Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

“Muddy Waters, Silent Mind” is a reflective blues folk song that draws inspiration from Nichiren’s Shishin Gohon-Shō, where he speaks of muddy water catching the moon’s reflection and trees receiving rain without deliberation. With soulful male vocals and a melodic, earthy arrangement, this song explores the quiet wisdom found in nature’s flow—no striving, no resistance, just being.

Blending acoustic blues and folk tones, the track invites listeners into a space of calm awareness and spiritual presence. It’s a meditation on stillness, acceptance, and the beauty of letting life unfold without control.

Let the muddy waters clear, and hear the moonlight sing.

[Verse 1]
Muddy water
Clear as the night
Caught the moon’s face
Holding it tight
No thought it carried
No plan to speak
Yet it shone so bright in the shallow creek

[Chorus]
No mind to wander
No part to play
Nature’s rhythm finds its way
Reflection dances
Soft and true
Muddy water holding the hue

[Verse 2]
The rain comes down
A gentle sigh
Trees gather drops from the heavy sky
They reach and they open like humble hands
No master plan
But they understand

[Chorus]
No mind to wander
No part to play
Nature’s rhythm finds its way
The world flows on
No questions asked
Muddy waters
Holding the task

[Bridge]
Is it choice or fate that fills the stream?
The glow of the moon or a fleeting dream?
Plants won’t argue
Trees won’t fight
They stretch and they grow under the pale light

[Verse 3]
Oh
The raven calls on the withered pine
It doesn’t wonder
It doesn’t pine
Nature hums low
No voice to refine
Muddy water flows
And the moon aligns