thus these are our principal obstacles to be overcome. ;)