"Great Openness" genre: Vocals
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	The piece is an oratorio based on the Heart Sutra. It begins with an introduction spoken over music, then proceeds to the main body of the sutra, followed by a lengthy choral recitation of an English language version of the mantra, and finishes with an instrumental section. The music is original but evocative of Beethoven.
	Credits: lyrics: public domain, Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal, Martin Holsinger. Music: Martin Holsinger
	Story Behind the Song My teacher, Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal was asked the meaning of "Gate, gate, paragate, parasmagate bodhi soha," and responded with "open, open, completely open, beyond all closing down." A friend told me of this and I was inspired to rewrite the Heart Sutra in 3/4 time and put it to music. I wasn't sure this was proper, and so before releasing it I checked with Khenpo Tsewang and made sure it was OK. He said, "It shouldn't be considered a substitute for the Heart Sutra, but it's OK to share with people." Lyrics Inconceivable, inexpressible Great Openness Unborn, unceasing, by nature like the sky Experienced by self-reflexive awareness’ discerning, pristine cognition Mother of the victorious ones of the three times I pay homage to you Bhagavati Prajnaparamita Hrirdaya Chomden Dewa Sherab Chipa Roltu Chinpa Nyingpo Homage to the Great Openness, Mother of us all Once I came to a mountain top With you, our Lord, and the rest and while we sat so still with him in bliss on that high crest he opened he opened so completely opened so far beyond closing down he opened he opened so far beyond open he could never close down again and I could see that you could see just what it was he saw and I begged you to tell me true how I could see it too you told me "form is emptiness and emptiness is form they are not different in any way their union is the norm feeling, too is emptiness and empty is perception all mentality is empty, too and empty is consciousness no thing is born and no thing dies no purity, no impurity no thing shrinks and no thing grows and yet, things seem to be there are no forms in emptiness, no feelings, perceptions, or thoughts no consciousness, no eye, no ear no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind no appearance, no sound, no smell no taste, no touch, no laws of form no ignorance, no end of it no death, no end of death there is no pain, and yet there's pain, without beginning, without end there is no way away from pain nor wisdom to impart there's not a thing that we can do and yet, we've done it all since there is nothing to be done be open to your life do not fear what comes to you be it bliss or be it strife and that is what our Master's done that's made him Lord of all he's given us a simple prayer to open up our hearts it's always been true it's true right now it'll be true forever more: ’May I be open so open so completely open may I never close down again May I be open so open so far beyond open May I never close down again’" and then our Lord arose from bliss and smiled at one and all "good, good," he said, "for thus it is exactly as you spoke be open to all that is and the whole world will rejoice" and when he smiled and spoke to us it made our hearts so glad inspired us all to open wide and give the best we had May I be open so open so completely open May I never close down again May I be open so open so far beyond open may I never close down again (repeat chorus 7x)

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