Rest In Power

SATB, a cappella

Thích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, scholar, poet, and peace activist who promoted nonviolent solutions to conflict.  In 1967, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr. and, with the exception of the Dalai Lama, was one of the most well-known Buddhist teachers in the world. 

His poem, Recommendation, reminds us that, in his words, “Our enemy is anger, hatred, greed, fanaticism, and discrimination.  Even if you are dying in oppression, shame, and violence, if you can smile with forgiveness, you have great power.”  In setting the text, I tried to stay out of the way and create a piece of music that sounded as if the choir were just reading the poem itself, with the music manifesting in the air between them and the listener.

Rest In Power was commissioned by Kantorei (Richard Larson, conductor) and received its premiere on October 2, 2003. It is dedicated with gratitude to Ryan and Sonya Newstrom.

The Text

By Thích Nhất Hạnh (1926-2022)
Adapted by the composer.

Promise me,
promise me this day,
promise me now,
while the sun is overhead
exactly at the zenith,
promise me:

Even as they
strike you down
with a mountain of hatred and violence;
even as they step on you and crush you
like a worm,
remember, brother,
remember:
man is not our enemy.

The only thing worthy of you is compassion
invincible, limitless, unconditional.
Hatred will never let you face
the beast in man.

One day, when you face this beast alone,
with your courage intact, your eyes kind,
untroubled
(even as no one sees them),
out of your smile
will bloom a flower.
And those who love you
will behold you
across ten thousand worlds of birth and dying.

Alone again
I will go on with bent head,
knowing that love has become eternal.
On the long, rough road,
the sun and the moon
will continue to shine.

Performed by Kantorei
(Richard Larson, conductor)