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PCR #112 (Vol. 3, No. 20) This edition is for the week of May 13--19, 2002.
Blank Thoughts by Gary C. Esposito

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CD music review/philosophy:
Lauryn Hill -- and the Tao
By Gary C. Esposito.


What is "Just Like Water"?!... Well, (excuse the pun there) of course the Tao - and... Lauryn Hill

This is one of the titles from her new CD, which talks about her hubby & God - as most of the songs are about becoming awake to Spirit, Freedom & Rebelling from deception - and this rebelling is ultimately an act of love for only Love (as in a true & healthy selfless life) doesn't deceive.

Lauryn Hill is for the most part being raked over the coals by media 'experts' and music critics for not conforming to what they expected out of this remarkable lady and her new performance/CD. She is even being demonized as self-indulgent because they don't know how to interpret her spiritual/human awakening. They feel she is mis-using/wasting her talent. These critics truly seem to be at a loss to describe her and her new songs/music. Of course a few critics have called it 'miraculous'.

Being a Taoist, I think of the words of Lao Tzu; (even though she is no 'Taoist' in the tradition of Taoism, she is Taoist in the way of the cosmos - as is the True Heart of all living beings)...

Lauryn Hill Tao Te Ching
# 41 On Hearing of The Way

Therefore it is said:
Who understands the Way seems foolish;
Who progresses on the Way seems to fail;
Who follows the Way seems to wander.

For the finest harmony appears plain;
The brightest truth appears coloured;
The richest character appears incomplete;
The bravest heart appears meek¹;
The simplest nature appears inconstant.

--Translated by Peter Merel

DVD June 11

¹ "meek", I interptret here as a different kind of strength than brute force - i.e. the strenght of Grace, Insight, Openness or even honest passion. This is indeed what I deeply felt coming from Lauryn's MTV unplugged perfomance.
--Gary

PS: if interested, see review: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=15890


"Blank Thoughts" is ©2002 by Gary C. Esposito.  Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova.  All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2002 by Nolan B. Canova.