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Angulimala

from Bardic Dharma by Barefoot Bran

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A song based off of the story in the Angulimala Sutta (MN 86)

lyrics

Angulimala was a murderer
Who hung the fingers from his neck
The fingers of his victims, yeah
You never know who’s next

Born as the Harmless One he never sinned
But jealousy rots, and rumors flew
Lies spread like wild fire to his teacher
Who knew just what to do

You see, the harmless one was the best of pupils
But his peers found him insufferable
They spread the lies that he’d slept with the wife
Of their great teacher, their guru

His teacher instructed the Harmless One
To deliver him a final gift
Of one thousand fingers, each one a life
Only this his teachings would complete

Such a road could prove to be fatal
For the seeker of one thousand digits
But the guru was well aware
And thought death a good consequence

And the Harmless One, none the wiser
Did as his master demanded so bold
Anything to please his teacher
He’d do anything he was told

He killed and thieved his life away
The fingers hanging from his collar
Hunting that most precious gift
That’s how he gained the name Angulimala

Nine hundred ninety nine, oh they came
And all he had left was one more prize
He spied his last long awaited target
Twas his own mother he realized.

Sword unleashed, oh wild eyes
He charged his target furiously
When out stepped a beggar robed all in rags
The Buddha smiled curiously

He focused now on the Buddha now
Such a noble, willing victim
A fitting way to end his tirade
No better target if he had picked ‘im.

He ran and he ran and the Buddha moseyed
No matter how fast Angulimala ran
He never seemed to catch the pace
Of the old Enlightened One

Bewildered, Angulimala panted
“Oh I can’t catch you, please wait stop!”
The Buddha turned and said “I have stopped,
“It is you who have not.”

He explained when Angulimala halted
He said, “I have stopped all killing and harm.”
It is you who have yet to cease what you are doing
Tearing those fingers from their arms.”

He threw down his weapons and fell to his knees
“I relinquish my quest,” Angulimala spoke
He became a monk right then and there
Devoted to letting go.

People change, even the most extreme
Violence, desires, and defilement
It just goes to show that anyone can
Find Enlightenment

Angulimala was a murderer
Who saw the error of his ways
No longer a slave to violence
He walked the middle way

credits

from Bardic Dharma, released April 12, 2018

license

all rights reserved

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Barefoot Bran Kansas City, Kansas

Bran crafts his unique, down-to-earth folk songs that tell stories that are fun, inspiring, insightful, and ofttimes humorous.

From heart-felt songs of world peace, to earthy tunes of Nature; from epic myths and stories, there’s sure to be something in Bran’s music for any groovy, tree-huggin’, peace-lovin’ soul! ... more

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