Tag: indie folk
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The Cure I Couldn’t See | The William Altig Choir
A blues-folk meditation on the physician’s parable from the Lotus Sutra. This song tells the story of a soul searching desperately for healing, only to realize the remedy was offered all along—but pride and delusion kept them from believing. Inspired by ancient Buddhist wisdom translated through the language of Delta blues and Appalachian folk, “The…
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The Monkey, the Cow, and the Crown Jewel
“The Monkey, the Cow, and the Crown Jewel” is a musical journey into a profound spiritual paradox from 13th-century Japan. Inspired by Nichiren Daishonin’s letter, the Urabon Gosho, the song tells the story of Lord Jibu, a priest described as lacking wisdom and dignity—like a “monkey or a cow”. Yet, he is praised in the…
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Poison Into Medicine
“Poison Into Medicine” is a bluesy folk anthem about finding strength in struggle and transforming life’s hardships into wisdom. Inspired by the Buddhist teacher Nichiren’s teachings, this song weaves ancient philosophy with raw, soulful blues to remind us that our greatest challenges can become our greatest teachers. Like the lotus that blooms from muddy water,…
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The Sun Don’t Preach
A raw, Delta blues track that wrestles with the difference between trying to fix a broken world with force and finding strength in a quieter, more patient wisdom. “The Sun Don’t Preach” is a story told through a bottleneck slide and a steady foot stomp, contrasting the “power of a God” with the “wisdom of…
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The Woman in 4B
A Blues Folk Ballad Three voices, one family breaking apart. A mysterious neighbor with an open door and endless tea. A blues-folk story about the three poisons we carry—greed, anger, and numbness—and the unexpected way we learn to set them down. Told through the eyes of a daughter scrolling her pain away, a son burning…
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“One Word of Praise”
What if everything you’ve been told about spiritual progress is backwards? This song came from reading an ancient Buddhist text—the Lotus Sutra—that completely flips our understanding of how transformation happens. We’re taught that meaningful change requires years of effort, countless hours of practice, immense sacrifice. Grind long enough and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get somewhere.…
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The Sound Beyond Words
(A Folk Blues for the Lotus Path) Sometimes the deepest truths can’t be explained—they have to be sung. This folk blues track takes ancient Buddhist wisdom from the Lotus Sutra and translates it into American roots music. It’s about that moment when thinking stops and something deeper takes over. When the sound itself becomes the…
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Mercy Wears Our Faces
This bluesy folk song, “Mercy Wears Our Faces,” is a heartfelt, secular exploration of the ancient Buddhist teaching of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Inspired by a passage from the Lotus Sutra, the song strips away the mythic and focuses on the deeply personal. With a lonesome guitar and a soulful voice, the track contemplates…
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The Fisherman’s Net
In “The Fisherman’s Net,” a riverbank showdown unfolds: a fisherman mends his craft while a stranger urges a wild, reckless cast. This bluesy folk tune threads free will through skillful hands, with a rolling melody and soulful grit. It’s a tale of bending with the current—because the river rewards those who listen. Ideal for a…
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Lookin’ for the Realms
“Lookin’ for the Realms” is a folk-inspired song with Eastern influences. It explores the idea that heaven and hell, suffering and enlightenment, are not external places. They are states of mind we experience within ourselves. The song encourages listeners to embark on a journey of self-discovery. It asks them to become mindful of their inner…
Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra 