Hua Chenyu's Dharma Song: Seven Personalities

Let me introduce you to one of China's latest singing sensation - Hua Chenyu. He is 32 years old but looks a lot younger. He first made a name for himself from a singing competition in China. Since then, he has been recognised widely for his expertise not only in singing but in composing. He was given a short tune without lyrics in another competition in 2016, and yet he was able to come out with such a big hit - Qi Tian Da Shen (Great Sage Equal to Heaven, i.e. the title for Sun WuKong/ Monkey God). Video is included below too. His songs and superb stage performances have earned him praises by even Westerners. You may search Youtube for "Seven Personalities Hua Chenyu Reaction". In the song "Seven Personalities", there is a part whereby the Mani mantra is hummed. In the video below, you can see it. There is English lyrics included. But if you search the original performance video, there is no mani mantra humming in the background. Just the "Oo...Oo...Oo..." made by Hua Chenyu himself. It is not difficult to understand why he is so popular in China and beyond. His voice and facial expressions as well as body movements are all very well executed. Video is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_HR6ACvedE

I thought this is so talented of him. Perhaps he might have gotten help from the lyricists and others, but the fact that he was able to even compose this tune shows his respect and knowledge of the Dharma. Oh yes, there is one line in the lyrics which seems to me to have a reference to a famous Avatamsaka Sutra sentence. See if you can spot it. 

Translation of the lyrics to English

source: Hua Chenyu - 七重人格 [Seven Personalities] (Qī chóng rén gé) lyrics + English translation (lyricstranslate.com)

Night befalls and insects chirp

See a robin in the sky fly by

The sparrow outside the window for whom does it mourn?

(shut up!)

 

If all time is unrecorded, leaving not a trace behind

If all ancient books turn black, how could the past be portrayed?

If numbness is to be exposed, wounds will bleed afresh

If a man can tamper with his cruel and doomed fate, stamped at birth

wu wu~ (note: this is the part of the humming of the mani mantra)

 

Ancient, Present, Heaven, Earth

When the Great Chaos first dissipated

clarity, turbidity, black and white were distinguished birthed specks of dust

 

Ecstasy, Anger, Joy, Sorrow

Flourish and decay in endless cycles

Right and wrong, victory and defeat alternate, hundred of mundane lifeforms in eons of Samsara

 

The eternal, the bygone, the existing, the unknown

From antiquity to future ages, prosperity eventually fades

All things bloom with a single move of my thoughts

 

The Great Chaos transforms in thousands of incarnations

'Tis none other than this, 'Tis none other than this

Let me dictate, It's up to me to dictate

All shall vanish and leave only

 

That completely unrestrained self

Who stands in the torrid storm and does! not! die!

Bearing unhealed wounds I dash to the battle on the verge of loosing control25

For the fi-! -nal! es-! -cape!

For snatching back the lost freedom

I am willing to turn into a beast

 

If the truth is entirely buried, no words are uttered

If men could accept succumbing to these predestined, doomed fates

wu wu wu~ (note: this is the part of the humming of the mani mantra)

 

When tranquility arrives once more

oh how beautiful is this scenery

Even stars doth tumble and perish, utterly pitch-black

 

Like a puzzle, I have lost a piece

with such glaring blankness

Endlessly ruing,

till I.. have completely.. lost.. myself!

https://lyricstranslate.com

Try to guess what are the 7 personalities. If not mistaken, it is given in the first 7 paragraphs. 

There is another interesting song by him called "Fake Monk". You should check it out. Usually we despise fake monks, right? But he advocated that we should understand that they become this due to problems they face and we should help them in ways we can. This is what I interpret his words when he said we should "love" this wandering fake monks. Perhaps, the welfare department should round up these people and see how they can help (not for purpose of punishment). I know it is easier said than doing it, but still I think he has a point there for our reflections. He sang and performed one of the greatest touching song ever seen in "Dad, I'm Home". He re-arranged Jay Chou's original song into something very touching. After listening to Hua Chenyu's rendition, I like his version better. Conveys the feelings and emotions better. It's like a different song altogether. He is really amazing! I may comment on it in the future.

If you like my comments above, check out my previous post on Sun Wukong chinese dramas. https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/journey-to-west-part-3.html

#huachenyu #sevenpersonalities #avatamsaka