Someone once asked me, "Grand Master Lu, do you like listening to songs? I can take you out to listen to some."
 
I was at a loss for an instance. I could neither say that I like to listen to songs, nor that I dislike to do so. For a moment I did not know how to answer.
 
 
When I was young, my music teacher taught us to sing "Fortuitously," a song composed from a poem by Xu Zhimo. I was moved by the song for a while.
 
"I am a puff of cloud in the blue sky…"
 
 
Later, I listened to the songs, "Fortuitously" and "Farewell Again, Cambridge" sung by Fan Guanghui.  I fell in love with these two songs.

Then I listened to "Blue Sky Everyday" sung by Pan Yueyun.  My heart was "blue sky everyday"!

Honestly, I like the music genre, "Campus Folk Songs," because the songs are simple, sincere, and they emanate pure emotion.

It was as if we were taken back to the old days of youthful frivolity, a dreamlike period in our life journey.

Think about it.

"Fortuitously” - there are too many chance happenings in our life.

"Farewell Again, Cambridge” - the common experience of sorrow caused by separation.

"Blue Sky Everyday" - today we cultivate daily, as well as enjoy and appreciate every single day.  It is truly blue sky everyday.

As I grew older, I fell in love with the song “Deep Courtyard”.  Time faded my memories; not only that, also feelings of gratitude or resentment went with the wind. Finally, one is left with only a thought, "Just leave it behind!"
 
I like the song, "Grandma's Penghu Bay". The chorus, "Penghu Bay,” brings to mind sunshine, beaches, the tide, and cactus.  (My grandfather used to live in Xiaoqijiao, the small western island at Penghu. I visited that small island during my childhood.)

I also fell in love with the song "Sunshine and Rain".  I know how to sing this song because buried inside our hearts is love, a Bodhicitta that is ever ready to help all sentient beings.

I like the song, "On the Other Side of the Riverbank," for no other reason than the fact that my heart is in Taiwan while I am physically in the United States. Taiwan is on the other side of the riverbank.

I also relish the song “My Home Is There,” because on the other side of the ocean lies the beloved home where I used to live.

.........

Although I have renounced secular life, I still enjoy the melody of campus folk songs, because they are very moving.

I don't really care much for symphony orchestras; afterall I have never had much to do with classical music. However, I do like art songs, blues and a little jazz. I do not enjoy rap, pop, or any music that causes frenzied screaming in teenagers.

What I treasure in my heart are simple melodies that bring back unforgettable memories, reminiscent of friendships, dreams, and heartfelt moments.

I like campus folk songs!

A disciple said, "I want to invite Grand Master Lu to listen to songs."

“...What songs?”

“The Love of Needle and Thread, the Couple's Pillows,.........”

“You must be jo...jo...jo...joking!”

I laughed heartily.

Honestly, though, when I was a young man, I really liked music lessons.  I even sang hymns as a member of the church choir.  However, later, I only listened to songs and then took a fancy to campus folk songs.

And now I understand that "the best song is the (inner) song with no sound."