In an age where the world is facing increasing turmoil, music emerges as a powerful tool for healing, connection, and transformation. The video highlights how the True Source band, a collaboration between Plum Village monastics and 77 Productions, carries forward the legacy of Zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh by using music as a medium for mindfulness and emotional expression.
Music as a Path to Awakening
Zen Buddhism has always embraced creativity, particularly in the school of Zen. Thích Nhất Hạnh, a poet and artist himself, deeply understood the ability of music to reach the human heart. His teachings continue to inspire a new generation of musicians who see their art as a form of spiritual practice.
At Plum Village, music is not just for entertainment; it is a means to “water the seeds of kindness and awakening.” The video showcases monastics performing deeply moving compositions that touch on suffering, resilience, and hope. These songs carry messages of compassion, urging humanity to listen, heal, and reconnect with one another.
A Reflection on Suffering and Hope
The lyrics performed in the video resonate with the struggles of our times, referencing displacement, loss, and longing. The powerful lines evoke the suffering of refugees and those facing adversity, asking whether the world hears their cries. The musicians, some of whom have experienced personal losses and political turmoil, find solace in expressing these emotions through song.
One artist shares how their teacher encouraged them to continue playing music—not as a pursuit of fame or success, but as a sacred instrument to bring people closer to themselves and each other. Through this, music becomes a practice of mindfulness, a way to stay present, and a tool for deep personal reflection.
A New Purpose for Music
True Source’s approach to music is not about performance in the traditional sense; it is about channeling compassion and presence. The video ends with a reminder that creativity can exist beyond competition, beyond financial gain, and purely as an act of love. In this, the band exemplifies a new way of making music—one that seeks to heal rather than impress, to connect rather than divide.
Through their melodies and lyrics, the artists of Plum Village offer a message of hope: that music, when played with intention and love, can cool the fire of suffering and bring people together in a spirit of understanding and peace.