Our Hero

http://www.dharmacowboys.com/media/01%20Our%20Hero.mp3

Our Hero (aka the Lotus Sutra Song) Words by Greg Fain 

There’s a book called the Lotus Sutra, you really oughta know about 

A holy book that has the power to remove all fear and doubt 

And this book tells the story of a man who means the world to me 

Who could just as well’ve been a woman If not for male hegemony 

They call him the Bodhisattva Never Disparage, 

or the Bodhisattve Never Despise 

And I’m makin’ it my life’s ambition 

to see the world through his pure eyes 

And he says

Chorus: 

I would never disparage you or keep you at arm’s length 

Where you only see your weaknesses, I only see your strength 

I would never despise you or put you down in any way 

Because it’s clear to me 

I can plainly see 

You’ll be a buddha someday 

I love you

Now Bodhisattva Never Disparaging lived countless kalpas in the past 

In a time of the Counterfeit Dharma, 

and he was something of an outcast 

Because the monks and nuns of his time were noted for their arrogance and vanity 

And these were the folks who exercised great power and authority 

But my boy never concerned himself if they treated him like a freak 

He’d just bow to everybody equally and these are the words he’d speak

Chorus 

I would never disparage you or keep you at arm’s length 

Where you only see your weaknesses, I only see your strength 

I would never despise you or put you down in any way 

Because it’s clear to me 

I can plainly see 

You’ll be a buddha someday 

I love you

He never read or recited the scriptures much 

He only liked to practice respect 

But the monks and nuns of his time didn’t meet it like you’d might expect Instead they cursed him and reviled him and they wished that he would go Because they all had self-esteem issues, like most everyone else I know 

They beat him and pelted him with clubs and stones, 

and they tried to drive him away 

But he’d just run off to a safe distance 

And then he’d turn around and say

Chorus 

I would never disparage you or keep you at arm’s length 

Where you only see your weaknesses, I only see your strength 

I would never despise you or put you down in any way 

Because it’s clear to me 

I can plainly see 

You’ll be a buddha someday 

I love you

And so it went on for years and years 

He was the target of scorn and abuse 

Yet still our hero shed no tears nor did he ever wonder what’s the use 

Until it reached the end of his natural lifespan and he laid down fixin’ to die 

And then he heard the Holy Lotus Sutra being preached up in the sky 

And his life was extended for millions of years and he’s livin’ to this day 

And in the pages of the Lotus Sutra, you still can hear him say 

Chorus

I would never disparage you or keep you at arm’s length 

Where you only see your weaknesses, I only see your strength 

I would never despise you or put you down in any way 

Because it’s clear to me 

I can plainly see 

You’ll be a buddha someday 

I love you